Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Carolina (English) No 183
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 183, Friday, December 15, 1995.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (December 6-13)
Parliament Approves Czech Soldiers for Bosnia
Parliament approved a bill December 8 to send Czech soldiers to
Bosnia. There they will join the international Implementation Force
(IFOR), backed by NATO, to keep peace in the former Yugoslavia. The new
force will operate with wider authority than the previous UNPROFOR
troops.
The bill was approved by 126 members of the coalition parties and
opposition social democrats. The Left Block, the Communist Parties of
Bohemia and Moravia, and the right-wing Association for the Republic
- The Republican Parties of Czechoslovakia voted agaionst the bill. The
Czech mechanized battalion, to be under British leadership, will
composed of 850 volunteer soldiers.
Although the Balkan conflict might yet endanger the soldiers, more
than 1,000 men volunteered. Minister of Defense Vilem Holan says the
elite unit should begin training in late December in Cesky Krumlov. The
first research and security units will leave for Bosnia in mid-January.
Michaela Vysoudilova/Andrea Snyder
Military Transports Across the Czech Republic
On December 9 the first two trains transporting American soldiers
from IFOR forces to the former Yugoslavia crossed Czech soil.
Even though Czech Railways are not telling anyone what the prices
were, the transport of 20,000 American soldiers with their weapons
should bring the state firm hundreds of millions of crowns. The Czech
daily MF DNES reminded their readers that day that the American army
paid 50,000 DM (nearly 1 million crowns) for the passage of one train
equipped with materials two years ago. The current transports, however,
likely have different rates.
Matej Husek/Andrea Snyder
Austria Supports Czech Republic for NATO and EU
Czech President Vaclav Havel and Austrian President Thomas Klestil
agreed the Czech Republic should be one of the first Eastern European
countries to join the EU and NATO, at a December 11 official meeting.
Security interests have absolute priority, said Klestil at Austria's
Seefeld Castle, not far from the Czech border.
Havel commented on Czech-Austrian relations, saying that unlike the
situation with Germany, he doesn't feel such a pressing need for
a common declaration. The former Czechoslovakia signed a pact with
Austria in 1974 in which both sides renounced all claims and declared
all accounts settled.
The presidents also discussed aid to Bosnia. Havel proposed that
central European cities "adopt Bosnian centers," to aid them in
economic renewal. To that end should contribute a conference agreed to
by the presidents. "We would like to hold a Vienna-Prague Conference,
based on the Bosnia example, about how the Europe of the future will
deal with the issues of nationalism, racism, and hatred of foreigners.
Spiritual shards of Bosnia are laying throughout all of Europe," said
Klestil.
David Vozdecky/Andrea Snyder
All Primary and Secondary Schools Get "Flu Holiday"
A serious flu epidemic has afflicted the Czech Republic, leading
Czech Surgeon General Jiri Vytlacil to proclaim a premature Christmas
holiday December 12. Primary and secondary schools let out December 14,
and classes will resume January 3. School cafeterias and youth centers
will continue operating until the originally scheduled holidays begin
December 22.
"I do not remember that we had ever had to proclaim a special
holiday because of the flu," said Ministry of Health hygienist Gustav
Walter. He said a one-week holiday would not have sufficed if the
Christmas holiday had not been scheduled.
The flu epidemic will hit its peak before Christmas. The worst
situation ocurred in northern Moravia and in the southern Bohemia a week
ago, while hygienists predict the flu will spread to central and western
Bohemia. Bela Tumova of the National Reference Laboratory of the State
Health Institute considers the present epidemic the biggest in the last
seven years. "In comparison with the extensive epidemic in 1992, the
number of sick is lower but this year's case is not at an end."
The Czech Republic is the only country in Europe where the flu
engulfed the entire land. Higher numbers of the ill have been recorded
only in Portugal, Britain and in some German regions. Austria now awaits
a wave of infection.
Jaromir Vicari/Jitka Motejzikova
Romanies Demonstrate in Prague
The Czech press reports nearly 400 Romanies (gypsies) demonstrating
December 8 - Human Rights Day - against fascism and growing racial
violence. The demonstration, arranged by the Romany Civic Initiative,
was the peak of a period of actions taking place in other Czech towns.
Demonstrators, including Chief Czech Rabbi Karol Sidon and former
dissident Petr Uhl from the Movement for Civic Solidarity and Tolerance,
criticized the government and other state organizations for not putting
a stop to racist displays, and for not punishing the participants of
such displays. Demonstrators held a moment of silence for the 28 Romany
victims of racism from the past three years.
Viktorie Reschova/Andrea Snyder
Premier Criticizes Health Reforms in Physicians' Den
Bohuslav Svoboda, a gynocologist at Prague's Vinohradska Hospital,
was once again elected president of the Czech Physicians' Chamber (CLK)
December 9 in Olomouc. Jaroslav Strof, a member of the Physicians' Union
Club (LOK), was elected CLK vice-president. LOK Chairman David Rath's
attempt to take over the CLK leadership failed. Rath, who iniciated the
recent doctors' strikes, received one vote.
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus also attended the CLK meeting. In his
speech December 9, he admitted "the situation in health care today is
caused by the half-way, and in many aspects erroneous, transformation of
the original socialist health care system." Klaus called a number of
health insurance companies an expensive luxury and a waste. He said
today's health care was created as a "soft, almost self-serving system,
which functioned without greater problems until it ran into the only
possible barrier, which is the total volume of funds given to health
care."
Svoboda said the conflict between the Chamber and the Prime
Minister is about how to get through the current critical period. While
the CLK demands an increase in the value of points (meaning an increase
in the money doctors receive from insurance companies), Klaus said
health care spending increases will suffice because of the increase in
insurance choices and salaries.
Darina Coufalova/Andrea Snyder
The Case of the Slap within the Social Democrats Is Finally Closed
The Executive Central Committee of the Czech Social Democratic
Party (CSSD) December 9 closed the case of the slap given in August by
CSSD Presidium member and Parliament deputy Jozef Wagner to CSSD
Vice-chairman and Parliament deputy Vaclav Grulich (see Carolina 170).
Wagner resigned from the CSSD Presidium that day without waiting
for the vote to decide whether he would remain in his position. Also
that day, the executive board passed a no-confidence vote concerning
Grulich, although he was confirmed as vice-chairman in a subsequent
vote. According to Vladimir Spindl, the chairman of a special comission,
it was proved Grulich made rude and insulting remarks to Wagner, but it
was not confirmed that he said anything anti-Semitic. Grulich was said
to have called Wagner a "Jewish pig."
Matej Husek/Katerina Zachovalova
American Millionaire Dingman to Buy a Share of Czech Private TV
American millionaire Michael Dingman and the head of the Czech
Investment and Postal Bank (IPB) agreed December 6 that Dingman's
Stratton Group will buy 15 per cent of the shares in the Premiera TV
station. This news was confirmed by IPB spokesman Jan Rezek in Pravo the
same day.
IPB still owns 45 per cent of Premiera and the other 55 per cent
through its finance group, STV Premiera. Stratton Group should be able
to ensure Premiera's economic success by bringing in experienced media
experts. Dingman, who recently invested about 240 million USD in
significant Czech industrial firms, believes Premiera will be able to
compete with TV Nova, which is now holds the dominant position among
Czech TV stations. Dingman made his original investment by partially
buying out Harvard Group boss Viktor Kozeny, the wizard of the first
wave of voucher privatization and Dingman's neighbor in the Bahamas.
Jan Palicka/Katerina Zachovalova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Influenza Takes Lives
The term "epidemic" is used when the count of the sick reaches
2,000 people per 100,000 inhabitants - in central Slovakia, there are
now 5,430 cases of flu per 100,000 inhabitants. Influenza, or a similar
illness, probably caused the death of a 63-year-old man in the Liptovsky
Mikulas region. In the greatest biggest danger from the disease are six-
to 14-year-old children and university students. The most acute
situations are the in Cadca, Martin and Dolni Kubin districts.
Jan Palicka/Jitka Hejtmanova
First trains with the NATO peace corps passed Slovak Republic
The first two trains with American armed forces headed to
participate in the peacekeeping operation in Bosnia crossed the
Czech-Slovak border December 10. The trains are transporting military
technology and are being escorted by railway police. The transit was
approved by the Slovak government at an extraordinary session Dec. 7.
Jan Palicka/ Jitka Hejtmanova
ECONOMY
Parliament Approves Balanced 1996 State Budget
The public budget of the Czech Republic will be balanced again in
1996, decided Parliament December 12 with the overwhelming approval of
the government's proposal, 114 yes votes opposed to 57. Because the
overall sum of revenue and spending was approved by Parliament in
October at 497.6 billion Czech crowns, recent debate concentrated on the
shifting of money from one expenditure to another.
The main debate arose among the governing coalition parties over
the proposal of the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) to make fundamental
cuts in the expenses of the state administration. After failing to win
support for its proposals, the ODA voted for the budget bill.
The biggest change from the original government draft was
a reduction of social spending and some funds for individual departments
by about 3 billion crowns. The savings will be used to increase judges'
salaries, for elections and to send a peacekeeping unit to Bosnia.
An increase higher than the inflation rate is planned for spending
in the modernization of roadways, teachers' salaries, apartment
construction, the army and police.
Michal Kubal/Milan Smid
Minimal Monthly Salary to Rise to 2,500 Crowns
From its current 2,200 crowns, the minimal monthly wage will rise
to 2,500 from January 1, and the minimal hourly pay will be 13.60
crowns, according to a December 6 government decision.
During their previous meetings with the government, unions sought
a 2,700-crown minimum. According to Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, this
request did not seem correct to any minister. Slightly less than 1 per
cent of Czech citizens earn the minimum wage. The amount required by
such an increase is considered negligible by the government. More
significant is the amount of state contributions to the health insurance
for non-earning citizens, which is derived from the amount of the
minimunm wage - these expenses will grow by 1.8 billion crowns.
For comparison: a loaf of bread or two tram tickets can be
purchased for the new minimal hourly wage of 13.60 crowns.
Zbynek Vicar/Klara Schirova
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from Dec. 15)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 19.817
Belgium 100 BEF 89.742
Great Britain 1 GBP 41.113
Denmark 1 DKK 4.763
Finland 1 FIM 6.151
France 1 FRF 5.352
Ireland 1 IEP 42.430
Italy 1000 ITL 16.762
Japan 100 JPY 26.301
Canada 1 CAD 19.453
Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.742
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.478
Norway 1 NOK 4.182
New Zealand 1 NZD 17.438
Portugal 100 PTE 17.599
Austria 1 ATS 2.622
Greece 100 GRD 11.152
Slovakia 100 SKK 89.742
Germany 1 DEM 18.455
Spain 100 ESP 21.734
Sweden 1 SEK 4.007
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.762
USA 1 USD 26.761
ECU 1 XEU 33.813
IMF 1 XDR 39.642
CULTURE
Kutna Hora Makes UNESCO List
The historic downtown of Kutna Hora has been accepted as the fifth
Czech monument among the world's cultural and natural rarities protected
by the UNESCO organization. "I hope that tourism, which could be the
city's decisive revenue-earner, will begin to develop more, thanks to
this," said the Kutna Hora Mayor Ivo Sancl. From the 13th through the
18th centuries, the central Bohemian town mined silver ore, which was
made into currency in the local mint.
Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Telc and the church of Jan Nepomucky in Zdar
nad Sazavou are also on the UNESCO list. During the December UNESCO
conference in Berlin, Easter island and historic downtowns of Siena,
Ferrara, Avignon and Edinburgh were placed on the UNESCO list with Kutna
Hora.
Klara Schirova/Klara Schirova
Death of Jan Faltynek
Actor, entertainer, comedian and narrator Jan Faltynek died
December 12, just short of his 60th birthday. He started his theater
career at the age of 17. After performing in the small town of Pribram
he came to Prague City Theaters (Mestska divadla prazska), where he was
a member of the S. K. Neumann Theater, while he also performed on the
stage of the National Theater. Among his repertoire of roles was the
popular hero of Jaroslav Hasek's novel The Good Soldier Schweik.
Faltynek, aside from his TV, radio and dubbing roles, created dozens of
film personas of ordinary people and his trademark swaggering male.
David Vozdecky/Jitka Motejzikova
The Photographs of Karel Cudlin
An exhibit of Karel Cudlin's photographs opened in the Prague House
of Photography December 7. Standing out among these works from the 90's
are a series about the rabbi of Mukacevo (for which the artist was
honored with a prize in the Czech Press Photo competition), and a photo
essay about the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the Czech Republic.
Cudlin belongs to a group of young photographers which has been
dominating Czech documentary photography and giving it a new image in
recent years. In this "newly discovered generation," Cudlin keeps
company with Jan Sibik, Tomki Nemec, Jiri Turek and Andrej Ban.
The Prague House of Photography in Hus street, like the U Recickych
Gallery of the Young known for supporting young artists, has prepared an
exhibit entitled New Names for the next two months. The art and
documentary photographs to be exhibited are the winners of a public
competition.
Klara Schirova/Klara Schirova
IN BRIEF
* Two giant concerts took place in Prague over the weekend: metal
dinosaur Ozzy Osborne performed in the Sport Hall December 9 and 10, and
the strident English folk-rock Levellers plazed in Lucerna December 9.
* The international Alternative '95 music festival going on in
Prague's Roxy Club and Archa Theater from December 11-19, with a number
of bands taking the stage each night, will include the Czech Republic's
Orloj Snivcu, Slunecni Orchestr, Naceva, Iva Bittova, Jatka c.5 and
others.
Klara Schirova/Klara Schirova
SPORT
1998 World Soccer Championships in France with Slovakia
Spain, Slovakia, Yugoslavia, Malta, Pharoah Islands - they are the
teams in "our" 1998 World Championships qualification group, as decided
by a draw in Paris' Louvre.
In the European draw were 49 teams from Europe, divided into nine
groups. Group winners enter the championships directly and the best
second-place sides go on, as well. The other second-place teams play
four matches, whose winners go to France.
David Sprincl/Jan Palicka
Slavia Is in The Quarterfinal of the U.E.F.A. Cup
Soccer's Slavia Prague team won in overtime in France against
Racing Lens 1-0 to get into the quarterfinals of the U.E.F.A. Cup.
Poborsky scored in the fifth minute of extra time.
On the other hand, Sparta is out. But the Sparta side did not play
badly against AC Milan, though they failed to score and drew the match,
0-0.
Karel Bartek/Jan Palicka
The Czech Women's Handball Team Is Out of Atlanta's Olympics
The Women's handball world championship continues, with the Czech
team beating Canada 27-11, losing to Romania 18-25, losing to Denmark
14-26 and tying Slovakia 24-24. They then topped the Ivory Coast 24-14
in an extra match, but in the final round of 16 the Czechs lost 14-21 to
Austria, and also lost their chance to go directly to the 1996 Olympic
games in Atlanta.
David Sprincl/Jan Palicka
In The Extraleague, Pardubice Stuns Litvinov
Results of the 28th round: Vsetin-Brno 3-1, Trinec-Sparta 3-4,
Zlin-Plzen 2-1, Litvinov-Pardubice 2-3, C. Budejovice-Olomouc 1-3,
Kladno-Jihlava 9-3, Slavia-Vitkovice 4-2.
Adam Kotalik/Jan Palicka
WEATHER
Every day last week a few centimetres of fresh snow fell. For skiers the
best snow conditions are at Snezka (68 centimetres, Krkonose) and at
Praded (57 centimetres, Jeseniky).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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!
