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Carolina (English) No 044
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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 44, Friday, October 9, 1992.
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We are apologizing for the late distribution of our journal.
The reason was technical.
Editors
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THE EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK (September 30 - October 7.)
Law of Ways for Dissolving the Federation did not Pass
The government proposal of the constitutional law of ways which
would dissolve the Czechoslovak Federation Republic did not pass in
Parliament Thursday, October 1. The draft of law offered four
possibilities; the division of the state through a declaration of the
Federal Assembly, by agreement between Czech National Council and Slovak
National Council, by referendum organized according to federal law by
Federal Assembly or national councils, by resigning of one of republics
or through other ways of expressing will within limits of constitution.
Passing the law by three fifths would have been necessary in each
house of Parliament, and since the government coalition cannot provide
that amount of votes, a narrow margin was expected.
In Czech and Slovak parts of the House of Nations three votes would
have been necessary for passing the law. In the House of People only one
one vote is required. Newspaper headlines on Friday read: "Narrow
Victory of Oposition" (Cesky denik - Czech Daily), "Coalition
Overestimated its possibilities" (Svobodne slovo - Free Word), "Red
Light for Extinction of CSFR" (Lidova demokracie - Peoples' Democracy).
The recent political development may be due in part to the refusal of
changes proposed by oposition. I. Fisera of the Czechoslovka Social
Democratic Party (CSSD) proposed to affirm the termination of the
republics by "confirming the referendum".
The government coalition was more surprised by the fact that the
Parliament accepted the proposal of M. Zeman (CSSD) to establish
a commision for preparation of a Czecho-Slovak Union. Deputies from
Czech leftist parties, Republicans and Movement for Democratic Slovakia
(HZDS) voted in favor of the proposal. The Civic Democratic Party ODS
party critisized the members of HZDS who voted for the referendum for
violating previous agreements. The situation appeared to be serious. The
Slovak government cancelled a meeting with the Czech government and
suggested a new meeting between ODS and HZDS representatives.
The Czech partner finally agreed and the session did not appear to
be controversional.
7th Meeting of Delegations of ODS and HZDS
(instead of meeting of governments)
January 1, 1993, will mark the end of the Czecho-Slovak federation
and the beginning of bilateral agreements between Czech and Slovak
republics.
Both delegations agreed that attempts to establish any union (like
Mr. Zeman's proposal) are of no use.
Various aspects of bilateral agreements between future independent
states were discussed in a meeting between the representatives of ODS
and HZDS on October 6 in Jihlava. Another meeting is scheduled for
October 10 or 13 where both governments plan to negotiate the terms of
future agreeements.
Basic bilateral agreements should be passed by national councils in
November and ratification of them will be completed on or before January
1, 1993.
The outcome of the 7th meeting of the delegations was announced by
Mr. V. Meciar (Slovak Prime Minister and HZDS leader) and Mr. V. Klaus
(Czech Prime Minister and ODS leader). Both ensured journalists and
viewers during a press conference on October 7 that they are aware of
the responsibility they have before them. They also expressed hope that
future relations between both republics will be beneficial for people
living in both republics.
Draft of Press Law Withdrawn by Federal Government
As noted in our last issue, the draft of a new press law was
critisized not only by professionals and mass media trade unions, but
also by a number of members of parliament.
On Wednesday, September 30, the Federal government took back the
draft and decided not to offer a new one.
Civic Movement (OH) Is a Party
The Civic Movement (OH), one of successors of former Covic Forum
(OF), has declared itself an official party in a convention held last
weekend. The party also decided to cancel the collective free
membership. The title will remain the same, and former Foreign Minister
of the CSFR, Mr. Jiri Dienstbier, was re-elected to lead the party.
Havel Supports a Direct Election of Czech President
Former Czechoslovak president Vaclav Havel suggested a direct
election for Czech president as opposed to the current system of
referendum. He said this way of election should be inacted only for the
first president and this would subsidise the referendum about a Czech
independent state.
The president has responsibilities other than government and should
be elected by people other than by those who give the confidence to the
government, he said. (The government is confirmed by the parliament, and
the president is elected by parliament in Czechoslovakia).
In a press conference last weekend, Mr. Havel did not exclude the
non-constitutional vanishing of CSFR. States and republics are not
created and dissolved according to valid constitutions, he said.
Czechoslovakia has not been established according to constitution of
Austrio-Hungarian monarchy of 1918.
Restriction of Production in Skoda Company in Plzen Started
Only 1200 emloyees of 5 enterprises of Skoda Company Plzen
temporarily lost their jobs on October 1, though management originally
announced that most of 21 enterprises of this machinery company would be
closed (Carolina 42).
According to negotiations between management and trade unions, all
employees who lost their jobs during the period of non-voluntary
vacations will get 60% of their income (trade unions demanded originally
100%) and cannot be terminated for 3 months after returning to work.
Alexander Dubcek's Surgery
A. Dubcek, who was seriously injured in a car accident on September
1, underwent emergency abdomen surgery. The surgery was completed
without complication, though Mr. Dubcek's condition is still very
serious with pneumonia.
The Mayor of the Italian city of Bologna and two Italian doctors
visited him on Thursday, October 1. The possibility of transfering the
patient to Italy for complex surgery of spine was considered, but not
accepted by Prague doctors because of his delicate state. Mr. Dubcek's
sons asked for him to be tranfered to Brno, but this request was also
denied.
Abortion for 2500 to 3000 Czechoslovak Crowns (Kcs)
On October 15 the Czechoslovak Ministry of Health announced a new
regulation that would allow a Czechoslovak woman to receive an abortion
for up to 3000 Kcc. The average month income in CSFR is 4297 Kcs.
Abortion was performed free of charge until now.
Czech gynecologic-obstetrical society will ask the Minister of
Health to postpone the date for three months, in order to allow women to
receive information about paid abortion and have opportunity to ask for
contraception. Chairman of the Society, Professor L. Pilka said this is
the only way the regulation may work as a tool of education and not as
a punishment.
According to Pilka, Czechoslovakia is has a low development for
contraceptives use. Abortion is the leading form of birth control, with
80 abortions for every 100 born babies.
Abortion due to health reasons will continue to be free of charge.
This measure is sure to place increased pressure upon the doctors.
WEATHER
No changes in this last week.
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