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Carolina (English) No 096
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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) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 96, Friday, November 26, 1993.
EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (NOVEMBER 18-25)
Havel Signs Criminal Law Amendment
President Vaclav Havel signed an amended criminal law November 23,
even though it contained criminal punishments for criticizing the
government. Havel didn't use his power to return the bill to Parliament
for further discussion.
As reported in the previous edition of CAROLINA, Havel was
displeased with a section of the bill outlining punishment for Czechs
verbally attacking Parliament, the government or the Constitutional
Court.
Havel did suggest to the Constitutional Court that it abolish this
section. But press accounts noted that a law must be in operation before
it can be challenged in the Constitutional Court, and expressed doubts
whether the president's suggestion is valid.
Havel also asked the government to pass legislation more precisely
defining the sorts of statements covered by the law.
Josef Zieleniec Negotiates in Bonn
Following a meeting with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel
November 23, Czech Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec said German
political concerns ahead of next year's parliamentary elections will
keep Czech demands for compensation to the victims of Nazism from being
met. Czech casualties due to interior political reasons.
In other developments, the ministers expressed interest in the
Czech Republic joining Western European structures and also talked about
forming new relationships. Kinkel said that the Czechs should
immediately take advantage of possibilities to move closer to NATO and
to the West European Union. Zeleniec said he agrees with the American
iniciative of "peace partnership", which outlines collaboration between
NATO and individual European non-members of the West European Union.
Zieleniec also said NATO should be more clear on what will be required
of countries seeking to join the alliance, and that NATO should
distinguish among lesser and greater qualified applicants.
Zieleniec informed the German Federal Foreign Committee about the
position of Czech policy toward European integration and said he wanted
to develop better communications between Germany and the Czech Republic.
During a lecture to the committee and the Adenauer Foundation,
Zieleniec said the Czech Republic is not going to address the Sudeten
German question, and warned that the issue is not the key problem in the
Czech-German relationship. Nearly 3.2 million ethnic Germans were
expelled from Czechoslovakia at the end of World War II.
Talks with Sudeten Germans could only occur as part of a broader
dialog between Czechs and Germans, Zieleniec said.
Klaus's Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Still Leads
If parliamentary elections were held today, Czech Prime Minister
Vaclav Klaus's Civic Democratic Party would get 32 percent of the vote,
according to a recent poll.
The Czech Social Democratic Party would come in second with 13
percent of the vote and Civic Democratic Alliance, a coalition partner,
would get 10 percent. The Czech and Moravian Communist Party would get
9 percent of votes.
The Empirical Research Center Poll surveyed 1,113 people, and found
that the number of citizens saying the government and Parliament work
"well" increased 2 percentage points during the last month by to 64
percent.
The survey showed that 65 percent of citizens are eligible to vote.
Havel Awarded Indira Gandhi's Peace Price
Czech President Vaclav Havel has been awarded the 1993 Indira
Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development.
The award ceremony has taken place in New Delhi each year since
1984 when the Indian premier was assassinated.
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachov won the prize in 1987 and
Norway Prime Minister Brundtlandova won in 1988.
The prize has a financial value of 80,000 U.S. dollars.
Destiny of Cafe Slavia Still Unknown
Cafe Slavia, the famous traditional meeting place of Prague
intellectuals and students, closed again November 20.
The "Society of the Friends of the Slavia Cafe" had forced the
re-opening of the cafe. On November 8, its members cleaned and prepared
the cafe for the opening after getting the keys from Ladislav Provaan,
a partner of the Prague branch of H.N. Gorin.
Because H.N. Gorin failed to uphold some of the contract's
conditions, the Music Arts Acadamy (AMU) withdrew it. Even the "Society
of the Friends of the Slavia Cafe" were forced to leave.
The discontinued rental contract also involves the neighboring
restaurant, Parnas. H.N. Gorin rented it to another contractor, Sanjiv
Surim, without AMU's agreement. Sanjiv Surim, like the Slavia friend's
group, agreed with AMU's descision, and gave over the restaurant. Both
requested to continue operation of their businesses until a new lesee is
announced. Selection proceedings should begin in late November; AMU
would like to announce results January 18, and sign a new contract by
February 8 at the latest.
AMU leadership has decided to sign a short-term contract leasing
Parnas to Sanjiv Surjim, but did not approve the Friends of the Slavia
Cafe proposal. Slavia should stay closed until February.
For information on how the situation began, refer to Carolina's
issue 94.
ECONOMICS
Unemployment Rising in the Czech Republic
The unemployment rate in the Czech Republic is slowly rising, and
has reached a level of 3.22 percent across the republic.
Rates vary by region, however, from the low in Prague of only 0.33
percent to a high of 7.66 percent in the Moravian Bruntal district.
On October 31, there were nearly 170,000 people registered without
jobs, half of them on walfare. The number of job vacancies decreased by
five thousand in the last month.
According to information from the Czech press, Finance Minister Ivan
Kocarnik said the unemployment rate would be one percentage point higher
had statistical methods used in throughout the world been applied.
However, the the unemployment rate is still below the average of
other market-oriented economies.
Minimum Wage Will Be Increased
The economy ministers proposed a 10-percent increase in the minimum
wage starting February 1. The proposal to the government came at the
ministers' meeting November 23.
The government may approve increases in the minimum wage when costs
rise by 10-percent higher from the previous raise. The last increase was
this March.
The minimum wage varies according to the type of household - a lone
individual now gets 1,960 crowns a month, while a family with two
children receives 4,920 crowns.
If someone's income does not reach the minimum wage level he or she
has a right to ask for a temporary help. According to an estimate of the
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the next 10-percent increase in
living costs is expected at the beginning of the new year. The Ministry
recommends an average monthly increase of 140 crowns.
About 600,000 Employees Will Get More
At its November 24 meeting the government passed raises for
teachers, doctors, nurses and other national budget workers. The wages
will be increased December 1 by an average 10.4 per cent, which is about
500 crowns for an employee.
Even after the raise there will be a difference of six to seven per
cent between people employed in the public sphere and ones in the
private sphere.
Trading on Stock Exchange
The Prague Stock Exchange saw trading valued at 468.7 million crowns
in sessions November 16 and 18, with 280.5 million crowns traded the
first session and 188.2 million the second.
On Thursday, seven stock offerings were issued. Most frequently
traded shares were Cokoladovny, a chocolate producer, with trades of 95
million crowns. The stock closed up 9.2 per cent at 6,550 crowns.
Shares of Vodni stavby were the second most active, with trades of
42.6 million crowns and an increase of 11.8 percent to 1,750 crowns.
Skoda Plzen dropped 20 percent to close at 790 crowns a share.
Shares of the leading Czech banks -- Komercni banka, Zivnostenska banka
and Ceska sporitelna -- rose 10 percent.
Tuesday's session saw heavy selling off, with a decline of more than
19 per cent affecting 209 shares at the central market.
Stocks from 286 companies were traded, with 275 coming from coupon
privatization. Most frequently traded shares on the direct market
belonged to CEZ (18 million crowns at 1,300 per share), Cokoladovny (5
million crowns at 6,500 per share) and Ceska sporitelna (4.3 million
crowns at 5,445 per share). A price increase of 20 percent affected 44
shares -- Ceska Sporitelna, Armabeton Praha, the Jalta Hotel and
TMP-Telecom, among others. Shares showing 50-percent jump were ELTON
Hodinarska jumped 50 percent to 93.75 crowns and CKD Polyservis to
187.50 crowns.
Exchange Pocket Money to be Nearly 50 Percent Greater
From next year, the exchange limit for Czechs travelling to foreign
countries will be raised from 7,500 to 12,000 crowns. Premier Vaclav
Klaus announced this after a meeting with finacial ministers on November
16.
He believes this will prove how stable the Czech economy is.
Oil Deceit Costs The Czech Republic Billions
For two years the sale of motor oil in the Czech republic has been
decreasing, because suppliers have been replacing it with tax-free
heating oil.
According to Mlada Fronta Dnes, Vladimir Dlouhy, minister of
industry and trade said 320 tons of heating oils were brought to the
Czech Republic during the first eight months of 1993.
But the minister admitted that substitution of oil products can't
be easily detected. The ministry is now preparing legislative measures
for revealing oil products' mistreatment.
According to Mlada Fronta's report, heating oils are coming from
the Ukraine and Poland.
Colorful marking of oil products will be the first step. Home
refineries will make their first attempt on January 1. 1994.
Ivo Schwaler of the Constitutional Motor Vehicle Survey said that
continued use of these substances will eventually destroy a motor.
The presence of heating oils in petroleum can be identified only by
laboratory test, meaning consumers cannot tell if they've bought
inferior merchandise. Low-priced petroleum should be a clue to the
quality. A liter of quality petroleum cannot be bought for less than 14
Czech crowns.
Otta Family Petition for Return of Rakona Rejected
Descendents of Frantisek Otta failed in their bid for restitution of
the Rakovnik soap and washing material company, Rakona, when a Prague
city court turned them down November 24. The business was sold in 1991
to the American firm Procter & Gamble for 20 million dollars.
The case was brought by descendents of former owner Frantisek Otta.
They requested financial compensation from the state under the
Out-of-Court Rehabilitation Law.
The court denied the claim on the basis that the establishment was
nationalized before February 25, 1948, and that the law doesn't apply.
After the vedict, a legal representative of the Otta family told
journalists he felt the decision was "senseless and politically
motivated." His clients will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, he
said.
Exchange Rates of the Czech National Bank (valid from November 25)
Buy Sell
Great Britain GBP 42.75 45.59
France FRF 4.83 5.23
Canada CAD 21.45 23.23
Austria ATS 2.42 2.54
Germany DEM 16.17 17.90
USA USD 28.97 30.37
Switzerland CHF 19.39 20.39
EDUCATION - STUDENTS
Congress of Journalism Student: Media Manipulation
Young people from all over Europe will meet in late March and early
April in Prague and Bratislava to take part in the Forum of European
Journalism Students (FEJS).
FEJS, with a membership of 175 journalism schools, was founded in
1986 as a multi-national, non-profit students' organization. Its mission
is to deepen relations and mutual understanding within the young
generation of journalists, and to contribute to shaping Europe without
borders.
Prague and Bratislava were chosen as host cities at last April's
convention in Zovoll, Holland. Ankara, Turkey, and Marseille, France,
were also contenders. Journalism students from the Faculty of Social
Sciences-Charles University and Philosophical Faculty-Comenius
University are organizing the Czech-Slovak project, sponsored by their
student councils.
The congress, organized annually by students from one of the member
nations, is a meeting of up and coming journalists from all corners of
Europe. Seminars and discussions about current question, and lectures by
renowned figures in world journalism are planned.
The Organizational Commitee of the Prague Congress, is asking for
help in meeting the difficult financial demands.
Donations towards accomodation, transportation, and other
operational resources would enable 150 young people to become acquainted
with world-renowned figures of journalism who attend the congress.
The congress was described in detail in CAROLINA issue 79.
To contribute, or for further infomation, you can contact the
students through E-mail at FEJS@N.FSV.CUNI.CS.
Martin's Condition Still Serious
A secondary school student, Martin Swiech, who tried to burn
himself to death on November 2 in the garden of his parents' house in
the Novy Jicin region (Moravia), will most likely celebrate his
sixteenth birthday in a hospital.
As reported in Carolina issue 94, in spite of the fact that Swiech
was offered help immediately after his act, he suffered burns on more
than 7O percent of his body.
A senior consultant at the hospital ward told Mlada Fronta Dnes
that Swiech's condition is serious but not hopeless. "We've already
solved the problems with Martin's skin", she said. "Martin will probably
get his father's skin on all the burnt areas. We've already begun with
the operation and they will go on after some local diagnosis". Swiech
will obtain new skin from his father, who is now in a hospital for this
reason.
The Czech tabloid Spigl quoted other doctors who said the dangerous
period will end after removing all the dead tissue, which is not yet
possible yet. The danger of unexpected complications will remain until
then. Martin is able to talk to the hospital personnel and to his
parents.
The reasons for the young man's act are stil not known. However,
Novy Jicin police claim that it's more or less his problems at school.
At the same time, they said that the text found in Martin's
identification card, containing extracts from different newspapers and
magazines and his disagreement with the split of Czechoslovakia, didn't
have a character of a farewell letter.
FROM SLOVAKIA
Tragedy at the Nitra University Dorm
A second-year Slovak university student, Martin Pavuk, was beaten
to death by a research student from Guinea at the Nitra Agricultural
Institute dorm on November 12, says a police report.
According to the police, Alman Loy Ben used a steel rod in the
beating. It's not yet known what happened between these two students on
the fateful day. Pavuk's friends say that he only went to buy a pack of
cigarettes. Later, his body was found lying in the corridor. Pavuk died
soon after being transported to the hospital.
According to students, the thirty-five year old engineer from
Guinea has been doing a resesarch assistentship in Nitra for four years.
Fear and tension have taken control over the Nitra dorm.
CULTURE
Film Director Roman Polanski in Prague
Polish film director Roman Polanski, director of Bitter Moon,
Chinese Quarter and other famous movies, visited Prague for the first
time in 25 years November 24. In the presence of the French and Polish
ambassadors he took part in screening his movie Tenant. The film
launched an exhibition of 11 of his works shown in Prague's French
Cultural Institute and Polish Cultural Institute.
Polanski was born in 1933 in Paris, where he now lives and works.
His parents were of Polish origin and moved to Krakow before World War
II. Polanski graduated from the Film Institute in Lodz, then began
directing films in different countries and cities, including Hollywood.
Exhibition of Frederico Fellini's Movies
An exhibition of Fellini's films took place in Prague's Palace of
Culture last weekend. This event to pay tribute to Frederico Fellini,
who died a short while ago, was organized by the National Film Archive
in colaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute and the TV Faculty
of Prague Academy of Music Arts.
Italian ambassador in the Czech Republic Francesco Olivieri claimed
that Fellini's movie "La Dolce Viva (The Sweet Life)" changed the view
of Rome and the attitude to the city for a whole generation.
The memory of Fellini's friend, Czech film director Juraj
Jakubisko, who wrote a poem for him using Fellini's methods of
expression, were interpreted to the audience that night.
After speeches of guests, "La Dolce Viva" was screened. On
Saturday, the film "Roma," a fantasy walk through the eternal city was
presented, and on Sunday, Fellini's legendary drama "La Strada (The
Street)" was shown.
Modern Art - Katrin Saport
One of the most famous characters in the contemporary modern ballet
-- dancer Katrin Saport -- performed in Prague's Divadlo Za branou
(Theater Behind the Gate). She performed Genet's ballet "Ball in the
iron corridor" from 1987.
In a classical "masculine" background, among the light of welding
lamps and in the reflection of fireworks from a grinding machine, two
sturdy women, maybe sisters, maybe lovers, housemaids Claire and Solange
appear as two demons. They dance the night away with an incredible
vitality.
After graduating from sociology, photography, film and ballet in
Chicago and Paris, Katrin Saport founded her own dance group in France.
Her choreographies appeared at the most famous dance stages in France
and abroad. In September 1988, Saport took the lead of the National
Choreographic Center in Caen.
The artist was introduced to the Czech public in 1991 when she came
to Prague at the invitation of the French Institute in Prague and she
also took part in screening her film "Bride With Wooden Eyes"
FORECAST
Snow Arrived
Heavy snowfall arrived Sunday night changing the character of almost
the whole country. It was caused by damp air from air from the
Mediterranean combining with the cold continental air streaming upnorth.
This rush of snow mainly troubled road crews, as usually. In some places
snow-drifts caused traffic jams.
Not even 49 salt-trucks and plows were enough to clean fallen snow.
Nineteen serious car accidents were reported Sunday evening. According
to dispatchers of Prague's Public Transportation Company (Dopravni
podnik), there were 11 impassable thoroughfares for buses. The situation
stabilized Monday and delays of buses or trams were minimal. Seven
machines were continuously cleaning snow at Ruzyne airport, and planes
were delayed almost an hour for de-icing.
Over the weekend, snow coverage in parts of the Krkonose (Giant
Mountains) increased to 65 cm (more than 2 feet). But slopes are not
kept and lifts not yet in use. The mountain ridge offers ideal
conditions to cross-country skiers, however, with temperatures steadily
under the freezing point.
The Czech Republic will stay under the influence of a huge high
pressure system over Eastern Europe in the following days. In clear
conditions night temperatures will fall to minus 10 degrees Celsius, and
in daytime will be around zero. Meteorologists do not expect any major
change.
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