Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Carolina (English) No 101
CCCCC AA RRRRR OOOO LL II NN N AA
CC AA A RR R OO O LL II NNN N AA A
CC AA A RRRRR OO O LL II NN N N AA A
CC AAAAAA RR R OO O LL II NN NN AAAAAA
CCCCC AA A RR R OOOO LLLLLL II NN N AA A
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.cz
Fax: (+422) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 101, Friday, January 14, 1994.
EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK (January 5-12)
Bill Clinton Visits Prague
President Bill Clinton arrived in Prague January 11 for a 25-hour
visit that included diplomacy and playing a new saxophone given to him
by President Vaclav Havel in the jazz club Reduta.
Havel, Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus and Foreign Minister Josef
Zieleniec welcomed Clinton at the airport. Clinton then had a 15-minute
private talk with Havel. In the meantime, Hungarian President Arpad
Goncz and Prime Minister Peter Boross, Slovak President Michal Kovac and
Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar and Polish Foreign Minister Andrzej
Olechowski arrived in Prague. Polish President Lech Walesa arrived in
Prague on Wednesday.
In the evening, Bill Clinton and his host went for a night walk
through a well-secured Prague. Clinton started his tour on the Charles
Bridge, drank a beer and had dinner at the famous U Zlateho tygra
beerhall, and together laid white lilies on Narodni trida, where the
revolution began November 17, 1989. Clinton ended the evening at Reduta.
There were many bilateral meetings on Wednesday morning: Vaclav
Havel negotiated with Slovakia's Kovac, and later with Hungary's Goncz
in the presence of both foreign ministers. Clinton dealt with the
Hungarian, Polish and Slovak presidents in turns. Klaus talked to
Meciar, Zieleniec to his Slovak counterpart Jozef Moravcik and to
Olechowski.
All the meetings focused on the chances of Visegrad countries
gaining full membership in NATO following the NATO summit in Brussels,
which Clinton attended.
The Visegrad leaders agreed that the NATO offer of the Partnership
for Peace is the maximum that can be achieved at the moment, although it
is the minimum that Czechs, Slovaks, Hungarians, and Poles expect.
Clinton said the stability of Central Europe is an important
security consideration for NATO and the United States.
Czechs apply to OECD Membership
The Czech government approved applying for membership in the
Organization for Economic Coordination and Development (OECD) on January
5. The OECD is grouping of the 24 most-developed countries. The Czech
Republic currently participates in its program as an observer.
Funeral Held for Former Czechoslovak Ambassador to US, Rita Klimova
Czech President Vaclav Havel and his wife Olga, Prime Minister
Vaclav Klaus, Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec and other current and
former political representatives gave a farewell salute to Rita Klimova
January 6 in the Prague crematorium.
Klimova was the first post-communist ambassador from Czechoslovakia
to the United States.
Among others, former Czech prime minister Petr Pithart and former
federal foreign minister Jiri Dientsbier paid their respects. Adrian
Basora, American ambassador to the Czech Republic, and Zdenek Mlynar,
the first husband of the deceased were also present.
Slovakia Pays Dollar Debt To Czech Republic
The National Bank of the Slovak Republic paid 40 million dollars to
the Czech National Bank (CNB) January 7. The amount represents the
exceeded limit of clearing credit in Czech and Slovak trade.
According to the director of CNB, Ota Kaftan, there are still
unfavorable trends of Slovakia running beyond credit limits. He added
that the Czech Republic will continue with the current system in the
near future, but that the system will not be maintainable when the Czech
crown becomes fully convertible.
Personal Relationships Among People Are Not Good
Seventy-one percent of Czechs rate interpersonal relationships as
rather bad or bad. One third of citizens think that personal
relationships will continue deteriorating this year. According to
a survey released this week, only 4 percent look forward to improved
relations. The most critical view of interpersonal relationships was in
1991 however, when 81 percent rated them rather bad or bad.
Rent in Prague Center May Increase By One-Fifth
Costly repairs to housing have led Prague municipal authorities to
allow landlords to increase rent in attractively located apartments by
as much as 20 percent. The decree covers about 123,000 apartments in
such town quarters as Mala Strana (Lesser Town), Nove and Stare Mesto
(Old and New Town), Josefov, Vysehrad, Vinohrady and also Dejvice,
Zizkov and parts of Michle and Vrsovice.
Quadruplets Born in Prague
Quadruplets, two boys and two girls, were born January 6 to
a 22-year-old mother. The children were delivered prematurely by
Ceasarean section. The children had a low birth weight and are under the
constant care of a team of specialists. Quadruplets were born in the
Czech Republic in 1983, 1986 and in 1987.
FROM SLOVAKIA
Hungarian Representatives Ask For a Wider Self-Rule
At an assembly of 3,000 town deputies from southern Slovakia January
8 in Komarno, ethnic Hungarians demanded greater autonomy.
The assembly asked for wider self-government authority and declared
the government proposal for a new administrative organization of
Slovakia improper. However, the assembly set aside demands to declare an
autonomous region.
The group suggested that regions with a Hungarian majority be formed
into a distinct unit from Bratislava to the Ukrainian border. They
further asked for a larger number of rights for the Hungarian minority
in the Slovak Constitution.
The assembly documents are going to be sent to the Council of
Europe, the Conference of Security and Cooperation in Europe and to all
deputies and highest representatives of Slovakia.
The assembly also stated that official use of the Hungarian language
is inevitable in those areas with at least one-tenth Hungarian
population. The Komarno Assembly also said it will insist on revision of
the Benes decrees affecting the Hungarian minority after the World War
Two.
According to 1991 figures, more than 600,000 Hungarians live in
Slovakia, or 11.5 percent of its inhabitants. Hungarians form a majority
in 437 towns and municipalities, and from 10 to 50 percent in 85 other
towns.
ECONOMICS
Inflation Rate was 18 Percent in '93
Consumers' prices in the Czech Republic rose 18.2 percent last year,
the lowest inflation rate among all post-communist countries.
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus said on Monday that the inflation rate
is "satisfactory." If not for the introduction of a new tax system,
Klaus said, inflation would stay under 10 percent.
According to Economy Minister Karel Dyba, the inflation rate is
a relative success. "We must say nevertheless, that we can not afford
such figures in the long-term perspective," he said. "This year we must
not exceed the level of 10 percent, and later inflation has to be kept
on a level of western economies."
The typical inflation rate in Europe is 2-3 percent.
Divorce Between Czechoslovak Airlines (CSA) And Air France?
Losses of CSA, which some reports put at 1.2 billion crowns last
year, combined with quarrels among management are leading the Czech
government to doubt further participation of Air France in CSA.
Transportation Minister Jan Strasky said the government will propose
buying shares of Air France unless the assembly of shareholders would
come to an accord on solving the crisis in the company at their January
6 meeting.
Before the meeting, the general director and chairman of board of
trustees were replaced.
Another point of dispute was an alleged overestimated price of the
company, which was paid by shareholders Air France and the European Bank
for Restoration and Development (BERD) - each owns 19.2 percent.
According to an inspection, the Czech side owes its partners 747 million
crowns.
Before the shareholders' meeting the French company said it was
considering selling shares, but later said they wouldn't, saying this
would violate the contract under which Air France is bound to keep its
shares for seven years.
CSA also has to lease about ten new planes for a cost of roughly
400 million dollars. But the Czech side does not have money enough to
cover this, said Tomas Jezek, chairman of the National Fund. If the fund
has to pay this amount, bonds will probably be issued.
EXCHANGE RATE
Exchange Rates of the Czech National Bank (valid since January 12)
CASH CHECKS
Buy Sell Buy Sell Middle
EMS-ECU 1XEU - - 33,331 33,665 33,498
France 1FRF 4,89 5,29 5,060 5,110 5,085
Italy 1 000ITL 16,86 18,40 17,542 17,718 17,630
Japan 100JPY 25,42 28,02 26,586 26,854 26,720
Canada 1CAD 21,95 23,73 22,726 22,954 22,840
Netherlands 1NLG 14,96 15,92 15,365 15,519 15,442
Austria 1ATS 2,40 2,52 2,448 2,472 2,460
Germany 1DEM 16,83 17,75 17,205 17,377 17,291
Switzerland 1CHF 19,91 20,91 20,307 20,511 20,409
USA 1USD 29,40 30,80 29,952 30,254 30,130
Great Britain 1GBP 43,42 46,26 44,617 45,065 44,841
CZECH AND SLOVAK CASH EXCHANGE RATES (valid since January 11)
Slovak crown in Czech Republic Czech crown in Slovakia
Bank / 100 Sk Buy Sell Bank / 100 CEK Buy Sell
Cs.obchodni banka 80,00 84,00 Cs.obchodna banka 119,00 125,00
Ceska sporitelna 81,00 85,00 VUB 110,00 120,00
Komercni banka 77,00 81,00 Slov.st.sporitelna 114,00 120,00
Invest.Post.banka 77,00 82,00 Slov.pol.banka 104,00 118,00
Agrobanka 81,00 86,00 Ludova banka 104,00 118,00
Possibility to Change the Old Federal Crowns Ends January 31
The chance to exchange old crown coins that expired September 30,
1993 will end January 31. Federal two-crown and five-crown coins may be
changed for the Czech ones in banks by the end of March 1994. Those
coins were taken out of circulation in November last year.
SPORTS
Czech Icehockey Extraleague restarted again
After almost two-month break, filled by the national team duties and
by preparation matches, the ice-hockey extraleague went on January 7
with its 33rd round. Overwhelming victories of Ceske Budejovice in
Olomouc and of Vitkovice in Zlin came on strong second periods. Prague
Sparta was leading after the first period 3:0, but a goal of
a Litvinov's Machulda defeated them in overtime. Kladno confirmed its
role of as leader and defeated home team Jihlava. Parddubice gained two
points in Jindrichuv Hradec. The only home team that won in this round
was Hradec Kralove.
Sunday's 34th round began hockey extraleague's last quarter. All
home teams regained their reputation, except Sparta, after their lapses
on the previous week.
Leader of the competition Kladno defeated last-place Jindrichuv
Hradec in the Tuesday's 35th round and won at home for the first time
since November 26.
33rd round: J. Hradec-Pardubice 3:6, Olomouc-Budejovice 0:6,
Zlin-Vitkovice 4:9, sparta-Litvimov 3:4, Jihlava-Kladno 4:6, Hradec
Kralove-Plzen 5:3.
34th round: Zlin-Budejovuce 4:3, Olomouc-Pardubice 5:7,
Litvinov-Vitkovice 3:3, Jihlava-Sparta 4:2, J.Hradec-Plzen 1:1, Hr.
Kralove-Kladno 2:3.
35th round: Jihlava-litvinov 3:4, Sparta-Hradec Kralove 9:3,
Kladno-J. Hradec 7:4, Plzen-Olomouc 4:1, Pardubice-Zlin 4:2,
Budejovice-Vitkovice 6:4.
Kladno and Budejovice are leading and two new teams - Hradec Kralove
and Jindrichuv Hradec - bring up the rear.
Radomir Simunek Is The Republic Champion in Bikecross
Radomir Simunek won the title of Czech Bikecross champion January
9 in Tabor, earning a trip to the World Championship held in Belgium
January 30.
However, on January 31, Simunek must begin serving an 18-month jail
sentence in connection with a fatal traffic accident. Simunek said he
would be ready to start his term right after the Championship. We
described the case in the last two issues in detail.
WEATHER
Being statistically the coldest month of the year, this January
temperatures kept surprisingly even at nights around zero degrees
Celsius.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=**=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
Sorry for late distribution of Carolina/101. The Internet line to our
school was broken for more than one week. Also, it may be possible
some of our subscribers will get this issue twice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. The
subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated. Send them
please to the address:
carolina@n.fsv.cuni.cz
To subscribe to CAROLINA you send an e-mail message to the address
LISTSERV@CSEARN.BITNET
or to the address:
LISTSERV@EARN.CVUT.CZ
The text of the message is:
SUBSCRIBE CAR-ENG First name Last name
for the English version or
SUBSCRIBE CAR-CS First name Last name
for the Czech version. To delete your subscription from the list
you send the following message to LISTSERV@EARN.CVUT.CZ:
SIGNOFF CAR-ENG or SIGNOFF CAR-CS
Please, don't send automatic replies to our list. You can temporalily
stop receiving of Carolna by sending the command:
SET CAR-ENG NOMAIL
The command should be sent to the address LISTSERV@EARN.CVUT.CZ
