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Carolina (English) No 057A
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STUDENTS' E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECH REPUBLIC
School of Social Sciences of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail address: carolina@n.fsv.cuni.cs
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 57, Friday, January 8, 1993.
Dear Readers,
just before distributing this issue of Carolina, we attempted to
correct the heading of our weekly. A question arose, what address to
name for postal contacts, also to answer your frequent inquirires. We
phoned CTK (Czech Press Bureau) and asked for the official English name
of our republic, as well as for an abbreviation to replace the former
CSFR. Only at the fourth attempt we ascertained definitively that Ceska
republika is Czech Republic, but that no abbreviation has been adopted
yet. Accordingly, we recommend to include the whole name in the address.
At the same time, we would like to draw your attention to a change in
our e-mail address to which you can write to us:
carolina@n.fsv.cuni.cs
We wish you all the happiness in year 1993.
Editors.
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FROM THE EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK (Dec. 30, 1992 to Jan. 6, 1993)
With The Split Of Czechoslovakia, Europe Has One More Country
After more than 74 years of existence, Czechoslovakia ceased to
exist, and two independent subjects were born on its territory on
January 1, 1993.
Czech Republic has a population of about 10,305,000, ranking 14th
among European countries. Its territory measures 78,862 square
kilometres, placing it on the 22nd rung in Europe (following Austria).
Slovak Republic, with more than five million inhabitants, is 22nd
in Europe, and by area of 49,014 square kilometres, it is 27th.
The two states are separated by a border 265 kilometres long, along
which the customs officers started to check passing vehicles on January
1st.
Relations between Czech and Slovak Republic are regulated by 25
treaties, starting January 1.
Slovakia Rejoiced
One minute before New Year's midnight, the Czechoslovak flag was
lowered from the Bratislava Castle. By the stroke of midnight, the flag
of the independent Slovak Republic was hoisted to the sounds of the
Slovak national anthem. This is the beginning of the Monday report by
the Czech Daily (Cesky Denik) on the celebrations of Slovak
independence. The deputies of the National Council of SR welcomed the
independence by a New Year's ceremonial session on which its chairman
Ivan Gasparovic declared that it is in the interests of Slovakia to
maintain friendly relations with the Czechs. Youth Front Today (Mlada
Fronta Dnes), in its Monday issue, brings reports from Bratislava and
Kosice, under the headline Slovakia Rejoices But a Tough Year Is Ahead.
The paper writes that according to Premier Vladimir Meciar's New Year's
speech on television, it is necessary to draw a thick line after the
past. Coming to terms with the past, he said, should have the character
of atonement. He emphasized: "This atonement does not mean forgetting,
consequently no political space will be made for the return of old
former power holders to political and state powers." Mlada Fronta Dnes
reports that estimates of the turnout on the celebration in the Slovak
National Uprising Square spread from 10 to 30 thousand.
The Birth of the Czech State
The sound of the state anthem of the Czech Republic marked the
opening of a ceremonial session of the House of Deputies of the Czech
Parliament of CR, which took place on Friday, January 1, in the
Vladislav Hall of the Prague Castle. According to the Constitution of
CR, which came into effect on January 1 of this year, the Parliament is
the highest legislative assembly of the republic. It consists of the
House of deputies, whose members are all 200 deputied of the former
Czech National Council, and of the Senate which has yet to be filled.
After the anthem, the Chairman of the House of Deputies MilanUhde
and Premier Vaclav Klaus gave ceremonial speeches.
"The Czech Governmental Coalition, as it arose from the June
elections, did not see its mission as a negative task, as a task to
destroy something, but rather saw it as a positive task. We had to
demonstrate that even a painful matter such as splitting a state, of
which especially we Czechs have grown so fond, can be approached in
a civilized, cultured manner, and it need not at all lead to building
a Chinese Wall from Jablunkov to Breclav. That it is possible as well as
bilaterally advantageous to preserve, under different conditions,
a maximum of bonds which have developed during more than seventy years
of the existence of the Czechoslovak state," said Vaclav Klaus in his
speech.
Absent from the session were all deputies from the Association for
the Republic - The Republican Party of Czechoslovakia. This way they
protested against the splitting of the federation.
Members of the former Federal Assembly, who were elected in the
Czech Republic, Ministers of the Czech Government, and members of the
Prague Diplomatic Corps were present as guests at the session.
Among the guests were also former Czechoslovak President Vaclav
Havel, and the Archbishop of Prague, Miloslav Vlk.
New Republics Recognized by Scores of Countries
Scores of countries that have recognized CR and SR include all
neighbouring countries and the states of the European Community. As of
January 6, according to the information gathered by CTK, CR has been
recognized by 76 countries and SR by 72 countries.
Investigation of the Consulate Bugging Device Case Continues
The investigation of the bugging case at the American Consulate in
Bratislava, which was reported in Carolina Nb. 53, has not concluded
yet. Former federal deputy minister of the interior S. Lastovka said
that future investigation will be exclusively in the competence of the
Slovak Republic. The case will be taken over by the martial region
prosecution in Bratislava. During the investigation, it was allegedly
revealed how large a part of the installation of the device was that of
the former State Security.
Two New Czech Ministers on the Verge of the Year
The last federal premier Jan Strasky (Civic Democratic Party)
became the Minister of Transport, and the member of his former Cabinet,
Antonin Baudys (Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak Folk Party)
became the Minister of Defence.
According to Slovak premier Vladimir Meciar, is it not possible to
appoint the Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic yet because this
right belongs to the competence of the future President of the Slovak
Republic.
CULTURE
Czech Coronation Jewels
After the festive meeting of the Deputy Chamber of Czech Parliament
on Friday, January 1, its members and guests had a chance to see the
coronation jewels in the St. Vitus' Chaple in the St. Vitus' Cathedral.
All seven keepers of the keys were present at the opening of the
crown chamber and the removal of the jewels: chairman of the Deputy
Chamber Milan Uhde, Czech premier Vaclav Klaus, general vicar forane of
the Prague Archdiccese bishop Jaroslav Skarvada, Lord Major Milan Kondr,
the head of the Office of the President of the Republic Lubos Dobrovsky
and Prague archbishop Miloslav Vlk. The seventh key belonged to the
Chairman of the Federal Assembly.
The coronation jewels will be prepared for the public by the
conservationists probably for a period of just ten days during the
second half of January, due to security reasons. The last time the
jewels were available for public viewing was 14 years ago at an
exhibition devoted to the great personality of the Czech history, King
Charles IV.
Singing Fountain Rejoiced
It was for the first time when Krizik's fountain at the Prague
Exhibition Grounds performed a great colorful water show playing the
Christmas carols on that Eve. Smetana's symphony Vltava, Anthem of the
Czech Republic, and the poems of Czech poet Jiri Zacek were heard as
well.
Foundation Generation Presents Itself
Association of Czech graphic artists HOLLAR in cooperation with the
National Gallery in Prague opened on January 6 an exhibition with
a title Foundation Generation SCUG HOLLAR 1918-1938.
Exchange rate of the Czechoslovak Crown
Purchase Sale
USA 1USD 28.40 29.80
BRD 1DEM 17.31 18.23
GB 1GBP 42.32 45.46
AUT 1ATS 2.47 2.59
FRA 1FRF 5.05 5.37
The rates are as of January 6,1993.
SPORT
Silver for The Czech Republic
On December 30 at the ski-jump competition Intersportturne in
Oberstdorf, Czechoslovakia was for the first time in its post-war
history represented by two independent teams. For the Czech Republic
there were Jiri Parma, Jaroslav Sakala, Silvestr Mikulastik and
Frantisek Jez. Slovak part was represented by Martin Svagerko and
Miloslav Lepko.
The best result in our team in the third competition of the 41st
year of Intersportturne was achieved on January 3, in Insbruck by
Jaroslav Sakala who took second place.
WEATHER
While still at the beginning of this week, the thermometer kept
dropping below zero, sometimes to 20 degrees below zero. On Wednesday it
was raining (at least in Prague) and freezing drops on the roads and
pavements made them shinny and slippery for pedestrians and cars.
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