Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Carolina (English) No 181
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 CZECH REPUBLIC
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 181, Friday, December 1, 1995.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (November 22-29)
Czech Politicians React to Bosnian Peace Treaty
President Vaclav Havel, government officials and opposition
Parliament members welcomed the Bosnian peace treaty. "I firmly believe
that peace has returned to Bosnia for good... It seems to me that
although the treaty isn't ideal and presents many risks, especially in
the issue of creating a united Bosnia and Hercegovina, this is the
highest goal that is possible to attain," said Havel November 23.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Josef Zieleniec said that the Czech Republic
will support the proposal to gradually end the weapons embargo to the
former Yugoslavia.
A Czech unit made up of 700-800 men will probably participate in the
peace operation. Military participation in Bosnia should cost
approximately 1.25 billion crowns annually.
Livia Savelkova/Andrea Snyder
Czech Republic to be 26th OECD Member
Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Josef Zieleniec and OECD General
Secretary Jean Claude Pay signed a pact in Paris November 28. After
ratification by Parliament and signing by President Vaclav Havel, the
pact will make the Czech Republic the first post-communist country to
join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The Czech Republic applied for membership to the "club of the
world's most advanced countries" in January 1994. The Czechs were
officially invited to join November 24, when the OECD Advisory Board
stated that the main conditions were fulfilled. Currently, 25 of the
world's most economically powerful countries make up the OECD. Its goals
include reaching maximum economic growth, raising employment and raising
the standard of living for member countries, mainly by breaking down the
barriers to free trade.
Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and South Korea have also applied for
membership.
Jaromir Vicari/Andrea Snyder
Latvian Premier Visits Czech Republic
The Czech Republic will support Latvia to join the Central European
Free Trade Association (CEFTA). The two prime ministers - Vaclav Klaus
and Adolfas Shledzevichius - agreed on it Novemeber 23 in Prague. They
have also confirmed their readiness to sign the Czech-Latvian free trade
zone agreement.
A several-minute pause before meeting the press was used by the
statesmen for a basketball "shoot-out;" Klaus won, draining eight of 10
shots in the first round and seven in the second round.
Livia Savelkova/Arsen Kochiarian
State Prosecutor Ends Prosecution of Zdenek Mlynar
State prosecutors in Prague stopped the prosecution of Zdenek
Mlynar and dropped treason charges as being unreasonable November 24.
The Bureau for Documentation and Investigation of Communist Crimes
(UDV), led by Vaclav Benda, lodged an appeal against the state
prosecutor's decision. "Mlynar's crime is proved by irrefutable
evidence. If Kredba (the state prosecutor) is serious about this, we can
only file an appeal," said Deputy Head of UDV Pavel Bret in the November
25 edition of the daily Lidove Noviny. On the other hand, the daily
Pravo published on the same day Mlynar's remarks that he was not
suprised, because "nothing shows I committed any crime. On the contrary,
I tried to prevent it".
According to Attorney General Libor Grygarek, the procedure of
investigators is very unusual and lacks a legal basis. The investigators
cannot, according to law, express their disagreement with state
attorney's decision, and an appeal can only be filed by the Minister of
Justice to the Supreme Court.
Matej Husek/Katerina Zachovalova
Duha Movement Blames Shell
The Duha (Rainbow) ecological movement has accused the Shell
company of indirect relations with executions in Nigeria. Forty members
of Duha invaded and occupied Shell's Brno headquarters for 20 minutes
November 23. The environmentalists drew particular attention to Nigerian
writer Ken Saro-Wiwy, who had accused his government and Shell of
ecological warfare and exterminating the Ogoni tribe.
The writer, with eight other activists, was executed November 10.
Barbora Spevakova/Arsen Kochiarian
Senate Confusion Continues
A public opinion poll conducted in early November showed 53 per
cent of voters would vote in a potential Senate election. The number has
risen by five percent in the past two years. Seventy-one per cent of the
voting public plan to vote in Parliamentary elections. Nearly half of
those questioned say a second chamber of Parliament is unnecessary.
Roughly 50 percent was unable to name a person they would like to see in
the new Senate.
Leaders of the coalition parties have not yet decided whether
Senate elections should be held the same day as elections to Parliament.
Parliament should decide the 1996 Senate budget at its December meeting,
based on the proposal of 407 million crowns.
Olga Huderova/Andrea Snyder
Dlouhy More and More Popular, Havel's Popularity Declines
According to research of the Empirical Research Center STEM, the
most popular political trio is formed by Minister of Trade and Industry
Vladimir Dlouhy, Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), with 83 per cent, Free
Democrats (SD) Chairman Jiri Dienstsbier with 74 per cent and Foreign
Minister Josef Zieleniec, Civic Democratic Party (ODS), with 68 per
cent. After them rank Petra Buzkova, Social Democrats (CSSD), 63 per
cent, Minister of Health Jan Strasky (ODS), 60 per cent, ODA Chairman
Jan Kalvoda, 60 per cent, CSSD Chairman Milos Zeman, 57 per cent, Prime
Minister Vaclav Klaus and Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik (both ODS and
both at 56 per cent). Minister of Agriculture Josef Lux of the Christian
Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL) ranks 10th with
52 per cent, a 12-per-cent improvement from September. In a break from
the recent trend, the popularity of all politicians has slightly
increased, only Education Minister Ivan Pilip, Christian Democratic
Party (KDS), lost 3 percent.
President Vaclav Havel's popularity is evaluated separately by STEM.
His popularity fell from September's 69 per cent to 67 per cent. In
April, Havel had won the sympathy of 78 per cent of the people.
Zbynek Vicar/Maria Tripoliti
Government Approves Plans of Only Five Health Insurance Companies.
Less than one-fifth of 27 health insurance companies were supported
and approved by the government November 22. The Cabinet agreed to next
year's plans from only five health insurance companies: VZP General
Health Insurance Company, Skoda Insurance, Metal-Alliance Insurance,
Hutnicka Insurance Company and National Czech Insurance Copmany, which
together insure 80 per cent of the population.
The other 22 insurance copmanies failed for different reasons
- indebtedness, high costs or a small number of clients. Among them is
Hornicka Insurance Company, which has begun bankruptcy proceedings.
The fact that the Cabinet did not supported them does not mean the
end for the failed applicants. The final decision depends on Parliament
and if their plans fail there, they can still correct them and submit
them once again.
Proof of the fear of clients of the unapproved companies is VZP's
daily tally of 1,000 applications (VZP is the biggest Czech insurer,
with about 7 million clients). If an insurance company goes bankrupt,
its clients automatically become clients of VZP, if they haven't chosen
any other insurance company.
Livia Savelkova/Maria Tripoliti
Viewers' Opinion: Public TV News More Objective
The main news program on the private TV station Nova attracts more
viewers (39 per cent) than the news on public television CT1 (15 per
cent), even though people think Nova's news to be less objective.
The Institute of Public Opinion Polls and Mediaprojekt published
a report that 45 per cent of citizens trust CT1 more and consider its
news undistorted and reflecting reality. Only 39 per cent think the same
about TV Nova. One-tenth of viewers are convinced of Nova's complete
subjectivity, while only 4 per cent believe so in CT1's case. Nova's
news is never watched by 4 per cent of the people, while CT1's news is
never seen by 5 per cent.
Lucie Dvorakova/Katerina Zachovalova
Chief of Poldi Kladno Buys Daily Prace
Vladimir Stehlik, general director of Poldi Kladno steelworks,
bought the unprofitable unionist daily Prace (Work) November 23.
Stehlik, who at Poldi grapples with debts in the hundreds of millions,
acquired 51 per cent of Prace's shares through a contract with former
majority owner GEN, to whom he paid a deposit of 10 million crowns. The
new owner plans to change the newspaper's name - he is said to be
considering the name Ceska Prace (Czech Work).
The whole transaction took place without the knowledge of
Czecho-Moravian Chamber of Unions Chairman Richard Falbr, who was
disturbed upon learning of the deal.
Matej Bartosek/Klara Schirova
Czech Students Match Well with the World.
Czech children aged 9 and 14 took part in tests from the
International Association for Evaluating Education, along with pupils
from 31 countries. Written tests checked so-called "readers' literacy",
i.e. ability to comprehend a written text, to remember the content and
to orient themselves in given facts. Nine-year-old children finished in
14th place, after Belgian students, and the 14-year-olds in 17th place,
after Germany. Finnish students topped both age categories.
The results showed that Czech pupils rank among the best in
choosing correct answers, but they had problems with completing the
tests in time. The Education Research Institute explains the slowness of
pupils by the atypical test procedure. Czech students among the worst in
the simplest parts of the tests, but in orientation in given facts they
were among the 10 best.
Part of the research was also a comparison of abilities between
children from villages and from towns, and between boys and girls. Czech
results were related to the place of residence - the cities had the best
result. In Netherlands the results were the opposite and in few
countries the difference were insignificant. It is not surprising that
the girls generally had better scores without exception among
nine-year-olds, while 14-year-old boys were more successful in France,
Portugal and Zimbabwe.
Zbynek Vicar/Jitka Hejtmanova
Army Food below Standard
The food that the central warehouse has been dispensing to the army
since July does not meet hygienic standards. Hygiene inspectors and army
personnel found meat products to be of expiration-date quality.
The central food supply program is becomming more and more the
focal point of complaints. Ordinary soldiers say they only eat the
spoiled food, because otherwise they would go without.
Vice-Chairman of Parliament's Military and Security Committee Tomas
Fejfar was quoted in Czech daily MF DNES as saying that in creating the
central food supply program, a monopoly that has caught the army in
a vise and dictated prices was born. The program was incorporated to
save the state 60 million crowns per year, which, Fejfar insinuates
darkly, "wander into someone else's pockets."
David Vozdecky/Andrea Snyder
Heroin Addiction on the Rise
Heroin sells for one-fifth less in the Czech Repulic than in
neighboring countries, said Jiri Komorous, head of the anti-drug center,
at Parliament's November 28 seminar on drugs. It is estimated that the
heroin consumption has outpaced that of pervitin, the drug that had been
used most in the Czech Republic.
Barbora Spevakova/Andrea Snyder
Ring Rates the Best Dressed of the Year
According to a poll conducted by the weekly Ring, Premier Vaclav
Klaus is the best dressed man of the year - elegance for every occasion,
they say. Ten fashion experts awarded the second-place prize for
shocking oufits to singer Jiri Korn. For sexy lounge-wear, Jiri Hanak
from the Sklep (Cellar) theater group won third place. President Vaclav
Havel placed fourth with his classic tailoring.
Olga Huderova/Andrea Snyder
FROM SLOVAKIA
Slovak President Signs Language Law
Slovak President Michal Kovac singed the official language law
November 28 on the condition that a minority-language law will soon be
accepted. If it is not accepted, Kovac will submit the language law to
the Constitutional Court.
Hungarian minority leaders immediately responded to the President
desicion, confirming that together with Jan Carnogursky's Christian
Ddemocrats they will lodge an appeal against the law to the
Constitutional Court.
Barbora Spevakova/Kassymova Alida
Karel Gott Performs in Bratislava.
Legendary Czech singer Karel Gott gave his only Christmas concert
this year in Bratislava's Slovak National Theatre (SND) November 26. The
artist sang "Silent Night" with SND soloists Eva Jenisova, Denisa
Slepkovska and Dalibor Jenisa. Then he performed arias from Mozart and
Puccini operas and songs from his latest album, Zazrak vanocni (The
Christmas Miracle). Gott's special guest, Lucie Bila, the Czech version
of Madonna, performed with Gott the duet Navrat se k ruzim (Return To
The Roses).
Lucie Dvorakova/Kassymova Alida
ECONOMY
Majority Thinks Czech Standard of Living Is Rather Good
According to an poll taken by the Institute for Investigation of
Public Opinion of 2,029 respondents over 15 years of age, a majority of
Czech citizens (60 per cent) considers its household living standard
rather good. Five per cent consider their situation to be very good.
"Rather bad" was declared by 30 per cent, and according to 3 per cent
the standard is very bad.
More than half of the respondents (54 per cent) think their living
standard will not change in the next year, 22 per cent of gainfully
employed and university-educated people are convinced it will improve,
16 per cent state it will become worse and 8 per cent are not sure.
Matej Husek/Klara Schirova
Higher Cost of Heat Next July
The cost of heat should increase about 10 per cent in July 1996.
The rise was not planned until September 1996, but because rents will
increase from July 1996, the Ministry of Finance decided to merge costs
connected with living to one date.
Ministry plans on an annual 10 per cent rise of the heat costs for
households. By the end of the century the heat prices should equal the
approximate price of production and distribution. The price of heat for
households should rise on July 1, 1996 from 163 crowns per gigajoul to
180 crowns per gJ.
Marketa Skodova/Klara Schirova
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from Dec. 1)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 19.936
Belgium 100 BEF 89.978
Great Britain 1 GBP 40.776
Danemark 1 DKK 4.779
Finland 1 FIM 6.221
France 1 FRF 5.399
Ireland 1 IEP 42.143
Italy 1000 ITL 16.626
Japan 100 JPY 26.214
Canada 1 CAD 19.588
Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.978
Netherland 1 NLG 16.518
Norway 1 NOK 4.196
New Zealand 1 NZD 17.423
Portugal 100 PTE 17.721
Austria 1 ATS 2.629
Greece 100 GRD 11.268
Slovakia 100 SKK 89.584
Germany 1 DEM 18.505
Spain 100 ESP 21.731
Sweden 1 SEK 4.082
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.860
USA 1 USD 26.588
ECU 1 XEU 34.283
IMF 1 XDR 39.622
CULTURE
Sergej Machonin Died
Critic, writer and translator Sergej Machonin, one of the most
important personalities in Czech postwar theatre, died from long-term
lung illness November 24.
He was born in Moscow at the end of 1918 and as a child moved to
Czechoslovakia with his parents. After graduating from high school he
attended the Charles University College of Humanities, which closed
during his studies (during World War II he was imprisoned in
Sachsenhausen concentration camp). He served as an editor at Literarni
noviny (The Literary News) in the 1950's and 1960's. Machonin dedicated
himself mainly to theater criticism. Later he abandoned his belief in
socialism and was among the first Charter 77 signatories. He translated
works from Russian, German, French, Serbian, Polish, Bulgarian and
Italian.
Brno's Atlantis publishing house released Machonin's memoirs,
Pribeh se zavorkami (A Story in Parentheses), this summer. The daily MF
DNES published a quote from Machonin characterizing the life of a Czech
20th-century intellectual: "The heroes of stories similar to mine
understood, like me, too late, and then tried as they could to correct
their blindness - even through open protest against the totalitarian
regime. Their blindness does not excuse them and they will not get rid
of the feeling of old guilt."
Viktorie Reschova/Katerina Zachovalova
Czech Film Premiere
The latest film by renowned director Karel Kachyna celebtrated its
premiere at Prague's Blanik theater November 29. The picture, entitled
Fany, was produced by Czech Television and the KF film production
company. The story flows from the conflict of two heterogeneouus
personalities - a successful head nurse temporarily must care for her
mentally retarded sister. The lead roles were given to Jirina Jiraskova
and Jirina Bohdalova, whose role as the retarded sister is already being
considered the performance of her life. The script was written by Jiri
Hubac.
Matej Bartosek/Jitka Motejzikova
The Innocent Ferocity of Tono Stano's Photographs
Visitors at Prague's National Technical Museum can admire about 50
photographs by Slovak photographer Tono Stano till the end of the year.
Female nudes and body parts make up the majority of the
black-and-white works. They surprise with their simplicity and play of
shadows, innocence and fineness mix with rapaciousness and animality,
which simultaneously shock and attract the viewers' eyes.
The Prague exhibit contains photographs made in the last four years
by Stano, one of the country's most successful commercial photographers.
Jitka Motejzikova/Jitka Motejzikova
Pure Gold from the Bottom of the Mnaga a Zdorp Well
The Moravian band Mnaga a Zdorp perfomed at Prague's Belmondo rock
club November 22, with a set list dominated by compositions from their
latest album, Ryzi zlato (Pure gold).
The six musicians, particularly lead singer Petr Fiala, charged the
atmosphere in the hall, also adding songs from previous albums.
Traditionally, the songs were full of pessimism, irony and cynicism.
Fans chanted the two encores along with the band, which played in their
traditional sailor's attire.
Jitka Motejzikova/Jitka Motejzikova
SPORT
Sparta Praha Loses in Milan 2-0 In 3rd Round of U.E.F.A. Cup
After the loss, Sparta Praha's soccer players have only a small
chance to continue in the U.E.F.A. Cup, considering Milan's better
record on the road than at home.
AC Milan - Sparta Prague 2-0, goals: 32. and 77. Weah.
Adam Kotalik/Jan Palicka
Zlin at Bottom of Soccer Standings after Half of Season
Slavia defeated Liberec in the 15th round of first league, ruining
Liberec's chance to take over first place in the league standings. In
the first Silesian derby match, Opava beat Ostrava in Bazaly 2:1. Zlin
collapsed in Drnovice and fell into last place.
Results of 15th round: Jablonec-Brno 3-0, Uherske Hradiste-Zizkov
1-0, Ceske Budejovice-Cheb 3-3, Ostrava-Opava 1-2, Drnovice-Zlin 3-0,
Hradec Kralove-Olomouc 1-3, Slavia-Liberec 2-1.
David Sprincl/Jan Palicka
Tresl Chalks up Four Goals in Hockey Extraleague
The center of Brno's third line scored four times in the 24th round
against Zlin. However, none of his teammates could find the net, and
instead gave up seven goals to Zlin.
Results of 24th round: Slavia-Trinec 5-1, Pardubice-Litvinov 2-4,
Kladno-Olomouc 1-2, Zlin-Brno 7-4, Plzen-Jihlava 4-4, C.
Budejovice-Vsetin 1-1, Vitkovice-Sparta 2-4
Results of 25th round: Brno-Slavia 4-6, Vsetin-Pardubice 5-0,
Trinec-Vitkovice 4-4, Jihlava-Zlin 8-2, Plzen-Kladno 4-3,
Litvinov-Olomouc 6-2, Sparta-C. Budejovice postponed until December 3.
Adam Kotalik/Jan Palicka
Ladies of World Tennis in Prague
The Commerce Bank Open exhibition tennis tournament has been going
on in Prague since November 24th. Fans at the Sport Hall have seen eight
of the top women in world tennis - Sanchez-Vicario, Pierce, M. J.
Fernandez, Majoli, Hingis, Huber and two Czech representatives. But
Novotna and Sukova lost their matches in first round.
Results of the first round: Hingis-Novotna 6-4, 6-2, Huber-Majoli
6-4, 6-4, Sanchez-Sukova 6-4, 6-3, Fernandez-Pierce 6-2, 6-1.
Semifinal: Fernandez-Hingins 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, 7-5, Huber-Sanchez
6-3, 6-4.
Final match (after deadline on Thursday evening): Fernandez-Huber
7:5, 7:6 (7:5).
Karel Bartek/Jan Palicka
More Sparta Players in Jail
Hockey players Pavel Taborsky and Jiri Krocak were accused November
28 of sexual abuse, with the state recommending prison time for both
men. Krocak still plays for Sparta Praha, while his former teammate
Taborsky now plays for Vsetin.
Sparta Praha's second-team goalie, Ivan Vasilev, was arrested and
convicted to a jail term in October (see Carolina 175). He and four
other people were accused of possesion of a weapon without a permit,
theft, accessory to a crime, sexual abuse, rape, pimping, and illegal
possesion of drugs and poisons.
Jan Palicka/Andrea Snyder
WEATHER
Winter weather has finally arrived, with the last week in November.
Temperatures fell to -10 degrees Celsius at night, and in the mountains
to -18. Meteorologists say that the cold weather is not out of the
ordinary.
Drivers flail their brakes on slippery streets, and, at Ruzyne
Airport, even the pilots of a Cessna 340 found themselves having slipped
off the runway.
Winter has made itself known throughout Europe - the mercury in
Moravian fell to -2 during the day November 29, and in Berlin to -1.
London, however, saw the last of autumn, at 12 degrees Celsius.
David Vozdecky/Andrea Snyder
Edited by Michael Bluhm.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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!
Miroslav Bucko
Department of Computers
Faculty of Social Sciences
Charles University at Prague
e-mail: bucko@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz
phone : +42 2 24 81 08 04 ext. 271
