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Carolina (English) No 046
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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 46, Friday, October 23, 1992.
FROM LAST WEEK'S EVENTS (October 14 - 21)
Presidential jurisdiction to Vladimir Meciar
Since Wednesday October 14, Slovak Premier Vladimir Meciar has been
granted some jurisdiction of the presidential post of the Slovak
Republic.
He was given the authority through the constitution of the Slovak
Republic by the Slovak government. This jurisdiction includes
negotiating and ratifying international contracts, accepting and
appointing ambassadors, distribution of official decorations, granting
amnesty, and the excusing, softening and rescinding of punishments
imposed by criminal courts.
Federal Premier Jan Strasky proclaimed this decision a change in the
constitutional state in Czechoslovakia, since the law to grant amnesty
is an apparent contradiction with the so far valid constitutional state.
According to Strasky, only the president of the Czech and the Slovak
Federal Republic is permitted to grant amnesty. After Vaclav Havel's
resignation his jurisdiction was taken over by the federal government
and also by the federal parliament. In some cases the president is
represented by Federal Premier Strasky.
When asked how he regards the fact that the Slovak premier took over
some presidential jurisdiction, Czech premier Vaclav Klaus said: "I do
not intend to take over similar jurisdiction in the Czech Republic."
According to the Party of Democratic Left Wing, the president of
Slovak Republic should be elected within one month since the
contemporary state of power concentrated in the hands of the premier is
only provisional. The Party will initiate the presidential election in
the National Council of the Slovak Republic (the new name of the Slovak
National Council according to the constitution of the Slovak Republic.)
Opposition supports direct presidential election
The representatives of the opposition from the Czech National
Council - the Czechoslovak Democracy, Liberal Social Union and Movement
for Self-governing Democracy Association for Moravia and Silesia - met
with ex-president Vaclav Havel on October 20.
Havel said the opposition clearly understands that the process of
dividing the state is inevitable and wants to cooperate constructively,
but would be delighted if the coalition paid more attention to the
opponents. They also agreed with Havel's proposal of electing the first
Czech president in a direct and general election.
Damming up of Danube postponed to November 7
Allegedly for technical reasons, the damming up of the bed of the
river Danube will be postponed. The original plan of constructing the
Gabcikovo - Nagymaros waterwork purely on the Czechoslovakian ground (so
called variant C) was supposed to come into force as early as Tuesday
October 20.
The postponement was imposed by the Slovak government. Its spokesman
B. Geci said, according to Wednesday's daily Lidove Noviny, the river
will not be dammed because of high water. According to the same source,
the Slovak government reminds that in the case of Gabcikovo, the
construction is entirely Czechoslovakia's enterprise, making the federal
government responsible in dealing with the Hungarian cabinet. It is not
assumed that the federal government would make a decision whether the
Danube should be dammed or not and whether all works will keep to the
plan.
Minister of the Environment of the Slovak Republic Jozef Zlocha said
on Tuesday to the reporter of the daily Lidove Noviny, that there are no
real technical reasons. The Slovak government regards the main problem
in bilateral, respectively lateral talks, which are due between
Czechoslovakia, Hungary and the European Community.
The headline "Antall appeals to world to help Hungary" presented
information according to which Hungarian premier Jozsef Antall allegedly
sent a letter abroad demanding support of the Hungarian approach in the
case of Gabcikovo "as to prevent building a conflict situation."
Antall accuses Czechoslovakia of breaking the international law,
particularly the Hungarian teritorial integrity, with continuing the
works on the Dunabe. Antall appeals to statesmen to exercise their
political, moral and human influence to prevent Czechoslovakia from
damming up the Dunabe at least until the final decision of international
institutions. The addressees of the letters include Presidents Bush,
Jelcin, Mitterand and Premiers Kohl and Major and the European Community
Premier Delors. 30-40 opposers to the Gabcikovo waterworks protested
yesterday against the final work on the construction by going down the
river Dunabe on rubber boats from Bratislava up to the dam near Cunov
where the river-bed is planned to be dammed up.
Czech studies in Slovakia and Slovaks in Bohemia
There are 2,899 Slovak inhabitants studying in Bohemia and 2,707
Czechs studying in Slovak universities.
From January 1, 1993, when two states become independent and until
the end of the 92/93 school year, there should not be any change in the
numbers stated above. Changes will only occur through individual student
request.
In the following school year, the study of Slovaks in Bohemia and
the Czech in Slovakia should be modified through inter-governmental
cultural agreements on the grounds of reciprocal relations. According to
the information from the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Physical
Education, the number of students studying in the different republics
will drop.
Students of the Film Academy of Musae Arts oppose Jiri Menzel
To protest against formal participation of director Jiri Menzel in
the post of the Head of the Department of Direction at the Academy,
students went on strike as of Thursday, October 15. They demand the
removal of both Menzel and his Deputy, whose professional quality is
disputed by students.
Menzel, who interrupted his bussiness tour in France, describes the
problem as students' unwillingness to subordinate to study-discipline.
He says that in the case of his departure he will be followed other
outstanding Czech directors Dusan Klein and Vera Chytilova.
The Dean of the Academy proclaimed the strike illegal and demands an
apology to J. Menzel. Both of them were invited by students to
a session of the Academical Senate.
Slovak University Students Protest
Slovak University Union protests against the decision of the
Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic, blocking the accounts of
the University of Trnava. The appeal is to all students to contribute as
much as possible to the account of the Foundation Universitas
Tyrnaviensis, number 4-000-173-305/3100 at the General Credit Bank
Bratislava. Their appeal was published in Czech press as well. (The cause
of the University of Trnava conflict was described in detail in Carolina
42.)
Violence Against Journalists Matter of Interrogation
The investigator of the inspection of the Czech Ministry of Interior
ordered on Monday, October 19 prosecution for the abuse of jurisdiction
of a public agent.
The crime was allegedly committed by so far unknown policemen who,
on Sunday October 11, "used unjustified physical violence and verbal
offenses on several acredited journalists during the course of their
profession" on the horse-race field in East-Bohemian Pardubice.
In at least one case, some police officers deprived
a photo-reporter of his film. The prosecution could be extended to
include the crime of robery.
The appropriation of the police action during the sport-enterprise
in Pardubice belonged to broadly discussed issues in last week's mass
media. To give a complete account of the situation, it is necessary to
state that immediately before the start of the most difficult race on
the European continent, the policemen dispersed with batons and kicked
a group of young people demonstrating for animal rights. Approximately
300 anarchists and environmentalists (not only from Czechoslovakia) ran
confused around the race area, blocking with their bodies the most
dangerous obstacle, the Taxis ditch. The obastacle has resulted in the
death of more than 20 horses throughout its history.
Several young men threw themselves under the hoofs of the horses,
even after the start of the race. Confused animals then approached Taxis
which even finished the ambitions for the favorites. Those that had
fallen included the English Cortes, the winner of the Grand National,
and Zeleznik, who had previously won this race 4 times, didn't make the
jump and his jockey, Vana, flew over his head. The final plane was
completed by 6 horses with Quirinus in the lead. His jockey, Brecka,
said that even in a direct race Zeleznik would not have passed Quirinus.
The only reason why the winning horse cannot participate in Liverpool
is a lack of finance.
The police action was proclaimed inadequate even by the fans. The
daily Mlada Fronta will take legal action since their photo-reporter
Martin Ruzicka was apparently attacked without provocation.
Czechoslovak Radar System Detects Invisable Aircraft
In the biggest Moravian city of Brno, the Invex international fair
of computers, telecomunications and office equipment takes place this
week.
The fair will showcase the world's premier of the Czechoslovakia
system Tamara, which has the ability to detect even so-called invisible
aircraft such as the American B-2 bomber. The device itself does not
send any signals, but receives aircraft impulses from a radar system,
navigating and telecommunications equipment, from which the signals are
then selected.
CULTURAL SERVICE
Exhibition of Gothic Paintings
A unique exhibition of 18 restored paintings by Master Theodorick
from the 14th century, located in the Saint Cross Chaple on the castle
Karlstejn, was inaugurated on October 15 in Prague and will run until
January 31.
Festival of Historic Music
The first annual Czechoslovakia's International Festival of Old
Music takes place in Prague from October 17 - 27. In the renderings of
Czechoslovak, as well as foreign assemblies from Great Britain, United
States, Italy, Austria, France and Russia, one can hear baroque,
renessiance and jazz compositions. The festival is under the patronage
of the European Communities, UNESCO and the Czech Ministry of Culture.
Radiobroadcast in Podebrady
Podebrady, a spa town in central Bohemia, hosted a festival of
original radio broadcast creations Prix Bohemia 1992, for five days,
beginning Tuesday, October 20. This show presented 35 Czech radio plays,
including fairy-tales and artistic light programs.
SPORT SERVICE
As requested, we are including a new regular column to inform you of
the most interesting sport results in Czechoslovakia. We presume that
you are already provided with information about successes of
Czechoslovakian sportsmen in international competitions.
FOOTBALL
Slovan Bratislava, defender of the mastery title, leads after nine
rounds in all-national Football League in front of Dunajska Streda after
both the teams gained 14 point each. In the following positions are
Olomouc and a greenhorn of the highest competition, Brno, with 12 points.
The oldest clubs of Czechoslovakia - Sparta and Slavia - rank five,
respectively, and seven. The chart is closed with the Prague's
army-team Dukla.
From the results of Wednesday's Cup matches:
-The Cup of Masters of European Countries: Slovan Bratislava-AC Milan
0:1
-The Cup of Masters of the Cups: Werder Bremy - Sparta Praha 2:3 (Sparta
led already 2:0 and the second half time played without removed
Chovanec.)
-The Cup UEFA: Fenerbahce Istanbul - Olomouc 1:0
HOCKEY
In the last year of the federal hockey league Litvinov, who after a
persuasive beginning, slightly hesitated recently, is in the lead (17
points) after 11 rounds - suprisingly followed by Ceske Budejovice (14
points). Last master Dukla Jihlava is not in form and that is why it
ranks seven among 14 teams. In the past, succesful Pardubice holds last
place, having been beaten on Tuesday on the domestic ice by 8 goals.
WEATHER
This year's beautiful autumn brought along colder weather and also
eagerly expected rain this week. This year's first snow appeared in the
mountains. The temperature moves around 10 degrees, but night time
temperatures drop below zero. Following days are expected to be even
colder, preserving a clear or slightly cloudy sky.
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We would like to include in Carolina more information about
Czechoslovakia and Czech and Slovak people living abroad. This
information will be summarized in a special page which will be published
approximately once a month. This page will consist of articles sent by
the readers and we encourage your contributions. The topics can vary
from the life of Czech and Slovaks, information related to events in
Czechoslovakia, the attitudes of foreign readers towards Czechoslovakia
and cultural, political and economic reports. The size of the
contribution can extend from a few lines to several pages.
-Carolina Editorial Staff
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