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Carolina (English) No 043
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STUDENT'S E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA
School of Social Science of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
C.S.F.R.
e-mail address: CAROLINA@CSEARN.BITNET
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C A R O L I N A No 43, Friday, October 2, 1992.
THE EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK (September 9 - 16)
About the Dissolution of the Federation
Since Tuesday, September 29 the Federal Assembly has been
discussing the governmental proposal of the constitutional law of ways
of dissolving the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic .
According to the draft of the law proposed by the Federal Deputy
Prime Minister M. _i_ (Movement for Democratic Slovakia - HZDS), the
federation may be dissolved by a declaration of the Federal Assembly,
agreement between the Czech and Slovak national councils, and by the
results of a referendum realized according to constitutional laws and
because of will of one of the national councils. Mr. _i_ stressed the
fact that any of these possibilities would be a legal and democratic way
of dissolving the federation.
The discussion took place on Tuesday, and according to general
expectation the main concern was focused upon the problem of referendum.
This law draft was strongly supported by deputies of Civic
Democratic Party (ODS) and HZDS, as well as by Slovak National Party
(SNS). Opposition remained committed to the possibility of referendum as
of the only way of dissolving the federation or - at least - as a way of
confirming other ways of dissolution.
The acceptance of the law by the Federal Assembly will most likely
be complicated since it requires three fifths majority and the
governmental coalition cannot provide it without further support. The
final decision should take place on Thursday and will probably be
broadcasted live on the federal TV F1.
The separation is accepted but ...
According to the last public opinion research poll done by the
Institute for Public Opinion Research September 8-14 the majority of
citizens expect a separation of the republics, but would not have voted
for it in a referendum. More than 80% of the citizens of both republics
understand the separation of the republics would be an irreversible
process. 46% of the citizens of the Czech Republic and 41% of those in
the Slovak republic agree with dissolving the CSFR. 45% in the Czech
republic and 46% in the Slovak republic are against it. Only 5% in the
Czech republic and 6% in the Slovak republic do not believe in
separation.
Those respondents in the Czech republic who agree with separation
think that the main reason is Slovakia's desire for independence. Those
who do not agree with separation think that the federation will dissolve
as the result of an agreement beteween ODS and HZDS. Those who do not
agree with separation in Slovakia shared this belief. Those citizens of
Slovakia who approve of the separation think that the main reason for
dissolution is becaue the federation is not working and is unequal.
As the only acceptable way of dissolving the federation is through
a referendum it is the most frequently mentioned possibility (45% in the
Czech republic, 44% in the Slovak republic). According to Mlada Fronta
Dnes daily 80% of the Czech republic and 82% of the Slovak republic
would participate in the referendum if it took place today. In Bohemia
44% would vote against separation, 36% for separation, in Slovakia 43%
against, 37% for separation.
The Candidate for Presidency Has not Been Elected in the Fifth
Round
The nomination for presidency of CSFR took place on September 24.
The only candidate, Mr. Ji_i V_ela_ Kotas, the head of federal council
of Conservative Party - Free Block, received only 16 votes in the first
round (of 5th round) in the Czech faction of the House of People and 14
votes from the Slovak faction of the House of Nations. The second round
did not take place because the candidacy was cancelled.
Censorship or Protection of Politicians?
Authorization or Censorship
These are some of headlines of articles about the governmental
press law draft in the Czech press.
Members of the Parliament refused on Thursday September 24 the
proposal of Jana Petrova (ODS) to mute the draft of the press law on the
list of contemporary meeting of both Houses.
Martin Muchka, the Head of Czech republic committee of the National
Mass Media Trade Union, sent an open letter expressing disagreement with
the press law to Federal Deputy Prime Minister A. Baudy_."I cannot under
any circumstance accept the transformation of common authorization into
censorship," wrote Mr. Muchka.
The Syndicate of Journalists protested against this draft of law
and since the law cutdown the freedom of expression in some articles
a number of members of parliament protested against it, including
representatives of governmental coalition. Main criticism centered upon
the duty of the journalist to submit an overview for authorization in
case he/she is asked to do it by interviewee. P. Dostal (Social
Democratic Party) said that it is a way how to silence journalists. Some
other deputies (HZDS and Christian Democratic Movement et al.) interpret
the law as a way how to protect the interviewee.
M. lantovsk_ in Washington, D.C.
Michael Zantovsky, former spokesman for former CSFR president
Vaclav Havel, arrived on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. to assume his
position as the new CSFR ambassador to the US.
"My main task is to explain the process of separation for both
republics," said M. lantovsk_. He also wants to develop good rapports
with the US for both republics.
The new ambassador, who is approved of by a majority of deputies,
has another important task - to prepare the separation of the
Czechoslovak embassy in the USA.
August 29 - Slovak National Holiday
According to the decision made by Slovak national council, August
29 will be a National holiday. During the 2nd World War, on August 29,
1944, the Slovak National Uprising started.
The proposal was announced by a group of deputies from The Party of
Slovak Left and was supported by deputies from HZDS and Hungarian
Christian Democratic Movement.
Increase of Prices of Posts
As we informed you in last issue of Carolina postal services, both
domestic and international, will be more expensive. The increase is
about 180% for domestic postal service, and about 40% for international
postal service.
WEATHER REPORT
During the night September 26-27 (from Saturday to Sunday) we
switched from summer time to Central European Time, but the weather was
still sunny and warm - almost summertime!
In the middle of the week the weather had changed. The temperature
in the morning was below 10 Celsuis, during the day below 20 Celsius.
It was quite rainy in Southern Bohemia, but generally there was
a longlasting lack of rain in our region.
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