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Carolina (English) No 145
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STUDENT'S E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Faculty of Social Science of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@cuni.cz
tel: (+42 2) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+42 2) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 145, Friday, January 27, 1995.
EVENTS FOR THE WEEK JAN. 19-25, 1995
Klaus in Egypt Signs Agreement on Dual Taxation
On a visit to Egypt Czech Premier Vaclav Klaus signed Jan. 19 an
agreement for the prevention of dual taxation with his Egyptian
counterpart Atif Sidki. In addition, said Klaus, the Czech Republic will
soften its visa requirements for Egyptians.
On Saturday, Jan. 21, Klaus met with Egyptian President Husni
Mubarak for talks on international politics and Egypt's role in the
Middle East peace process. Also Mubarak said Egypt was interested in
learning more about the Czech privatization process.
Accompanying the government delegation on the trip were 26 Czech
businesspeople and officials from the Chamber of Commerce. During their
stay, which Klaus said led to good business contacts, the Czech
automaker Skoda premiered its latest model, the Felicia, on the Egyptian
market. Mirek Langer/Jirka Chvojka
Government Commission Finds No Support for Kalvoda's Charges
A four-member government commission charged with investigating
claims by Jan Kalvoda, deputy premier and vice chairman of the Civic
Democratic Alliance (ODA), that the Security and Information Service
(BIS) has been gathering information on political parties could not
confirm Kalvoda's claims and on Wednesday concluded its activity.
In a statement the same day the government said it was surprised at
the presentation of the issue, calling it inappropriate. The government
will not, however, call for Kalvoda's resignation.
This week the Czech press published information from a parliamentary
commission also investigating Kalvoda's charges against the BIS
indicating the Czech service may have broken the law by communicating
with foreign intelligence agencies from July 30 to Nov. 30, 1994,
without the consent of the government.
Interior Minister Jan Ruml, however, denied the commission's
findings, saying, "Contacts with intelligence services must be separated
into two levels. One is strategic, concerning the common interests of
these services in long-term areas, the other is purely a matter of
operations, and has to do mainly with information transfer. I do not
consider that cooperation."
Kalvoda himself has yet to go before the parliamentary commission.
From Lidove noviny and Mlada fronta Dnes
by Martina Krizkova/Vera Vitkova
Police Say Lizner Case Is Cracked; 8 Million Crowns Belongs to Ministry
More than 8 million Kc in cash paid as a bribe to Jaroslav Lizner,
head of the Czech Republic's Center for Coupon Privatization (CCP), has
been returned to the Ministry of the Interior, which, despite earlier
denials by both ministry officials and the key witness, put up the money
in order to snare Lizner.
Officials from the Czech Police believe they have now solved the
Lizner case. They say that in his post as CCP director Lizner had access
to information from both the CCP and the Computer Technology Company
(CTC) before it was made public, and that he was able to pass this
information on to investors, both individuals and funds, who could then
use it to decide which firms to invest their coupons in.
Also, Lizner's office asked that its computer system be hooked up to
that of the CTC, supposedly to deal with investors' claims. Both the
ministry of privatization and of finance also had the opportunity to get
the hookup but did not do so. Lizner personally, moreover, requested
lists of the stockholders in six firms from the CTC.
For months after Lizner accepted the 8 million Kc bribe, both the
Ministry of the Interior and Lubos Sotona, who reported the bribe to the
police, denied that the money came from the ministry. But it is now
clear that the money was provided to Sotona by the ministry's economic
intelligence section, who, according to the ministry spokesman, had been
interested in Lizner long before Sotona ever came to them.
Sotona is still being silent as to why he decided to work with the
police, but he will be immune from criminal prosecution.
Vladimir Chadim, who labeled Sotona a direct participant in the
affair, has been forced to leave his job at the National Property Fund
after it was found that he made changes in the privatization projects of
two firms without the knowledge of his superiors in order to benefit his
own private company.
From Mlada fronta Dnes by Mirek Langer/Jirka Chvojka
Investigation of Phone Tap at Justice Ministry Ends Empty-handed
The investigation of an illegal phone-tapping device discovered in
the Czech Ministry of Justice in September 1993 came to a close on
Monday without pinpointing the culprit.
The investigator established that at least two conversations were
tapped, including those of Justice Minister Jiri Novak, but has not
found enough evidence to file charges against anyone.
Two months after the minister reported that information from his
phone calls was turning up in certain political circles before it
appeared anywhere else, a phone tap of the type used by the
Communist-era StB secret police was found in Novak's office.
But the investigation that followed was complicated by the fact that
the Czech Security and Information Service failed to secure the device
once they found it and the "bug" disappeared from its offices the next
day. It is still unclear whether the "loss" was intentional or due to
negligence. Mirek Langer/Jirka Chvojka
Top-Level Communists, Jakes, Hoffmann, Escape Firearms Charges
The district attorney for Prague 3 labeled court proceedings against
two former top-ranked Communist leaders charged with being fugitives as
unsubstantiated and unlawful.
The attorney, Karel Bruckler, says Milos Jakes, former secretary
general of the Party, and Karel Hoffmann, former member of the Party's
Central Committee, should have been charged with illegal possession of
firearms for their leadership of the People's Militia, the Communist
Party's private paramilitary force of volunteers.
Under the statute of limitations, Dec. 29, 1994, was the last day
they could have been charged with that crime. The police tried to find
the two men on both Dec. 28 and 29 to present them with the court
summons, but since they could not be located the police decided to begin
proceedings against them as fugitives, which means they can no longer be
brought up again on the weapons charges.
Proceedings connected with the People's Militia continue against six
other former Communist officials whom the police notified in time.
Mirek Langer/Jirka Chvojka
Happy Families and Close Friends Most Important to Czechs
More than anything else in life Czechs value a happy family and
friends who understand them. These were the findings of a poll conducted
in late November and released this week by the Institute for Public
Opinion Research.
Married men and women supported family values more than any other
group, while people between the age of 15 and 19 listed friends as the
most important thing in life.
Other things ranked high on the list of what Czechs find important
were personal popularity, personal health and the environment. Helping
those who are in need was one of the lowest-ranked items.
From Rude pravo by Muhammad Shah/Jirka Chvojka
BUSINESS/ECONOMICS
EXCHANGE RATES OF THE NATIONAL BANK (valid from Jan 27)
CHECKS CASH
country BUY SELL MIDDLE BUY SELL
Great Britain 1 GPB 43,663 44,101 43,882 42,46 45,30
France 1 FRF 5,224 5,276 5,250 5,05 5,45
Japan 100 JPY 27,564 27,842 27,703 26,40 29,00
Canada 1 CAD 19,395 19,589 19,492 18,60 20,38
Austria 1 ATS 2,568 2,594 2,581 2,52 2,64
Germany 1 DEM 18,071 18,253 18,162 17,70 18,62
Switzerland 1 CHF 21,479 21,695 21,587 21,09 22,09
USA 1 USD 27,435 27,711 27,573 26,87 28,27
Slovakia 1 XCU -- -- 34,342 -- --
FROM SLOVAKIA
Slovak Parliament Approves Meciar's Program Following Fierce Fracas
After a heated debate between members of the government coalition
and opposition parties, Slovak Parliament approved the program of
Vladimir Meciar's government on Friday.
At one point Ivan Gasparovic, the speaker of the assembly, ordered
the microphone unplugged on Jan Carnogursky, chairman of the opposition
Christian Democratic Movement (KDH). The KDH leader was quoting from
articles written in the 1980s by current Education Minister Eva
Slavkovska in defense of the Stalinist show trials of the 1950s.
Afterwards Vitazoslav Moric, a member of the same party as
Slavkovska, the Slovak National Party (SNS), called Carnogursky an enemy
of Slovakia and said he was certainly "controlled by Satan."
Most of the 83 deputies who voted for the government program were
members of the parties in the government coalition, made up of Meciar's
Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), the SNS, and the Association
of Slovak Workers (SDS). One hundred thirty-eight deputies were present.
Lukas Zentel/Jirka Chvojka
CULTURE
Otomar Krejca's Theater Za Branou II to Shut Down
After a decision by the Czech Ministry of Culture to bring an end to
the theater's status as a "subsidiary organization" entitled to state
funds, Prague's Divadlo Za Branou II (Theater Beyond the Gate II) has
ceased to exist.
The building housing the theater will be managed by the city and
will be used by the Prague City Theaters association. (See Carolina no.
133 for more information.)
Already actors and directors from the theater, including founder
Otomar Krejca, Helena Glancova and Vit Vencl, have formed an association
called Divadlo Za Branou III to carry on the traditions of the company
and continue performing. But finding a place to do it will be an
obstacle. For the moment the ensemble will have to share space with the
Jiri Srnec Black Theater and the other companies of the Prague City
Theaters association.
In place of the Divadlo Za Branou II sign that currently hangs over
the entrance to the theater in the Adria Palace will be a sign saying
Adria Theater. The Za Branou III company plans to perform three out of
four weeks every month.
A Look Back at the Za Branou
The original Za Branou Theater was founded in 1965 by director
Otomar Krejca, dramaturg Karel Kraus, playwright Josef Topol, and actors
Jan Triska and Marie Tomasova.
Right from the start, Za Branou specialized in difficult works, but
it was abolished by governmental decree in 1972. In 1990, after the fall
of communism, Krejca set up the Za Branou II Theater to pick up where
the first one had left off 17 years earlier.
Before founding Za Branou, Krejca worked as manager and director of
the drama company for the National Theater, but had to leave this
prestigious job for political reasons. In the period known as
"normalization" following the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in
1968, Krejca was not permitted to work as a theater director in his home
country, though he continued to be active in other European theaters,
including Paris, Avignon and Brussels. During this time he received many
awards, among them the Pirandello Prize for directing.
It seems paradoxical that Krejca's status should be called into
question in his own country. Is it typical of the Czech national
character that we don't want to recognize the authority and importance
of anyone who grew up under the same conditions as everyone else and yet
accomplished more? Martin Kupka/Vera Vitkova
SPORTS
Battle for Playoffs Heats Up in Czech Hockey League
Ice hockey play continued in the 33rd and 34th rounds of the Czech
Extra-League, as the battle heightens to see which clubs make the top
eight to compete for the championship in the playoffs. So far five teams
have already qualified: Vitkovice, Sparta Praha, Slavia Praha, Jihlava
and Pardubice.
Round 33: Vitkovice-Jihlava 7:1, Vsetin-Litvinov 7:3,
Slavia Praha-Olomouc 6:2, Kladno-Zlin 2:6,
Plzen-Sparta Praha 4:4, Pardubice-Ceske Budejovice 3:3.
Round 34: Vsetin-Olomouc 3:0, Ceske Budejovice-Sparta Praha 4:2
Vitkovice-Litvinov 4:3, Slavia Praha-Pardubice 5:2
Kladno-Jihlava 6:3, Plzen-Zlin 2:3.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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@cuni.cz
To subscribe to CAROLINA news you send an e-mail message to the address
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The text of message for subscription of the English version must be:
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SET CAR-ENG NOMAIL
All Listserve commands should be sent to the address:
LISTSERV@earn.cvut.cz
Please, don't send commands SUB, SIGNOFF, NOMAIL etc to the address
CAR-CS@earn.cvut.cz or CAR-ENG@earn.cvut.cz!
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
STUDENT'S E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Faculty of Social Science of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@cuni.cz
tel: (+42 2) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+42 2) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 145, Friday, January 27, 1995.
EVENTS FOR THE WEEK JAN. 19-25, 1995
Klaus in Egypt Signs Agreement on Dual Taxation
On a visit to Egypt Czech Premier Vaclav Klaus signed Jan. 19 an
agreement for the prevention of dual taxation with his Egyptian
counterpart Atif Sidki. In addition, said Klaus, the Czech Republic will
soften its visa requirements for Egyptians.
On Saturday, Jan. 21, Klaus met with Egyptian President Husni
Mubarak for talks on international politics and Egypt's role in the
Middle East peace process. Also Mubarak said Egypt was interested in
learning more about the Czech privatization process.
Accompanying the government delegation on the trip were 26 Czech
businesspeople and officials from the Chamber of Commerce. During their
stay, which Klaus said led to good business contacts, the Czech
automaker Skoda premiered its latest model, the Felicia, on the Egyptian
market. Mirek Langer/Jirka Chvojka
Government Commission Finds No Support for Kalvoda's Charges
A four-member government commission charged with investigating
claims by Jan Kalvoda, deputy premier and vice chairman of the Civic
Democratic Alliance (ODA), that the Security and Information Service
(BIS) has been gathering information on political parties could not
confirm Kalvoda's claims and on Wednesday concluded its activity.
In a statement the same day the government said it was surprised at
the presentation of the issue, calling it inappropriate. The government
will not, however, call for Kalvoda's resignation.
This week the Czech press published information from a parliamentary
commission also investigating Kalvoda's charges against the BIS
indicating the Czech service may have broken the law by communicating
with foreign intelligence agencies from July 30 to Nov. 30, 1994,
without the consent of the government.
Interior Minister Jan Ruml, however, denied the commission's
findings, saying, "Contacts with intelligence services must be separated
into two levels. One is strategic, concerning the common interests of
these services in long-term areas, the other is purely a matter of
operations, and has to do mainly with information transfer. I do not
consider that cooperation."
Kalvoda himself has yet to go before the parliamentary commission.
From Lidove noviny and Mlada fronta Dnes
by Martina Krizkova/Vera Vitkova
Police Say Lizner Case Is Cracked; 8 Million Crowns Belongs to Ministry
More than 8 million Kc in cash paid as a bribe to Jaroslav Lizner,
head of the Czech Republic's Center for Coupon Privatization (CCP), has
been returned to the Ministry of the Interior, which, despite earlier
denials by both ministry officials and the key witness, put up the money
in order to snare Lizner.
Officials from the Czech Police believe they have now solved the
Lizner case. They say that in his post as CCP director Lizner had access
to information from both the CCP and the Computer Technology Company
(CTC) before it was made public, and that he was able to pass this
information on to investors, both individuals and funds, who could then
use it to decide which firms to invest their coupons in.
Also, Lizner's office asked that its computer system be hooked up to
that of the CTC, supposedly to deal with investors' claims. Both the
ministry of privatization and of finance also had the opportunity to get
the hookup but did not do so. Lizner personally, moreover, requested
lists of the stockholders in six firms from the CTC.
For months after Lizner accepted the 8 million Kc bribe, both the
Ministry of the Interior and Lubos Sotona, who reported the bribe to the
police, denied that the money came from the ministry. But it is now
clear that the money was provided to Sotona by the ministry's economic
intelligence section, who, according to the ministry spokesman, had been
interested in Lizner long before Sotona ever came to them.
Sotona is still being silent as to why he decided to work with the
police, but he will be immune from criminal prosecution.
Vladimir Chadim, who labeled Sotona a direct participant in the
affair, has been forced to leave his job at the National Property Fund
after it was found that he made changes in the privatization projects of
two firms without the knowledge of his superiors in order to benefit his
own private company.
From Mlada fronta Dnes by Mirek Langer/Jirka Chvojka
Investigation of Phone Tap at Justice Ministry Ends Empty-handed
The investigation of an illegal phone-tapping device discovered in
the Czech Ministry of Justice in September 1993 came to a close on
Monday without pinpointing the culprit.
The investigator established that at least two conversations were
tapped, including those of Justice Minister Jiri Novak, but has not
found enough evidence to file charges against anyone.
Two months after the minister reported that information from his
phone calls was turning up in certain political circles before it
appeared anywhere else, a phone tap of the type used by the
Communist-era StB secret police was found in Novak's office.
But the investigation that followed was complicated by the fact that
the Czech Security and Information Service failed to secure the device
once they found it and the "bug" disappeared from its offices the next
day. It is still unclear whether the "loss" was intentional or due to
negligence. Mirek Langer/Jirka Chvojka
Top-Level Communists, Jakes, Hoffmann, Escape Firearms Charges
The district attorney for Prague 3 labeled court proceedings against
two former top-ranked Communist leaders charged with being fugitives as
unsubstantiated and unlawful.
The attorney, Karel Bruckler, says Milos Jakes, former secretary
general of the Party, and Karel Hoffmann, former member of the Party's
Central Committee, should have been charged with illegal possession of
firearms for their leadership of the People's Militia, the Communist
Party's private paramilitary force of volunteers.
Under the statute of limitations, Dec. 29, 1994, was the last day
they could have been charged with that crime. The police tried to find
the two men on both Dec. 28 and 29 to present them with the court
summons, but since they could not be located the police decided to begin
proceedings against them as fugitives, which means they can no longer be
brought up again on the weapons charges.
Proceedings connected with the People's Militia continue against six
other former Communist officials whom the police notified in time.
Mirek Langer/Jirka Chvojka
Happy Families and Close Friends Most Important to Czechs
More than anything else in life Czechs value a happy family and
friends who understand them. These were the findings of a poll conducted
in late November and released this week by the Institute for Public
Opinion Research.
Married men and women supported family values more than any other
group, while people between the age of 15 and 19 listed friends as the
most important thing in life.
Other things ranked high on the list of what Czechs find important
were personal popularity, personal health and the environment. Helping
those who are in need was one of the lowest-ranked items.
From Rude pravo by Muhammad Shah/Jirka Chvojka
BUSINESS/ECONOMICS
EXCHANGE RATES OF THE NATIONAL BANK (valid from Jan 27)
CHECKS CASH
country BUY SELL MIDDLE BUY SELL
Great Britain 1 GPB 43,663 44,101 43,882 42,46 45,30
France 1 FRF 5,224 5,276 5,250 5,05 5,45
Japan 100 JPY 27,564 27,842 27,703 26,40 29,00
Canada 1 CAD 19,395 19,589 19,492 18,60 20,38
Austria 1 ATS 2,568 2,594 2,581 2,52 2,64
Germany 1 DEM 18,071 18,253 18,162 17,70 18,62
Switzerland 1 CHF 21,479 21,695 21,587 21,09 22,09
USA 1 USD 27,435 27,711 27,573 26,87 28,27
Slovakia 1 XCU -- -- 34,342 -- --
FROM SLOVAKIA
Slovak Parliament Approves Meciar's Program Following Fierce Fracas
After a heated debate between members of the government coalition
and opposition parties, Slovak Parliament approved the program of
Vladimir Meciar's government on Friday.
At one point Ivan Gasparovic, the speaker of the assembly, ordered
the microphone unplugged on Jan Carnogursky, chairman of the opposition
Christian Democratic Movement (KDH). The KDH leader was quoting from
articles written in the 1980s by current Education Minister Eva
Slavkovska in defense of the Stalinist show trials of the 1950s.
Afterwards Vitazoslav Moric, a member of the same party as
Slavkovska, the Slovak National Party (SNS), called Carnogursky an enemy
of Slovakia and said he was certainly "controlled by Satan."
Most of the 83 deputies who voted for the government program were
members of the parties in the government coalition, made up of Meciar's
Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), the SNS, and the Association
of Slovak Workers (SDS). One hundred thirty-eight deputies were present.
Lukas Zentel/Jirka Chvojka
CULTURE
Otomar Krejca's Theater Za Branou II to Shut Down
After a decision by the Czech Ministry of Culture to bring an end to
the theater's status as a "subsidiary organization" entitled to state
funds, Prague's Divadlo Za Branou II (Theater Beyond the Gate II) has
ceased to exist.
The building housing the theater will be managed by the city and
will be used by the Prague City Theaters association. (See Carolina no.
133 for more information.)
Already actors and directors from the theater, including founder
Otomar Krejca, Helena Glancova and Vit Vencl, have formed an association
called Divadlo Za Branou III to carry on the traditions of the company
and continue performing. But finding a place to do it will be an
obstacle. For the moment the ensemble will have to share space with the
Jiri Srnec Black Theater and the other companies of the Prague City
Theaters association.
In place of the Divadlo Za Branou II sign that currently hangs over
the entrance to the theater in the Adria Palace will be a sign saying
Adria Theater. The Za Branou III company plans to perform three out of
four weeks every month.
A Look Back at the Za Branou
The original Za Branou Theater was founded in 1965 by director
Otomar Krejca, dramaturg Karel Kraus, playwright Josef Topol, and actors
Jan Triska and Marie Tomasova.
Right from the start, Za Branou specialized in difficult works, but
it was abolished by governmental decree in 1972. In 1990, after the fall
of communism, Krejca set up the Za Branou II Theater to pick up where
the first one had left off 17 years earlier.
Before founding Za Branou, Krejca worked as manager and director of
the drama company for the National Theater, but had to leave this
prestigious job for political reasons. In the period known as
"normalization" following the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in
1968, Krejca was not permitted to work as a theater director in his home
country, though he continued to be active in other European theaters,
including Paris, Avignon and Brussels. During this time he received many
awards, among them the Pirandello Prize for directing.
It seems paradoxical that Krejca's status should be called into
question in his own country. Is it typical of the Czech national
character that we don't want to recognize the authority and importance
of anyone who grew up under the same conditions as everyone else and yet
accomplished more? Martin Kupka/Vera Vitkova
SPORTS
Battle for Playoffs Heats Up in Czech Hockey League
Ice hockey play continued in the 33rd and 34th rounds of the Czech
Extra-League, as the battle heightens to see which clubs make the top
eight to compete for the championship in the playoffs. So far five teams
have already qualified: Vitkovice, Sparta Praha, Slavia Praha, Jihlava
and Pardubice.
Round 33: Vitkovice-Jihlava 7:1, Vsetin-Litvinov 7:3,
Slavia Praha-Olomouc 6:2, Kladno-Zlin 2:6,
Plzen-Sparta Praha 4:4, Pardubice-Ceske Budejovice 3:3.
Round 34: Vsetin-Olomouc 3:0, Ceske Budejovice-Sparta Praha 4:2
Vitkovice-Litvinov 4:3, Slavia Praha-Pardubice 5:2
Kladno-Jihlava 6:3, Plzen-Zlin 2:3.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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@cuni.cz
To subscribe to CAROLINA news you send an e-mail message to the address
LISTSERV@earn.cvut.cz
The text of message for subscription of the English version must be:
SUBSCRIBE CAR-ENG First name Last name
or for the Czech version
SUBSCRIBE CAR-CS First name Last name
To delete your subscription from the list of subscribers you send
the following message to the address LISTSERV@earn.cvut.cz:
SIGNOFF CAR-ENG or SIGNOFF CAR-CS
We ask you not to send automatic replies to our list. You can
temporalily stop receiving of Carolina by sending the command:
SET CAR-ENG NOMAIL
All Listserve commands should be sent to the address:
LISTSERV@earn.cvut.cz
Please, don't send commands SUB, SIGNOFF, NOMAIL etc to the address
CAR-CS@earn.cvut.cz or CAR-ENG@earn.cvut.cz!
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
STUDENT'S E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Faculty of Social Science of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@cuni.cz
tel: (+42 2) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+42 2) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 145, Friday, January 27, 1995.
EVENTS FOR THE WEEK JAN. 19-25, 1995
Klaus in Egypt Signs Agreement on Dual Taxation
On a visit to Egypt Czech Premier Vaclav Klaus signed Jan. 19 an
agreement for the prevention of dual taxation with his Egyptian
counterpart Atif Sidki. In addition, said Klaus, the Czech Republic will
soften its visa requirements for Egyptians.
On Saturday, Jan. 21, Klaus met with Egyptian President Husni
Mubarak for talks on international politics and Egypt's role in the
Middle East peace process. Also Mubarak said Egypt was interested in
learning more about the Czech privatization process.
Accompanying the government delegation on the trip were 26 Czech
businesspeople and officials from the Chamber of Commerce. During their
stay, which Klaus said led to good business contacts, the Czech
automaker Skoda premiered its latest model, the Felicia, on the Egyptian
market. Mirek Langer/Jirka Chvojka
Government Commission Finds No Support for Kalvoda's Charges
A four-member government commission charged with investigating
claims by Jan Kalvoda, deputy premier and vice chairman of the Civic
Democratic Alliance (ODA), that the Security and Information Service
(BIS) has been gathering information on political parties could not
confirm Kalvoda's claims and on Wednesday concluded its activity.
In a statement the same day the government said it was surprised at
the presentation of the issue, calling it inappropriate. The government
will not, however, call for Kalvoda's resignation.
This week the Czech press published information from a parliamentary
commission also investigating Kalvoda's charges against the BIS
indicating the Czech service may have broken the law by communicating
with foreign intelligence agencies from July 30 to Nov. 30, 1994,
without the consent of the government.
Interior Minister Jan Ruml, however, denied the commission's
findings, saying, "Contacts with intelligence services must be separated
into two levels. One is strategic, concerning the common interests of
these services in long-term areas, the other is purely a matter of
operations, and has to do mainly with information transfer. I do not
consider that cooperation."
Kalvoda himself has yet to go before the parliamentary commission.
From Lidove noviny and Mlada fronta Dnes
by Martina Krizkova/Vera Vitkova
Police Say Lizner Case Is Cracked; 8 Million Crowns Belongs to Ministry
More than 8 million Kc in cash paid as a bribe to Jaroslav Lizner,
head of the Czech Republic's Center for Coupon Privatization (CCP), has
been returned to the Ministry of the Interior, which, despite earlier
denials by both ministry officials and the key witness, put up the money
in order to snare Lizner.
Officials from the Czech Police believe they have now solved the
Lizner case. They say that in his post as CCP director Lizner had access
to information from both the CCP and the Computer Technology Company
(CTC) before it was made public, and that he was able to pass this
information on to investors, both individuals and funds, who could then
use it to decide which firms to invest their coupons in.
Also, Lizner's office asked that its computer system be hooked up to
that of the CTC, supposedly to deal with investors' claims. Both the
ministry of privatization and of finance also had the opportunity to get
the hookup but did not do so. Lizner personally, moreover, requested
lists of the stockholders in six firms from the CTC.
For months after Lizner accepted the 8 million Kc bribe, both the
Ministry of the Interior and Lubos Sotona, who reported the bribe to the
police, denied that the money came from the ministry. But it is now
clear that the money was provided to Sotona by the ministry's economic
intelligence section, who, according to the ministry spokesman, had been
interested in Lizner long before Sotona ever came to them.
Sotona is still being silent as to why he decided to work with the
police, but he will be immune from criminal prosecution.
Vladimir Chadim, who labeled Sotona a direct participant in the
affair, has been forced to leave his job at the National Property Fund
after it was found that he made changes in the privatization projects of
two firms without the knowledge of his superiors in order to benefit his
own private company.
From Mlada fronta Dnes by Mirek Langer/Jirka Chvojka
Investigation of Phone Tap at Justice Ministry Ends Empty-handed
The investigation of an illegal phone-tapping device discovered in
the Czech Ministry of Justice in September 1993 came to a close on
Monday without pinpointing the culprit.
The investigator established that at least two conversations were
tapped, including those of Justice Minister Jiri Novak, but has not
found enough evidence to file charges against anyone.
Two months after the minister reported that information from his
phone calls was turning up in certain political circles before it
appeared anywhere else, a phone tap of the type used by the
Communist-era StB secret police was found in Novak's office.
But the investigation that followed was complicated by the fact that
the Czech Security and Information Service failed to secure the device
once they found it and the "bug" disappeared from its offices the next
day. It is still unclear whether the "loss" was intentional or due to
negligence. Mirek Langer/Jirka Chvojka
Top-Level Communists, Jakes, Hoffmann, Escape Firearms Charges
The district attorney for Prague 3 labeled court proceedings against
two former top-ranked Communist leaders charged with being fugitives as
unsubstantiated and unlawful.
The attorney, Karel Bruckler, says Milos Jakes, former secretary
general of the Party, and Karel Hoffmann, former member of the Party's
Central Committee, should have been charged with illegal possession of
firearms for their leadership of the People's Militia, the Communist
Party's private paramilitary force of volunteers.
Under the statute of limitations, Dec. 29, 1994, was the last day
they could have been charged with that crime. The police tried to find
the two men on both Dec. 28 and 29 to present them with the court
summons, but since they could not be located the police decided to begin
proceedings against them as fugitives, which means they can no longer be
brought up again on the weapons charges.
Proceedings connected with the People's Militia continue against six
other former Communist officials whom the police notified in time.
Mirek Langer/Jirka Chvojka
Happy Families and Close Friends Most Important to Czechs
More than anything else in life Czechs value a happy family and
friends who understand them. These were the findings of a poll conducted
in late November and released this week by the Institute for Public
Opinion Research.
Married men and women supported family values more than any other
group, while people between the age of 15 and 19 listed friends as the
most important thing in life.
Other things ranked high on the list of what Czechs find important
were personal popularity, personal health and the environment. Helping
those who are in need was one of the lowest-ranked items.
From Rude pravo by Muhammad Shah/Jirka Chvojka
BUSINESS/ECONOMICS
EXCHANGE RATES OF THE NATIONAL BANK (valid from Jan 27)
CHECKS CASH
country BUY SELL MIDDLE BUY SELL
Great Britain 1 GPB 43,663 44,101 43,882 42,46 45,30
France 1 FRF 5,224 5,276 5,250 5,05 5,45
Japan 100 JPY 27,564 27,842 27,703 26,40 29,00
Canada 1 CAD 19,395 19,589 19,492 18,60 20,38
Austria 1 ATS 2,568 2,594 2,581 2,52 2,64
Germany 1 DEM 18,071 18,253 18,162 17,70 18,62
Switzerland 1 CHF 21,479 21,695 21,587 21,09 22,09
USA 1 USD 27,435 27,711 27,573 26,87 28,27
Slovakia 1 XCU -- -- 34,342 -- --
FROM SLOVAKIA
Slovak Parliament Approves Meciar's Program Following Fierce Fracas
After a heated debate between members of the government coalition
and opposition parties, Slovak Parliament approved the program of
Vladimir Meciar's government on Friday.
At one point Ivan Gasparovic, the speaker of the assembly, ordered
the microphone unplugged on Jan Carnogursky, chairman of the opposition
Christian Democratic Movement (KDH). The KDH leader was quoting from
articles written in the 1980s by current Education Minister Eva
Slavkovska in defense of the Stalinist show trials of the 1950s.
Afterwards Vitazoslav Moric, a member of the same party as
Slavkovska, the Slovak National Party (SNS), called Carnogursky an enemy
of Slovakia and said he was certainly "controlled by Satan."
Most of the 83 deputies who voted for the government program were
members of the parties in the government coalition, made up of Meciar's
Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), the SNS, and the Association
of Slovak Workers (SDS). One hundred thirty-eight deputies were present.
Lukas Zentel/Jirka Chvojka
CULTURE
Otomar Krejca's Theater Za Branou II to Shut Down
After a decision by the Czech Ministry of Culture to bring an end to
the theater's status as a "subsidiary organization" entitled to state
funds, Prague's Divadlo Za Branou II (Theater Beyond the Gate II) has
ceased to exist.
The building housing the theater will be managed by the city and
will be used by the Prague City Theaters association. (See Carolina no.
133 for more information.)
Already actors and directors from the theater, including founder
Otomar Krejca, Helena Glancova and Vit Vencl, have formed an association
called Divadlo Za Branou III to carry on the traditions of the company
and continue performing. But finding a place to do it will be an
obstacle. For the moment the ensemble will have to share space with the
Jiri Srnec Black Theater and the other companies of the Prague City
Theaters association.
In place of the Divadlo Za Branou II sign that currently hangs over
the entrance to the theater in the Adria Palace will be a sign saying
Adria Theater. The Za Branou III company plans to perform three out of
four weeks every month.
A Look Back at the Za Branou
The original Za Branou Theater was founded in 1965 by director
Otomar Krejca, dramaturg Karel Kraus, playwright Josef Topol, and actors
Jan Triska and Marie Tomasova.
Right from the start, Za Branou specialized in difficult works, but
it was abolished by governmental decree in 1972. In 1990, after the fall
of communism, Krejca set up the Za Branou II Theater to pick up where
the first one had left off 17 years earlier.
Before founding Za Branou, Krejca worked as manager and director of
the drama company for the National Theater, but had to leave this
prestigious job for political reasons. In the period known as
"normalization" following the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in
1968, Krejca was not permitted to work as a theater director in his home
country, though he continued to be active in other European theaters,
including Paris, Avignon and Brussels. During this time he received many
awards, among them the Pirandello Prize for directing.
It seems paradoxical that Krejca's status should be called into
question in his own country. Is it typical of the Czech national
character that we don't want to recognize the authority and importance
of anyone who grew up under the same conditions as everyone else and yet
accomplished more? Martin Kupka/Vera Vitkova
SPORTS
Battle for Playoffs Heats Up in Czech Hockey League
Ice hockey play continued in the 33rd and 34th rounds of the Czech
Extra-League, as the battle heightens to see which clubs make the top
eight to compete for the championship in the playoffs. So far five teams
have already qualified: Vitkovice, Sparta Praha, Slavia Praha, Jihlava
and Pardubice.
Round 33: Vitkovice-Jihlava 7:1, Vsetin-Litvinov 7:3,
Slavia Praha-Olomouc 6:2, Kladno-Zlin 2:6,
Plzen-Sparta Praha 4:4, Pardubice-Ceske Budejovice 3:3.
Round 34: Vsetin-Olomouc 3:0, Ceske Budejovice-Sparta Praha 4:2
Vitkovice-Litvinov 4:3, Slavia Praha-Pardubice 5:2
Kladno-Jihlava 6:3, Plzen-Zlin 2:3.
Tomas Kopecny
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