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Carolina (English) No 133
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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.cz
Fax: (+422) 24810987
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C A R O L I N A No 133, Friday, October 14, 1994.
FROM THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEK (October 5 to 12)
Danish Queen Visits Prague
Danish Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik arrived in Prague
Tuesday, accepting an invitation extended by President Vaclav Havel when
he visited Denmark three years ago.
The royal couple met with Havel and his wife Olga and discussed
European integration, the split of Czechoslovakia and the
Americanization of culture. Later, Margrethe attracted great attention
when she met Prague Mayor Jan Koukal at the Charles Bridge.
Afterwards, she went to the Old Town Square where the glockenspiel
of the astronomical clock was triggered for the queen, who was a few
minutes late for the hourly display. (The queen's program was set back
by a late landing at Ruzyne Airport due to thick fog.)
Oto Zamecnik, who maintains the clock, said, "We moved the apostles
mechanically, which has no influence on the sundial or other parts of
the clock."
Margrethe II also visited the tomb of Danish astronomer Tycho de
Brahe, who worked for the Czech royal court and is buried in Prague's
Tyn Church.
On Wednesday, the queen met with Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus and
Parliament Chairman Milan Uhde and visited Cesky Krumlov, a southern
Bohemia town listed as a UNESCO world cultural heritage area. In the
evening, the Havels and the royal couple attended a performance of the
Danish Royal Ballet at the State Opera.
Margrethe II ascended to the throne in 1972 at the age of 31. She
studied in Copenhagen, Arhus, Cambridge, Paris and London. She is very
active, doing translations, painting, stage design, and taking annual
skiing tours with the Norwegian queen Sonja. The queen is also deeply
interested in changes is Eastern and Central Europe.
On Thursday, the queen traveled on to Slovakia.
Jirka Schneider and Petr Roubal/Jirka Schneider
Klaus Tours Southeast Asia
Vaclav Klaus returned to Prague October 11 from an eight-day journey
around southeast Asia. Representatives of 47 leading Czech firms
traveled with Klaus to Bahrain, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh
and China.
After a short stop in Bahrain, Klaus signed an agreement with the
Indonesian government to prevent double taxation. While in Djakarta, he
met officials and industry representatives. Indonesian representatives
expressed interest in building an assembly plant of Czech auto maker
Tatra in Indonesia.
In the Philippines, Klaus discussed activities of Czech business in
that country. In South Korea, Klaus signed an agreement on visa-free
travel between the Czech Republic and Korea. It is the first agreement
of its kind between the Czechs and southeast Asia.
The final stop of the trip was China, where again, the main purpose
topic was business deals for Czech importers to China. Human rights
issues were not directly discussed.
However, Klaus said Chinese economic liberalization creates the
space for political liberalization.
Michal Vynohradnyk/Jiri Schneider
Juppe Expresses French Approval of Czechs in EU
Czech Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec visited France last week,
meeting Valery Giscard d'Estaign, chairman of the foreign committee of
the French National Assembly, and former president.
Zieleniec also met with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe to
discuss enlarging the European Union, to which Juppe said France remains
committed.
For France, it is not a question of whether the Czech Republic will
enter the EU, only a matter of when and how this will take place, Juppe
said.
Zieleniec also met representatives of the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD). The Czech Republic applied for
membership in the organization in January.
Martina Vojtechovska/Jiri Schneider
Economic Forum Bohemiae 1994 Held in Prague
Hoping to make the three-day economic forum organized by the
Bohemiae Foundation as well-known as the one in Davos, Switzerland,
Czech President Vaclav Havel opened the International Conference
Bohemiae 1994 in Prague's National Museum October 9. Foreign Minister
Josef Zielenec and Tomas Bata, shoe mogul and chairman of the
foundation, greeted the guests.
Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus said the Czech Republic aims to
become a member of the European Community. "We want to act, not be
outsiders," he said.
--Sachs: Czechs Should Seek Their Riches in the West
Czech firms should go west, and there seek their dreams. So said
Harvard Professor Jeffrey Sachs, privatization guru, at the
International Conference Bohemiae 1994.
Sachs, who claims the size of Eastern markets doesn't match their
attributed importance, told Czechs to look to the west rather than to
Alma - Ata and other eastern cities.
But R. Freeman, vice-chairman of the European Bank for Renovation
and Development, said the Czech Republic orient its exports toward the
free markets of the former Soviet Union, and neglect exports to Western
Europe.
Freeman's comment drew a harsh rebuttal from Vladimir Dlouhy, Czech
Minister of Industry and Trade. "We just will export our goods to
Western Europe," Dlouhy said. "Western Europe has to realize that there
will be competition."
--Dyba: 80 Percent of Production Will Be in Private Hands
On the final day of the conference, Czech Economic Minister Karel
Dyba said about 80 percent of all production will be privately owned
after the on-going second wave of coupon privatization.
He added that the structure of the Czech market is similar to market
economies in Western Europe.
"The number of small and middle-sized enterprises rises the same way
as in the West," Dyba said.
--Volkswagen: Keep Skoda Price Advantage
Ferdinand Piech, leader of the board of directors of the Volkswagen
Group that includes Czech Skoda said Skoda's output should increase 50
percent by 2000, to a total of 300,000 cars annually.
But he warned that tough competition in family car production means
the firm must keep its price deals.
Stepanka Kucerova/Vera Vitkova
Rectors are against introduction of school fees
Czech university leaders are expressing their opposition to the
planned introduction of student fees and tuition.
Their statements came at the 14th Czech Rectors' Conference last
week in Ceske Budejovice. The conference unites rectors from all 27
universities in the Czech republic.
The rectors said Ministry of Education plans to introduce fees lack
guarantees of social security for students' families, an is unclear on
methods for delaying payment until students finish school and start
earning money.
The rectors also say it's not clear how schools will be able to use
the funds from fees.
Education Minister Ivan Pilip is sticking to the fee introduction
plans despite the protests by academics.
Under the plan, yet to be approved by Parliament, fees will start in
September, 1995. Initially, only first-year university students will be
obliged to pay the fees, which should range between 5,000 and 10,000
crowns a year.
The Civil Democratic Alliance supported the introduction of school
fees at it's recent Hradec Kralove conference on education.
Tereza Hadravova/Martina Vojtechovska
ODS Leader Suspected of Conflict of Interest
Petr Cermak, acting vice-chairman of the Civic Democratic Party
(ODS), is under a cloud of suspicion because of a Mercedes lent to him
for free from the German firm Helbig. Cermak didn't note the loan on his
tax returns and didn't pay taxes on the car. According to legal experts,
Cermak may have broken conflict of interest laws which oblige Czech
parliamentarians to list gifts and favors worth more than 500 Czech
crowns on their tax forms.
Some members of parliament have listed T-shirts, trousers, tennis
rackets or bottles of wine. Parliament Chairman Milan Uhde must decide
if Cermak violated regulations. Uhde said he wouldn't have taken
a similar loan.
Cermak called charges of conflict of interest absurd, saying he has
never defended the interests of the Helbig firm. He added that there was
no negotation about this firm in parliament and if there were, he
wouldn't participate in it. Uhde asked Cermak to submit
a written statement about the loan of the car.
Martin Kupka/Martina Vojtechovska
Trust in President Grows
Almost three-quarters, 72 percent, of Czechs say they trust
President Vaclav Havel. Goverment fares less well, trusted by 58
percent, and Parliament earns the trust of only 29 percent.
The results, from a September poll by the Institute for Public
Opinion, show increased faith in the governing institutions over
previous months.
The survey also found that 47 percent trust local councils.
Vera Vitkova/MartinaVojtechovska
Czech Households Going to the Dogs -- And Cats
Pets can be found in every other Czech household, with dogs being
the most popular among pet owners, at 65 percent, followed by cats, at
20 percent.
But exotic birds, small rodents like guinea-pigs and hamsters,
snakes and amphibions have been racing, flying and slithering to catch
up with the more popular animals, their number doubling in the last ten
years. Forty percent of more than 2,000 private veterinary surgeons say
they devote half their time to small pets.
Vera Vitkova/Vera Vitkova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Weiss May Stay Atop Slovak Democratic Left
Milan Ftacnik, vice-chairman of the Slovak Democratic Left Party
(SDL), contradicted CTK reports that party leader Peter Weiss had
offered to quit.
CTK, the Czech press agency, reported that Weiss would leave after
the unexpectedly poor showing of the Common Choice coalition, of which
SDL is a member.
According to Ftacnik, Weiss only said that the "party is ready to
solve the question, if there is such a wish."
The leadership question will probably come up at a meeting of the
SDL council on October 15.
Lukas Zentel/Martina Vojtechovska
CULTURE
Czech Literature Honor Goes to Kundera
Milan Kundera has won the Jaroslav Seifert Prize for 1994.
A 21-member jury gave the most prestigous Czech literature prize to
Kundera for his novel "Immortality."
The author, who lives in France, didn't take part in the ceremony in
Prague. Kundera's friend, Jan Trefulka, accepted the prize on his
behalf.
Kundera will give the 250,000 crowns that come with the prize to
Bozena Skacelova, the widow of poet Jaroslav Skacel, for herself and for
publishing the poet's works.
The Seifert Prize has been awarded since 1986. Ludvik Vaculik, Jiri
Kolar and Bohumil Hrabal are among the winners. It is awarded one day
before the poet's birthday, on 22 September, for a work wrote in last
three years.
Ten years ago, the late Seifert won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Jana Maruskova/Miroslav Langer
ECONOMICS
Inflation Creeps Above 10 Percent
Consumers' prices in the Czech Republic rose 1.8 percent during
during September, bringing inflation over last September to 10.5
percent.
The government had promised an annual inflation rate lower than 10
percent. Especially steep in the September figures were the price of
meat, up 6.3 percent, and potatos, up 10 percent. Prices rose in public
canteens 1.8 percent and in restaurants 2.7 percent over August.
Economists predict grocery prices will continue to rise, although at
a slower rate. Czech National Bank spokesman Martin Svehla said
inflation should settle down by the end of the year, not greatly
exceeding 10 percent.
The Ministry of Finance is analyzing the causes of inflation and
will release results of this study next week.
Petr Hosek/Vera Vitkova
Privatization Wave Ending
The second wave of coupon privatisation is drawing to a close. The
fifth round of the second wave of privatization offered what is
generally seen as the best investment opportunities in the second wave,
with 12 percent of investment points and 20 percent of property
scheduled for privatization coming into play.
Petr Hosek/ Jiri Schneider
Exchange Rates of the Czech National Bank (valid from Oktober 14)
Checks Cash
country buy sell middle buy sell
Great Britain 1 GBP 43,834 44,274 44,054 42,63 45,47
France 1 FRF 5,254 5,306 5,280 5,08 5,48
Canada 1 CAD 20,549 20,755 20,652 19,76 21,54
Austria 1 ATS 2,557 2,583 2,570 2,51 2,63
Germany 1 DEM 17,993 18,173 18,083 17,62 18,54
Switzwerland 21,593 21,811 21,702 21,20 22,20
USA 1 USD 27,673 27,951 27,812 27,11 28,51
Slovakia 1 XCU -- -- 34,478 -- --
SPORT
Football teams compete in Malta
National football team "A" and team "21" have played their second
matches in fifth qualifying group for the European Championship this
week. The national teams of Malta were the Czechs' opponents in La
Valleta.
The Juniors won 7:0 (goals: Berger 3, Lokvenc, Cizek, Novotny,
Cupak), gaining all possible points. The young national team of Malta
was beaten in the opening match in the Czech Republic.
The senior team did less well, managing only a 0:0 draw. After
a 6:1 victory in Ostrava, the result is a big dissapoitment.
Rudolf Cernik/Martina Vojtechovska
Czechs Will Face Italy in February Davis Cup Match
Czechs will face a tough Italian team in the first round of Davis
Cup matches in February. Meanwhile, the Czech team's capitan is still to
be selected. Vladislav Savrda will probably replace Vladimir Zednik, who
is supported by the players. Rudolf Cernik/Eftychia Damianidou
>From Summer Hockey
The Summer Hockey Extraleague continued, with the biggest event the
match between Prague Slavia and Sparta, with Slavia winnning 4:2.
Chemopetrol beat Olomouc to take over first place from Olomouc.
6.: Zlin - Olomouc 2:4, Sparta Praha - Pardubice 5:2, Kladno
- Vsetin 1:2, Plzen - Slavia Praha 1:1, Ceske Budejovice - Vitkovice
4:3, Jihlava - Litvinov 5:5
7.: Slavia Praha - Sparta Praha 4:2, Olomouc - Jihlava 5:0, Vsetin -
Plzen 0:0, Vitkovice - Kladno 4:1, Pardubice - Zlin 8:3, Litvinov -
Ceske Budejovice 1:0
8.: kolo Zlin - Slavia Praha 5:1, Sparta Praha - Vsetin 2:1, Ceske
Budejovice - Kladno 4:2, Litvinov - Olomouc 6:1, Jihlava - Pardubice
2:1, Plzen - Vitkovice 2:1
Tomas Kopecny/Eftychia Damianidou
Russian Horse Erudit Wins Velke Pardubicke
The Russian horse Erudit, ridden by Russian jockey Vladimir
Snitkovsky won the annual Velke Pardubice steeplechase, with the Irish
horse Its and Snip, ridden by Charlie Mann, finishing second.
Thirteen of the 19 horses finished the punishing course this year,
up from only one last year. One horse was badly injured.
Again this year, the race was met with animal rights protesters, who
say the race violates laws on animal suffering. Protesters met with
Agriculture Minister Josef Lux on the race day.
Miroslav Langer/Eftychia Damianidou
Thousand Runners Race Against Cancer
The Terry Fox Run, named for the young of
Canadian who ran to raise funds for cancer research, drew 800 runners in
Prague and another 200 in Usti nad Labem.
Miroslav Langer/Eftychia Damianidou
Sparta Prague Hires German Trainer
Sparta football has a new trainer: the German Jurgen Sundermann.
Apart from his contract at home for VfB Stuttgart, he has
trained teams in Turkey, Swizerland and France.
WEATHER
Temperatures are warmer, with morning fogs.
Eftychia Damianidou /Eftychia Damianidou
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