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Carolina (English) No 186
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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 186, Friday, January 19, 1996.
FROM THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEK (JANUARY 10 THROUGH 17)
Israeli President Ezer Weizman Visits Czech Republic
Israeli President Ezer Weizman, as an act of gratefulness to the
former Czechoslovakia, chose the Czech Republic as the destination of
his first official journey.
As an army pilot, Weizman participated in 1948 in a few-week long
training in Ceske Budejovice and in Zatec, from where he flew airplanes
bought here to Israel, the Czech daily Pravo reminded its readers.
The first negotiations of Weizman and Czech President Vaclav Havel
and Ezer Weizman January 10 concerned relations between the countries
and economic cooperation. Other negotiations followed between ministers
of agriculture Josef Lux and Jaakov Cur and central bank governors
Jaakov Frankel and Josef Tosovsky. Havel honoured Weizman with the
highest Czech decoration - The Order of White Lion with The Order Chain
for merit in development of relations between both countries. In the
afternoon Weizman toured Prague's Charles Bridge and in the Old Town
Hall received a Memorial Medal from Charles University and his name was
recorded in the Golden Book of the city.
January 11 the presidents traveled together to attend the funeral
of former French President Francois Mitterrand in Paris.
The program of Weizman's interrupted visit continued January 12
with an official breakfast with Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus. They
talked about the situation in the Middle East and bilateral trade
cooperation. In the afternoon, Weizman and Havel visited the
Theresienstadt (Terezin) ghetto, from which the Nazis sent 150,000 Jews
to concentration camps, and participated in a memorial service on the
bank of the Ohre River, into which the Nazis in 1944 threw the ashes of
22,000 prisoners murdered in Terezin. The last official act of the
January 12 program was the presence of both presidents at the signing of
a Czech-Israeli agreement about agricultural cooperation. Weizman had
a private program January 13 and left January 14 for an official visit
of Germany. Jitka Hejtmanova/JH
Zieleniec and Kinkel Cannot Agree
Five-hour-long negotiations January 12 between Czech and German
foreign ministers Josef Zieleniec and Klaus Kinkel failed again to agree
on the long-awaited Czech-German Declaration of Mutual Relations. The
declaration has been prepared since spring
and should reconcile the controversy concerning Hitler's occupation of
the Sudetenland and the post-war expulsion of Sudeten Germans. Czech
politicians see the declaration as a final resolution to these
historical questions. The negotiations have now moved from the hands of
deputy ministers directly to the ministers.
Zieleniec, at a January 16 press conference, indirectly accused
Germany of escalating demands to prohibit the signing of the
declaration. Kinkel returned to an already agreed-upon passage with
a demand the Czechs morally distance themselves from the injustice of
the expulsion, according to Czech daily MF DNES. According to the Lidove
noviny stays Zieleniec remains optimistic, and in this issue the Czech
public and political authorities are in accord. Jitka Hejtmanova/JH
Czech IFOR Battalion Deserted by 26 Soldiers before Leaving for Bosnia
Twenty-six members of the Czech mechanized division headed for
Bosnia refused this week to sign on to the mission. Fifteen refused for
family reasons or were expelled because of past crimes and 11 were not
satisfied with the pay. The average salary is, according to published
information, 1,500 USD and 1,200 Czech crowns.
Czech Minister of Defense Vilem Holan denied some soldiers' charge
that insurance covers only fatalities, in a January 14 television
program. It also includes injury and permanent disability, he said.
Jitka Hejtmanova/JH
Government Proposes Contractual Salaries for Doctors
The government decided January 12 to end the health industry's
tariff salary system, on the basis of Health Minister Jan Strasky's
proposal.
The decision, which Parliament must approve, means greater freedom for
the managers of state health establishments in budgetary and salary
matters.
Hospital managers welcome contractual salaries, though they realize
the suggested changes may lead to fiscal shortages. "If there were
increased tariffs instead of introducing contractual pay, I would have
to take away money from good employees in order to pay the less good,"
, said Dalibor Stejskal of the Association of Czech and Moravian
Hospitals.
Unions refuse the government proposal; Health and Social Care Union
Chairman Jiri Schlanger plans to try to convince parliamentary deputies
to vote down the proposal, according to media sources. The Physicians'
Union Club also stands by its demand to raise tarifffs by 40 per cent.
If Parliament approves the contractual salaries, Union Club
representatives will negotiate with hospital managers to determine
minimum salaries. Zora Kasikova/Jitka Hejtmanova
First Lady Havlova's Health Condition is Serious
The health condition of Czech President Vaclav Havel's wife Olga
has deteriorated such that she requires a long-term hospital stay, said
Ladislav Spacek, the president's spokesman. Havlova last appeared in
public in the fall. She spent the Christmas holidays at home, and during
that time recorded several interviews for radio and TV.
Zora Kasikova/Alida Kassymova
Several Medicines Should Be Sold Not Only in Pharmacies
On January 10, after a government meeting, Czech Prime Minister
Vaclav Klaus announced that accoding to a proposed law several medicines
will be sold outside of pharmacies. Although the list is not ready, at
issue are pain killers today available without prescription. According
to Klaus, the reason for the change is to demonopolize pharmaceuticals,
as it common in other countries. Maria Tripoliti/Alida Kassymova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Radio Free Europe Given Ultimatum
The Slovak Federal Assembly for Radio and Television Broadcasting
approved a court ruling stating that Radio Free Europe has 30 days to
modify their broadcasting under threat of Slovak license confisation.
The ruling especially hits on RFE's main news and publicity program,
"Topical events, Circumstances, Argument" ("Aktuality souvislosti,
argumenty"). Counsel Chairman Peter Juras announced that the station
systematically violates objetivity and is based on a minimal evaluation
of the situation in Slovakia. The assembly has lodged complaints about
the work of journalists Petr Gabal, Stefan Hrib, Ivan Stulajter and
Marian Bednar.
The Slovak Syndicate of Journalists sharply opposes the ruling. They
have declared that to stop the broadcasting of the Slovak RFE is
technically impossible and that it is not realistic to think that the
Congess USA will stop financing it in response to threats. The Slovak
Syndicate of Journalists says that the real issue is not RFE, but to
frighten the Slovak independant media. Livia Savelkova/Alida Kassymova
Biggest Bank Robbery in Slovak History
The biggest bank robbery in Slovak history took place this weekend
January 5-7. 130 million Slovak crowns and 43 million in hard currency
disappeared from the internal branch of the General Savings and Loan
Bank (Vseobecna uverova banka - VUB).
The robbery is being investigatd by a special team, made up of 30
experienced criminologists, investigators and experts. Much speculation
of the possibility that someone in the management may have turned off,
and then back on, the security system surrounds the case.
Livia Savelkova/Alida Kassymova
Slovakia Will Request More Memorials
The Slovak side is going to raise other requests, in addition to
exchange of Bojnice Altar for 10 Gothic paintings, which should have
finished conflicts between the Czech and Slovak republics. The new
claims regard other memorial taken to Bohemia between the wars or during
World War II. According to the list of the Slovak minister of culture,
it includes The remains of the skull of a Neanderthal from Ganovce,
which is part of the Prague National Museum collection, said a Slovak
newspaper January 11. The Czech side has not yet officially received the
Slovak request. "When it happens, we will react," said a spokesman for
the Czech minister of culture, according to Czech daily MF DNES.
The Slovak government established a commission for solving questions
of the dividing of cultural heritage between the republics. The Slovak
commission has nobody to negotiate with, because the joint commission
was abolished by Czech Minister of Culture Pavel Tigrid after finishing
an official agreement in 1992-3. Zora Kasikova/Jitka Motejzikova
Research on Slovak entrance into NATO: More Support and Opposition
During the last six months, the number of those who think Slovakia
shoud enter NATO increased, from 38.6 per cent in June to 42.5 per cent.
However, at the same time the percentage opposed increased from 19.2 per
cent to 21.9 per cent. Livia Savelkova/Arsen Kocarjan
ECONOMICS
Annual Czech Inflation Rate Is Lowest since 1989
The inflation rate has decreased by nearly 1 per cent from 1994 and
reached 9.1 per cent in 1995.
The decrease is mainly due to July and August, when the monthly
inflation rate was zero. In 1996 inflation should fall by 0.5 per cent
or 1 per cent, according to expert forecasts, but it probably won't fall
under 8 per cent. In following years, the rate should continously
decline.
These forecasts were confirmed also by Czech Prime Minister Klaus,
who called the rate expected and a trend which will continue in 1996.
Chairman of the opposition Social Democrats Milos Zeman welcomed the
decline, but also expresed fears that inflation will climb this year.
Such favorable developments could be threatened by rising prices in
1996, for example the January rise in milk and dairy products prices.
Despite the Czech Republic sharing with Slovakia the lowest
inflation rates of the post-communist countries, the rate is still
rather high in comparison with that of members of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development. Alice Ticha/Arsen Kocarjan
Tourism Profits Climb
In comparison to 1994, profits from tourism rose 27 per cent. The
Ministry of the Economy estimates 2.5 billion USD. The number of
visitors to the Czech Republic dropped, however, by 3 per cent, to 98.1
million. Almost 2 per cent less Czechs are traveling abroad - in 1994,
44.9 million Czechs left the country. Alida Kassymova/Andrea Snyder
Budget Surplus
Although final reports of the Czech Republic's budget for last year
show a surplus, state finances ended up with a slight deficit. Last
year, Parliament used the money from the 1994 budget surplus - 9.3
billion crowns - mainly to increase pensions, as well as wages for
teachers and railway workers. Otherwise the state would have had to have
made these payments from 1995's income. In order for the state's bottom
line to reach zero, the amount that parliament divides into additional
expenses must remain in the account. Because final accounting of taxes
continues, the final surplus could still attain the expected 9.3 billion
crowns.
Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik says any surplus should be used to
pay off the national debt. This solution would drastically aid the
central bank in the fight against inflation, said bank spokesman Martin
Svehla and Parliament Budget Committee Chairman Tomas Jezek.
Alice Ticha/Andrea Snyder
Increase in Natural Gas Prices Complicates Other Fuel Prices
The tax increase on unleaded gas to the level of less ecological
kinds, which came into effect January 1, immediately had an impact on
prices at big gas stations. The Czech company Benzina immediately raised
prices, as did branches of big foreign firms such as Shell, Agip, Aral
and others. The increase was spread by Benzina to all types of fuels,
and other distributors followed suit. Prices are not yet fixed.
Th expected increase in prices did not precipitate an increased
demand at the end of last year. Experts are not expecting an increased
demand for gas in Slovakia even though the VAT on fuels was lowered
there. After the New Year, newspapers still wrote about "gas tourism" in
the border areas around Poland and Slovakia, where it was possible to
save three to five crowns per liter. Alice Ticha/Katarina Rus
Ekoagrabanka Surviving Crisis
Ekoagrobanka is the fifth Czech financial institution to have
a crisis, as reserves and capital have been lower than potential losses
for some time.
Mobs of people gathered at Ekoagrobanka's door after a January 10
news report of the the bank's poor state of affairs. Ekoagrobanka
reacted by closing all Czech branches January 11. Prime Minister Vaclav
Klaus was quoted by Czech daily Denni telegraf as saying, "Ekoagrobanka
became the victim of a group of journalists who decided to use the media
to announce that the bank is threatened by bankruptcy."
The Czech National Bank's (CNB) advisory board decided January 16
to initiate forced administration at Ekoagrobanka. Although bank
customers will not lose their deposits, stock prices will plummet,
decreasing its basic capital from 600 million crowns to 1.2 million
crowns. The banking law grants CNB this authority.
Because the state-owned Konsolidacni Bank is to become the new
investor, newspapers have labeled the case the first state repossesion
since 1989. Marketa Hudkova/Andrea Snyder
CULTURE
Opera Singer Eduard Haken Dies
Eduard Haken, a well-known Czech opera singer, died January 12 at
the age of 85. He had been singing solos for the National Theater since
1941. His name brings back memories of characters not to be forgotten
- Kecal in Smetana's "The Bartered Bride," and the Water Man in
Dvorak's "Rusalka" ("The Water Nymph"). Following his departure from the
National Theater, Haken continued to work with the Prague theater
Divadlo na zabradli late into 1995. Marketa Hudkova/Andrea Snyder
"First Lady of Film" Ester Krumbachova Exits Forever
On January 13, film designer, scriptwriter and director Ester
Krumbachova died after a long illness at the age of 72.
She belonged to the so-called Czech New Wave of the 1960's, and she
was forbidden to work by the regime in the 1970's and 1980's. She acted
with her husband Jan Nemec in the films Demanty noci (The Diamonds of
The Night), Mucednici lasky (The Martyrs Of Love) and O slavnosti
a hostech (Of A Celebration And Guests). She cooperated with the
director Vera Chytilova in producing the films Sedmikrasky (Daisies) and
Ovoce stromu rajskych jime (We Eat The Fruits Of Trees Of Paradise). Her
name is connected with the popular film Kdyby tisic klarinetu (If
a Thousand Clarinets) as well. She devoted herself to direction after
1989. She shot the portrait of Jan Nemec for the Gen film series,
portrait of Vala's sisters and of Ota Ornest for the Genus film seriers.
Her book of prose Prvni knizka Ester (The First Book Of Ester) was
published last year.
Ester Krumbachova was known for her optimism, as she confessed: "It
is sometimes difficult for me to control my vitality."
Jitka Motejzikova/JM
Jiri Nemecek Dies
The popular actor Jiri Nemecek died January 15 at age 72 after
a long illness.
Nemecek began his career in the Theater of S.K. Neumann in Prague,
then he played on Prague's stages of the Theater of E. F. Burian and of
the Laterna magika (Magic Lantern). In spite of nearly losing his voice
to cancer, he did not give up acting and played supporting roles in
theater and film.
He performed in Medea, The Cloud And The Waltz, and The Wild Duck
in the National Theater. He became popular not only thanks to his roles
in Prague, but also performed a role in the play The Three Sisters in
Usti nad Labem. Jitka Motejzikova/JM
Culture Minister Tigrid Publishes New Statute for Czech Philharmonic
Czech Minister of Culture Pavel Tigrid authorized the new statute
of the Czech Philharmonic (CP) January 15. One article, which makes
a general conductor directly subordinate to the minister, was changed to
place a general director in such a position.
Now, the general director will appoint and recall the general
conductor, who is responsible for the artistic activity of orchestra.
Responsibility for the orchestra's artistic standard and repertoire
choice and realization become the duties of the general conductor. The
new Art Council will not be under the conductor's control, but under the
general director. Tigrid decided to set aside the Council from the
philharmonic's organizational structure, and delegated it his
consultative authority.
With this solution, long-time crisis inside of the orchestra
culminated. It started when representatives of the philharmonic voted
the German conductor Gerd Albrecht head of the orchestra. Relations
worsened when the former general director announced Albrecht had refused
an offer to play in the Vatican. Albrecht began hearing accusations that
he harmed the orchestra's reputation. Tensions further increased after
the recal of the general director, who was supported by the
administrative council, which instead wanted to recall the conductor.
Articles in German magazines quoting Albrecht showed the conductor
as the victim of Czech nationalism. Albrecht protested but did not deny
his quotes. The German press still describes this case as a political
business.
Albert refused to comment on the statute before returning from
a concert tour of Spain. Jitka Motejzikova/JM
SPORT
Vjalbeova and Smirnov Win Golden Skis
The biggest sport event of the past week in the Czech Republic was the
World Cup ski-sprinting competition; it was the 58th year of the Golden
Skis competition, which this year took place in Nove Mesto in Morava. In
front of 25,000 spectators, the Russian Vjalbeova won the 10 km classic
sprint for women (second was the Italian di Centaova, third the Russian
Lazutinova). The best Czech female finisher was Neumannova, who took
16th place. In the men's 15 km classic sprint, Kazach Smirnov won (in
second Isometsa and third Myllyla, both of Finland). From the Czechs,
Lubomir Buchta surprisingly finished 8th.
In the relay (4x5 km classic), the Russian women were the best, followed
by Norway and Italy. Among the men the team from Finland came in first,
followed by Norway and Italy.
World Cup Leader Dahlie of Norway had bad luck, finishing fourth in the
individual competition, while in the relay, his fall near the finish
moved him to second place. Jiri Trunecka/Katarina Rus
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