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Carolina (English) No 039A
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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
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 39, Friday, September 4, 1992.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST DAYS (From August 19 to September 2)
Slovak Constitution Confirmed
114 of 134 members of parliament of Slovak National Council
presented voted for Constitution of Slovak Republic on September 1,
1992. This act was the only item on the program of the 5th meeting of
Slovak parliament.
Analyzing the draft of Constitution, Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar
said: "This is the first constitution discussed at the Slovak national
council without any external influence and based upon attitudes and
ideas within our society. It refuses fasism, antisemitism and
nationalism and guarrantees democracy, freedom and respect to law."
As well as during voting for Declaration of Slovak Sovereignty
(July 17 - Carolina # 37), each memeber of the Parliament has to vote
loudly, which means they declare publicly whether they are for
Constitution or not. Members of Christian Democrats' Movement lead by
former premier J. Carnogursky voted against the Constitution. Members of
Hungarian minorities' parties didnot take part in the whole process and
left the hall.
The honor signing of the Constitution by Prime Minister V. Meciar
and Chairman of the Slovak NAtional Council takes place at Bratislava
Castle on Thuserday September 3, 1992. Slovak National Council, Slovak
government and Slovak members ofthe Federal government will be present.
Prime minister of the Federal government J. Stransky, Czech Prime
minister V. Klaus and Chairman of Czech National Council has been
invited, too.
CSFR only until December 31, 1992?
5th meeting of Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and Movement for
Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) designed for Thuserday was surrounded by
diffenrent tensions caused by the letter send to V. Klaus (ODS) by V.
Meciar (HZDS) saying that other meeting is "unsuitable". The reason
seemed to be violation of agreements from Czech side and disagreement on
right person for position of director of Federal Save and Information
Agency (FBIS).
The meeting finally took place a the discussions were surprisingly
calm and clear. Both sides were speaking about spliting Czechoslovakia
into two countries for the first time. Czech republic and Slovak
republic will be established in January 1, 1993. The separation of
currencies as well as custom service has not be discussed. There will
probably be a temporary custom, currency and defence union.
Agreement between two political parties cannot lead to separation
of both republics. It might be done after the law "about ways of falling
apart the federation" will be confirmed by Federal Assembly.
Alexander Dubcek Badly Hurt At Car Accident
Bad injuries of ribs and chest and some inner injuries are the
result of serious car accident of Mr. Dubcek's car at the highway 88 km
from Prague. His BMW left the road in rainy weather and fell down the
hill. A. Dubcek was delivered to the Prague hospital and condition of
his health is serious.
Increase of Prices of Fuel, Beer, Liquers and Cigarettes
There will be new turnover taxes for fuel, liquers and cigarettes.
The price of traveling in sleepeng vans of trains, as well as price of
water will increase. Slected list of medicaments will be also paid by
citizens and since October 92 the fee for phone calls will inrease, too.
Comments in Czech press: On August 4 federal finantial minister Jan
Klak claimed that "No solution has been made in this field". He repeated
it on August 5. On August 27 minister Klak announced increase of
turnover tax. Is it possible that the minister didn't know about such
plan? Anyway, journalists asked him, because they "smelt something in
the air". It was just in the oven, is the solution of Jiri Franek from
Lidove noviny in article "Game with the Confidence".
Jiri V. Kotas Candidate for Czechoslovak President
Jiri V. Kotas, the leader of federal board of conservative party
Free Block, is the only candidate for federal presidency until now. The
election will take place on September 24.
In interview concerning the end of federation For Mlada Fronta Dnes
daily he said, "I don't think the law of canceling the federation will
get the three fifth majority in Federal Assembly. Furthermore, the law
is about 'ways' of canceling the federation, not about canceling itself.
And finally, there is the president who may sign the law or not."
To Whom the Slovaks Believe
The vast majority (50,3%) of Slovak citizens trust V. Meciar, the
Slovak Prime Minister and Leader of HZDS. According to public polling
done at the end of July and beginning of September, P. Weiss (Party of
Democratic Leftists) and A. Dubcek (Social democrats) follow. V. Klaus
with less than 15% is on the 4th position and V. Havel with less than
9% on the 5th position.
Modest Celebrations of the Slovak National Uprising
On Saturday, August 29 (the date of the outbreak of the
antifascist uprising during the Second World War) representatives of the
Slovak National Council and the Slovak government placed wreaths on the
memorial to the Slovak National Uprising in Bratislava. This was the
first time the celebrations of the SNP were transferred from the central
Slovak town of Banska Bystrica, the epicenter of the uprising, to the
Slovak capital. The press noted only a few hundred spectators. Cesky
denik (August 31) reported that, probably for the last time in the
history of official celebrations, the Czechoslovak national anthem was
played. At memorial celebrations in Banska Bystrica, Alexander Dubcek
was among those who participated.
September First -- Beginning of a New School Year
For students in primary and middle schools, on Tuesday a new
school year began. During their ten-month academic year, the students
can look forward to a ten-day break at Christmas and a one-week Spring
Break. There is a one-day pause at mid-term, and Easter vacation lasts
a couple of days.
The academic year at the universities begins traditionally in
October.
Forest Fire Halts Traffic on Expressway
The greatest forest fire in recent years in Slovakia brought
traffic on the last August weekend on the freeway between Bratislava and
Brno to a screeching halt (segment D2 Lozorno-Kuty). The fire, which
broke out on Saturday, was finally put out on Tuesday. The firefighters'
work was hampered by strong winds, which spread sparks a distance of
more than 200 meters. Flames reached heights of 100 meters. There was no
loss of life, but property damage will reach many millions of crowns.
A strip of territory 17 km long and 3 km wide was burned out. The cause
of the fire is unknown.
There were also fires in the forests of Northern Moravia over the
weekend.
CULTURE
World Record Knedlik-Eater
155 plum dumplings were devoured in one hour by Frantisek
Pohorsky from Tecovice, near Zlin in Southern Moravia. This feat took
place during the traditional festivities surrounding the plum distilling
at Vizovice. Plum (svestkove or trnkove) dumplings belong among
Moravia's favorite sweets. The plums are wrapped in a flour-dough (the
thinner the covering, the better the cook), they are boiled in water,
sprinkled with sugar or sugar mixed with poppy seeds, and basted with
melted butter. (Translator's note: and they're deadly delicious).
F. Pohorsky gained three and one half kilograms during his record
performance.
THE WEATHER
A Tropical August
The highest temperature of the year in the Czech Republic was
measured on August 9 in Bechyne: 37.7 degrees Celsius; and the highest
in Slovakia at Topolcany on August 29: 38 degrees.
The average daily temperature in the Czech Republic was around
8 to 10 degrees higher than normal for the end of August.
At the Clementinum in Prague records of temperature have been
kept since 1775, and this year's summer brought 6 record temperatures.
The beginning of September brought with it a noticeable cooling
trend, with morning temperatures around 10 degrees, and on their first
journey to school, the pupils (at least in Prague) were sprinkled with
rain -- perhaps for luck! By way of explanation, it's a folk saying here
that if it rains on a wedding, it is raining good luck for the bride and
groom.
* * *
The editors of Carolina would like to remind our readers that, beginning
with this number, we will be coming out again on a regular schedule,
each Friday.
Translation: Jan Jirak and Hugh Agnew
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