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Carolina (English) No 091
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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
Fax: (+422) 231 7391
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 91, Thursday, October 21, 1993.
THIS WEEK'S NEWS (14.-21. Oktober)
October 28 dispute between Republicans and Havel intensifies
The Czech Republican Party dispute with President Vaclav Havel over
celebrations on Wenceslas Square on October 28 is continuing.
As reported in last week's CAROLINA, the far-right Republicans
announced plans three months ago for a memorial demonstration October
28, the date of Czechoslovakia's founding in 1918. In the beginning of
October, Havel said he, too, would visit the statue of Saint Wenceslas.
Premier Vaclav Klaus and Milan Uhde, speaker of parliament announced
their intent to be present. The Republican Party, saying it had reserved
the space, threatened action against other politicians who came to the
statue.
"If Vaclav Havel comes as a civilian he can put a feast wreath on
Saint Wenceslas's foot and venerate, while (Republican chief Miroslav)
Sladek will be standing there," Jan Vik, Republican secretary said
October 15. "But people who are going to be assaulted by the
president's safeguard or other groups have every right to protect
themselves."
Vik also said that members of parliament will ask Jan Ruml,
interior minister, for security.
Social Democrats announced they would go with the president. "The
CSSD's cabinet asked all democratic parties' representatives to attend
with President Vaclac Havel at the Saint Wenceslas's monument
celebration on October 28," said Minister Milos Zeman.
An open telegram was sent to Vaclav Havel asking when and where
should parliamentarians should be on October 28. Liberal Democrats (OH)
and members of the Civil Democratic Alliance (ODA) also plan to attend.
"ODA's representatives are planning on October 28 to come to Saint
Wenceslas's statue regardless of the Republican's meeting," said party
vice-chairman Daniel Kroupa.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic general prosecutor started is
evaluating the Republican activities, according to prosecutor's deputy
Pavel Bret, Rude Pravo reports. The prosecutor is also requesting
a report on the demonstration's course and any conflict between
Republicans and others.
President Vaclav Havel announced that he is planning to celebrate
the national feast twice so the enemies' conflict may not occur. First,
in an official capacity, Havel, along with Primier Klaus, Speaker Uhde
and others will lay a wreath at the monument on October 27. Havel will
also visit the monument at 9 a.m., October 28.
Civic Movement Picks Dienstbier
The weekend congress of the Civic Movement party decided to change
the party's name but keep its old chairman. Jiri Dienstbier will
continue to head the party, the new name for which has yet to be
selected. Tom Sokol was selected vice-chairman.
The liberal democratic party's main aim is success in upcoming
municipal elections.
Even though Civic Movement failed to gain any seats in last year's
election, the party is still active in Czech society. For example,
Dienstbier, who was minister of foreign affairs under the first
post-Communist government, retains a high popularity rating compared to
other politicians.
Liberal democrats criticize the goverment for trying to exert too
much control and influence over various sectors of society. On the other
hand, they praise the efforts of Josef Zieleniec, foreign minister, to
assert his control over foreign affairs.
Civic initiative against violence
Stating that "Indifference and silence begin complicity," a new
group hoping to foster greater tolerance in society formed October 7 in
Prague.
The Movement for Civic Solidarity and Tolerance (HOST) will fight
against violence motivated by discrimination and prejudice.
HOST is trying to inform people about unsolved problems like
fascism, anti-semitism, hatred of national and ethnic minorities, sexism
and homophobia. The initiators of the program feel it's important to
make these problems visible. HOST plans to study individual cases of
outbreaks of group violence, as well as reactions of the country's mass
media and police.
The group also hopes to provide legal protection to victims of
discriminatory attacks and to put presssure on state authorities.
According to a group organizer, Stanislav Penc, HOST is currently
forming contacts in government and police circles, in hopes of obtaining
information to monitor existing fascist groups in the Czech Republic.
HOST would also like to acquire offices, and state financing for its
activities, he said.
Spokespersons for HOST are Petr Bergmann, actress Milena Dvorska,
and director Vlastimil Venclik. Well-known figures such as Fedor Gal and
Petr Uhl took part in forming the group.
SLOVAK AFFAIRS
Slovak Parties Sign Coalition
Two Slovak parties -- the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS)
and the Slovak National Party (SNS) -- agreed Tuesday to form
a coalition.
The agreement, signed by party leaders Vladimir Meciar and Ludovit
Cernak, solved a several-month stalemate between HZDS and SNS in the
Slovak Parliament. The stalemate occurred after several parliament
members defected from the Meciar-led HZDS, leaving it with insufficient
support.
The new coalition will control 80 out of 150 seats in the Slovak
Parliament. According to an anonymous source, the chairman of the SNS
parliamentary club, Marian Andel, is to be appointed new Slovak
government deputy chairman for non-economic affairs, Jozef Prokes, of
SNS, will become the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and SNS leader Cernak
will be appointed deputy chairman of the Slovak parliament.
Roman Kovac (HZDS), the present Slovak vice-premier, will become
Minister of Health, and Jozef Moravcik will be the vice-premier of the
Slovak government for legislation.
Lubomir Feldek Fully Acquitted
A regional law court in Bratislava fully acquitted the Slovak poet
and writer Lubomir Feldek last week and dismissed an action brought
against him by Dusan Slobodnik, Slovak Minister of Culture. Slobodnik
demanded legal protection Feldek published a poem last year alluding to
the minister's fascist past. Feldek also criticized Sloboidnik's
appointment as Minister of Culture.
The Bratislava court said it considers proven that Slobodnik was
a member of the fascist Hlinka Youth at the end of World War II, and
that he participated in a special SS course.
Slobodnik was ordered to defray court costs, after having resorted
to the courts several times.
Slobodnik's attorney said claimed that he would appeal the case and
he didn't rule out the possibility of taking it to the European Court in
Strassbourg.
Frequency 1 - A New Radio Station for Modern Listeners
A private radio station, Frequency 1 (F1) began broadcasting on
October 18. F1 is the second Czech-wide private radio.
A six-year license, gained as a joint project of Europe 2 and Golem
radio stations was granted F1 this March. According to Michael
Fleischmann, the station will offer a quality news service (38 hours
a week), music and "sophisticated entertainment". A morning bloc of F1
consists of various reports (every 15 minutes), sections called
"Happened Indeed", "Slovakia on F1", "Stars Know, Stars Advice",
telephone calls, comments and others.
Broadcasters will include well-known Czech TV personalities Marie
Tomsova and Hana Hermankova, singer Pavel Vitek, newscaster Michal
Muckstein (originally with Europe 2) and a Slovak journalist Zuzana
Bubilkova, who worked for the Czech TV until October.
This new station can be tuned in on 102,5 FM in Prague, 104,5 in
Brno and Pilsen and 93, 5 in Usti nad Labem.
Czech Film Goers Sweat While Seeing Dinosaurs
Director Steven Spielberg, despite an earlier announcement, didn't
make it to the Prague primier of Jurassic Park, however, many Czech VIPs
did, including President Vaclav Havel. (He liked it !)
The film, T-shirts, cups, toys, cassettes and books are sure to make
a lot of money in the Czech Republic.
Arthur Hailey in the Czech Republic
Bestselling author Arthur Hailey and his wife Sheila came to Prague
on Oct. 18th. The author of novels that have sold 150 million copies and
been translated into 38 languages was invited by Talpress Publishers,
which published an autobiographical book by Sheila Hailey, "I Married
a Bestseller," in Czech.
It is the first visit of 73-year old Hailey to Prague. He told Mlada
Fronta Dnes:" I've been following the history of your country since
1938 when I lived in England. I remember 1948, the year when you first
got under Russian influence, as well as 1968, the year of the Russian
military invasion." According to Sheila, who keeps her eye on Hailey's
correspondence, most of the letters have so far came from Germany and
the Czech Republic.
The program of Hailey's visit is literally counted out into minutes.
It consists of a lecture given at Philosophical Faculty of Charles
University, a reception for Hailey by fellow author Vaclav Havel, and
visits to the Skoda factory in Mlada Boleslav and to wine cellars in
Southern Moravia. Hailey departs on Oct. 24th.
Parlament Canceled the State Monopoly on Cinematography
The state monopoly on cinematography, established by decrees of
President Eduard Benes, ended October 15.
So decided Czech parliamentarians, who passed a new law concerning
conditions of production, circulation and archiving of audiovisual
works. The rights and commitments of the one-time monopoly studios of
Barrandov and Zlin are now passed over to the State Fund for the Support
and Development of Cinematography.
According to the law, producers will be now obliged to offer the
National Film Archive two copies of every new film. At the same time,
the copyright of the movies made between 1945-1990 will passed to the
archive. However, Deputy Minister of Culture Michal Prokop (ODA) claimed
that this in fact means a new state monopoly emerging after passing this
new law.
Parliament dropped a goverment proposal for a one-crown tax on every
film or videocassette rented. However, according to the Czech Minister
of Culture Jindrich Kabat, the Fund will thus lose half of its planned
income for the next year. A one-crown tax on movie tickets passed.
National Gallery Won't Lose Valuable Paintings
A Prague judge has ruled that Vincent Kramar was not under
political pressure when he donated his collection of paintings to the
National Gallery in 1960.
A Prague city judge upheld an earlier Prague 1 District Court
ruling that the paintings were given freely. Kramar's children had filed
a restitution claim, maintaining the donation was forced.
Kramar's collection represents of valuable paintings from the
workshops of Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Andre Derain, and others
represents 30 percent of the Gallery's collection.
Prague Bunkr To Close
Having fought for its existence for more than a year, the rock club
Bunkr must leave its current address within six months. The
long-running conflict between Prague 1 representatives and negotiator
Richard Nemcok ended October 18 with the decision of the Prague 1
District Court.
Area residents, among others, petitioned for the club's closure. The
club was warned by district authorities in August 1992 about
disturbances of the peace both in the club and in nearby streets.
Richard Nemcok signed an agreement with the housing authority in June,
but the court ruled that the housing authority didn't have the right to
sign the agreement. Prague was declared proprietor, and the six-month
deadline set.
During its three years of operation, this club, with the longest
bar in Prague, has gained a considerable reputation. Both young Praguers
and foreigners take advantage of the 6 a.m. closing time and many live
concerts. The joining of a club with radio -- Radio 1 broadcasts from
one floor up, and relays some club happenings -- can only be found in
Prague or Amsterdam. While open, one could meet numerous renowned
personlities there -- from President Vaclav Havel and Interior Minister
Jan Ruml to the musical group Guns'n'Roses.
Exchange Rates of CR National Bank (price rates)
buy sell
Britan GBP 41,79 44,63
France FRF 4,80 5,20
Canada CAD 21,05 22,83
Austria ATS 2,46 2,58
Germany DEM 17,20 18,12
USA USD 28,37 29,77
The exchange rates are valid since October 21.
SPORT
Sparta vs. Anderlecht 0:1
The Belgian team Anderlecht defeated Prague's Sparta 1-0 on
Wednesday. The first soccer match of the second round European Champion
Cup was played in Letna Stadium, with the winning goal coming in the
74th minute.
Both teams assumed a devastating tempo, and several times Sparta
dangerously reached the opposing team's goal. The same kind of luck was
shared by Anderlecht. The game had a dramatic nature, and both teams
played actively and energetically. The Belgians ruled the second half,
as Sparta's strength waned.
Sparta trainer Dobias was positive in the first half. In his
oppinion, the players, although not without fault, gave their maximum.
Boscamp, trainer of the Anderlecht team, believed in his charge's
victory, and is satisfied with the outcome.
Tennis: Czech Republic to Play Israel in First Round of Davis Cup
A London defeat has put Czech players into the first round of the
second-year Davis Cup. The contest will be March 25-27, in Israel.
WEATHER
Last weekend, it snowed in the mountains. In the valleys,
heating began with briquettes recycled from old Czechoslovak money.
A ton is available for 1400 Czech crowns.
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