Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Carolina (English) No 119
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 119, Friday, May 20, 1994.
EVENTS FROM THE PAST WEEK (May 12-18)
President Havel Signs Amendment to Political Parties Bill
Although opposition parties in Parliament called an amendment to the
political parties bill unconstitutional, President Vaclav Havel gave it
his signature May 17.
"It's not the president's job to take a stand on individual
paragraphs (of the law)," said Presidential Spokesman Ladislav Spacek.
Parliamentary opponents criticize a section of the law limiting
Czechs to membership in one political party, saying it infringes on
a citizen's rights to free association. Parliament members from the
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia and the Left Bloc want the law
reviewed by the Constitutional Court.
Several parties not represented in Parliament asked Havel not to
sign the law, saying the amendment gives a financial advantage to
parties in parliament.
Zita/Andrea
Czech Communities to Receive Loan from USA
Adrian Basora, the U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic, signed
a loan agreement with Czech Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik Monday. The
American loan will finance investments in the infrastructure of Czech
towns and communities.
The one-hundred million dollar loan is guaranteed by the American
government. Repayment will begin in ten years, with 11 percent interest.
It should be completely paid within 30 years.
Basora said the aim of the loan is to teach the mayors of Czech
towns and communities to obtain financing from private sources.
Pavel B./Andrea
Government Turns Down Foreign Oil Group
Tuesday's meeting of economic ministers' rejected efforts of
a consortium of public firms, such as Agip, Conoco, Shell, and Total, to
participate in the Czech oil industry. The decision ends a year-long
effort by the firms to penetrate the market.
The government instead opted for the "Czech way". Czech
manufacturers Chemopetrol Litvinov, Kaucuk Kralupy, and the sole
exporter Chemapol stand behind the decision.
The foreign consortium was interested only in refineries, but the
Czech government has decided to include them in the entire petrochemical
complex.
"They shouldn't dazzle us with offered investment of 520 million
dollars," said Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus. "The projected profit
of our refineries in the coming five years is close to that amount."
Radim/Andrea
Klaus Rejects Sudeten Invitation
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus has rejected an invitation to a Sudeten
German celebration, calling the invitation provocative.
Klaus received the written invitation from Franz Neubauer, chairman
of the Sudeten-German Union, or Landsmanschaft. On May 17 Klaus said he
rejected the invitation "not only for a lack of time."
The annual gathering of Germans expelled from Czechoslovakia after
the Second World War will take place in Nurenberg May 20-22.
Austrian Foreign Minister Alois Mock, German Interior Minister
Manfred Kanther, Finance Minister Theo Waigel, and Bavarian Premier
Edmund Stoiber are scheduled to take part in the Sudeten-German days.
Fatima/Andrea
Europe in Prague
A three-day conference on "Europe and Us" took place May 13-15 at
the Prague Castle. Domestic and foreign politicians, political
scientists and journalists discussed the Western Europe and Russian
affairs and the integration of the Central and Eastern European
countries into West European economical and security structures.
"Russia could not be placed into the European Union cradle, lest it
would topple", said former Danish Foreign Minister Uffe
Ellemann-Jensen. Ellemann-Jensen supported maintaining the Commonwealth
of the Independent States, which could develop in a similar way to the
European Union and could closely cooperate with it, he said.
However, Russian Ambassador Alexandr Lebedev said excluding his
country from European structures would only benefit non-democratic
forces in Russia. "Russia will find it's place on it's own," said.
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus spoke, as usual, for loose ties with the
EU, but the Social Democratic deputy of the German Bundestag Peter Glotz
argued for close ties between the EU and its neighbors to the East.
The conference was attended by President Vaclav Havel, Saxon Prime
Minister Kurt Biedenkopf, Czech Minister of Trade and Industry Vladimir
Dlouhy, Austrian Radio ORF manager Paul Lendvai, the editor of the
weekly Die Zeit Theo Sommer, the well-known French politologist Jacques
Rupnik and other guests.
Clara
CULTURE
Prague Spring begins
The biggest international musical festival in Bohemia, the Prague
Spring, began Thursday May 12 with Bedrich Smetana's "My Country"
conducted by Estonian Neeme Jarvi.
Other stars to appear during the festival are Greek mezzosoprano
Agnes Baaltsa, Czech violinist Josef Suk, Czech harpsichordist Zuzana
Ruzickova, conductors Simon Rattle of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
" and Charles Dutoit of the Orchestre National de France.
The forty-ninth festival program, with about 60 performances, will
cost around 40 millions crowns. The main sponsor is Komercni banka, with
one-quarter of the money coming from the state budget and another
quarter from ticket sales.
The Prague Spring will conclude with Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" Ninth
Symphony.
Andrea/Clara
Performance of the Mozart Requiem
Only one day before the beginning of the Prague Spring Mozart's
Requiem was performed in Dvorak Hall in the Rudolfinum.
The chamber orchestra Musici de Praga and the College Art Choir of
Charles University were conducted by Peter Vronsky. Soloists at the
concert were performed by L.Vernerova (soprano), Y. Skvarova (alto),
R.Sporka (tenor), and P. Hlavaty (bass).
The chamber version of the Mozart work lost the monumentality, and
the choir did not always have the power to involved the audience in
a deep emotional experience. Nevertheless the visitors in the
half-empty hall were rather satisfied.
Adam/Clara
Bookfair in Prague
The fourth International Bookfair and a Festival of Writers were
held in Prague in June 12 to 15. A fair of librarians and an art
exhibition were part of the bookfair.
In Prague's Palace of Culture, there was a bookshopping center
where editors, libraries, museums, and galeries from 27 countries from
around the world exhibited in almost 400 stalls on the area of 4,OOO
square meters. Spanish and Swiss participants offered their books free
of charge to Czech libraries, and Belgium sent a librarian bus to the
fair. Prague bookshops took part. In their shops discussions with
writers were organized and on those occasions many books were sold on
sale.
The Prague Festival of Writers occupied the theater Viola. During
the festive opening, Slovak novelist Martin Simecka was awarded the
prestigious George Theiner prize, given since 1991 by the British
literary magazine European Bookseller. The evenings with Czech, Slovak,
and some foreign authors were part of the festival. The last afternoon
was devoted to the journalists of a German weekly Prager Zeitung. Felix
Francis, the son of Dick Francis, the famous writer of criminal stories,
was a guest of the Festival.
Katerina/Zuzana
Concert for Freedom for Jaroslav Unger
Jaroslav "Bovi" Unger was arrested April 5, in connection with the
accusation of an attack on authority, violence against a group of
people, and other crimes. Unger is the former member of the legendary
Czech underground group Plastic People of the Universe and a signatory
of Charter 77.
His arrest provoked a strong reaction among people in the
alternative culture. The alleged crimes were committed in December 1992
as he tried to get into a house which was being cleared by the police,
who said it was occupied illegally by a group of anarchists. At that
time, Unger allegedly got into a struggle with the policemen.
The organizators of the concert believe that there are no reasons
for Unger being in custody almost 18 months and that Unger himself was
probably the victim of violence by the policemen.
The concert was held in the Prague club Tam Tam May 15. Many rock
and jazz groups played for free. A Freedom for Unger petition, which
asks for a review of the whole case, was signed by politician Milos
Zeman, sociologist Rudolf Battek , and a member of Peoples' Solidarity
and Tolerance Movement Stanislav Penc.
Filip/Zuzana
ECONOMY
AB Bank Under Compulsory Administration
Following action against Kreditni a Prumyslova Bank and Bohemia
Bank, the Czech National Bank imposed on May 10 forced administration on
AB Bank in Mlada Boleslav, the eighth biggest bank in the country. On
Thursday, May 12, its deposits were frozen by an administrator and all
its branches were closed.
Jiri Farek, vice-president of Investicni a Postovni Bank, said,
"Today's problems of small banks are not something unexpected for the
bank world. We have expected this development for a few months."
While the bankrupcy of Bohemia Bank was allegedly caused by some
criminal acts, the AB Bank case is one of bad investments.
"The problem of small banks is they lend to their owners amounts
several time higher than their investment," said Farek. "Management of
these bank has no other way, they can only lend and run out of their
reserves, or they can refuse and then they are replaced."
As in the Bohemia Bank case, the frozen deposits of AB Bank will be
available in another bank, from May 23. They will be at Ceska
Sporitelna, whereas in the Banka Bohemia case it was "Ceskoslovenska
obchodni banka".
Tomas/Tomas
Experience Influences Course Of Coupon Privatization
Only 13.5 percent of the 155 million of offered shares have been
sold in the first round of the second wave of coupon privatization,
according to information of Ministry of Finance released May 13. Only
15 companies saw all their shares purchased.
Experts feel demand for some shares of prosperous companies many
times in excess of the offering shows the experiences gained by people
in the first wave of coupon privatization two years ago. Large interest
was shown in chemical companies, electrical and gas companies and the
telephone phone company Telecom. 114 companies sold no shares. Their
shares will be offered again for higher price in the next rounds.
The second round will last from May 23 to June 6.
Zita/Tomas
Price Of Skodas Increased
Recent increases in the price of Skodas made in Mlada Boleslav (the
eighth since 1989), touched off talk by Minister for Economic
Competition Stanislav Belehradek that he will investigate whether the
price increase is legitimate.
A spokesman of Skoda Mlada Boleslav, Jiri Hrabovsky, said the
increase was fair in light of "better quality of the cars in the
future." He also suggested that the government drop duties on foreign
cars.
At the meeting of economic ministers May 17, Belehradek proposed
just that. However, the government did not accept the proposal. The
arrangement would not have any direct influence on the price of Skodas,
said Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus.
Zita/Tomas
EXCHAGE RATES OF THE CZECH NATIONAL BANK (valid from May 18)
CHECKS CASH
country Buy Sell Middle Buy Sell
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 21.223 21.437 21.330 20.26 22.40
Belgium 100 BEF 84.859 85.711 85.285 82.59 87.99
Great Britain 1 GBP 43.891 44.333 44.112 42.69 45.53
Denmark 1 DKK 4.462 4.506 4.484 4.28 4.68
Finland 1 FIM 5.352 5.406 5.379 4.88 5.88
France 1 FRF 5.094 5.146 5.120 4.92 5.32
Ireland 1 IEP 42.855 43.285 43.070 41.07 45.07
Italy 1000 ITL 18.190 18.372 18.281 17.51 19.05
Japan 100 JPY 27.859 28.139 27.999 26.70 29.30
Canada 1 CAD 21.211 21.425 21.318 20.43 22.21
Luxemburg 100 LUF 84.859 85.711 85.285 82.29 88.29
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.562 15.718 15.640 15.16 16.12
Norway 1 NOK 4.030 4.070 4.050 3.90 4.20
New Zealand 1 NZD 17.127 17.299 17.213 16.46 17.96
Portugal 100 PTE 16.935 17.105 17.020 15.84 18.20
Austria 1 ATS 2.483 2.507 2.495 2.44 2.56
Greece 100 GRD 11.767 11.885 11.826 11.12 12.54
Germany 1 DEM 17.465 17.641 17.553 17.09 18.01
Spain 100 ESP 21.092 21.304 21.198 20.20 22.20
Sweden 1 SEK 3.753 3.791 3.772 3.61 3.93
Switzerland 1 CHF 20.494 20.700 20.597 20.10 21.10
USA 1 USD 29.212 29.506 29.359 28.66 30.06
EC-ECU 1 XEU 33.673 34.011 33.842 -- --
IMF-SDR 1 XDR 41.114 41.528 41.321 -- --
Slovakia 1 XCU -- -- 33.842 -- --
SUPPLEMENT TO CAROLINA
Problems With the School for Children With Rests of Vision Continue
The Municipal Office of Prague has warned the newspaper Rude Pravo
that an article in its April 16 issue contained inaccuracies. The
article, on the School for Children with Partial Vision, formed the
basis for an article in Carolina, issue 115.
The school has been looking for a new site since the Congregation of
Merciful Sisters of St. Charles Boromejsky received the school's
building at 12 Sporkova Street in restitution from the state.
At first, the sisters offered a building in Repy, but at the time
the offer was made the order did not own the building. In addition, the
building was rejected by the Ministry of Education, which found the
building to be in poor shape and improperly equipped for children with
partial vision.
In April 1994, the school was offered space in in Nove Butovice in
southwestern Prague 5. For 188 million Czech crowns, the municipal
office bought the property and invested in special lighting and
handicapped accesses needed for a school for those with partial vision.
The city made the investment with the understanding that the property
would be used for school purposes only.
A deal-threatening dispute over the rent to be charged the school
appeared to have been worked out, according to the municipal office.
However, the final contract has not been signed.
According to Ing. Milan Novotny, representing the city, and manager
of the school area in Nove Butovice, the problem of the rent, which
arose when the Ministry of Education refused to pay 270 crowns per
square meter, was solved when the municipal office proposed a rate of
190 crowns per square meter.
According to the municipal office, nothing prevents the school from
moving out of Sporkova Street now that the rent contract is prepared.
However, the contract hasn't been sent to Pavel Vanek, the
headmaster of the school. Because Vanek does not have power of attorney
for the school, the school's version of the contract is being prepared
by dr. Novotna, representative of the school department in Prague 5.
However, in a proposal of the rent contract prepared by dr. Jiri
Najmon, headmaster of the school office in Prague 5, and sent to Vanek,
Najmon says he will tell ing. Novotny that previous proposals of the
rent contract cannot be approved because of some high financial requests
and unexpected changes in the contract.
The School for Children with Partial Vision will not move out of
Sporkova street now because the last proposal of the rent contract is
under discussion between MHMP as the operator and MS as the tenant.
Despite turmoil, there is no danger that the school could be closed,
contrary to previous reports. Sofi/Sofi
SPORT
Sparta Nearly the Champion of the Football Cup
Four rounds before the end of football extraleague, Sparta is nearly
a certain winner. With 40, it has an eight-point advantage over three
teams with 32 points (Ostrava, Slavia, Cheb). Slavie lost again on
Sunday, this time a home match with Olomouc (0:2). This result threatens
its prospect of participation in the international Soccer cup UEFA.
Viktoria Zizkov will probably participate in the Cup of Cup of
Winners. Viktoria Zizkov beat Slavia in semifinals and it will meet
Sparta in the finals of Czech Cup. Even if Viktoria Zizkov lost these
finals, thanks to the master title of Sparta it is sure to participate
in the Cup competition.
Milan/Daniela
The International Marathon
The 14th year of marathon race took place in Pardubice. It was the
Open International Championship of the Czech Republic. In the men's
category Tanzanian runner Juma Mnyapanda won with a time of 2:17:32,
Petr Klimes from Dukla Praha was second. As the Czech participant with
the best time, Klimes became the Czech Champion in the marathon race.
The women's category was won by Czech runner Alena Peterkova, who
took fourth place and set a new Czech record at the recent Boston
Marathon. Although she met the limit for participation at European Cup
in Helsinki, she said she will not participate because of the financial
problems and disagreements with Sport Union. Katerina
Katerina/Daniela
Are the Czech Hockey Players Going to be Trained By Russian Tichonov
On Monday, May 16th, the daily Mlada Fronta published opinions on
the replacement of Ivan Hlinka, who resigned from the post of Czech team
coach after the failure in the World Cup in Italy. Officials of the
Czech Hockey Union has been considering a possibility of a foreign
trainer and they alledgedly adressed even Russians Michajlov and
Tichonov, news met wtih general disagreement of coaches and players.
Josef Augusta, Olomouc couch says: "The thoughts about Michajlov, who
had not yet achieved anything, made me laugh. Let us say Tichonov, he is
a trainer, he has done something. But he is a Russian." Karel Gut,
a former national coach: "Tichonov deserves recognition, all right, but
we can manage that ourselves." Milan/Daniela
WEATHER
Warm weather came with nearly 25 degree Celsius during the day.
There is warm even in the mountains. The summer is here.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
