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Carolina (English) No 182
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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 182, Friday, December 8, 1995.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (November 29 - December 6)
Cabinet Decides to Send Troops to Bosnia
The Czech Cabinet unanimously endorsed the military participation in
the NATO-led multinational forces to enforce peace in the territory of
former Yugoslavia. Parliament will discuss the issue during its current
session. The Czech participation should consist of one mobile battalion
of about 850 soldiers. The departure of the first troops is arranged for
January, on the condition that the Czech Republic would be invited to
participate by NATO in the peace mission.
Sources in the press department of the Defense Ministry told
Carolina December 6 that the soldiers who have already applied to join
the IFOR (Implementation Force) and passed physical and psychological
entrance tests represent half the total number of soldiers needed.
Training will start and continue until the departure of battalion for
Bosnia.
Alice Ticha, Livia Savelkova/Milan Smid
Havel Visits Japan.
President Vaclav Havel finished his visit to Japan December 6.
Japanese Emperor Akihita broke strictly observed protocol to receive
Havel, who was not on an official visit, and welcomed the president in
person in front of the Imperial Palace, where the two also parted. Havel
was invited by Akihita to the emperor's box as an honored guest at the
evening's gala concert.
That day, Havel was the main speaker at the inauguration of the
international conference A Future of Hope, which commemorates the
passing of 50 years from the end of World War II.
Akihita was invited by Havel to the Czech Republic, but a visit
depends on the Japanese Foreign Ministry's decision.
Olga Huderova/Alida Kassymova
Klaus in USA
December 5 Premier Vaclav Klaus left the USA after a five-day
official visit. The Czech press reported Klaus was the recipient of the
James Madison Institute International Prize, an honor for furthering the
principles of capitalism. At the Jacksonville, Florida ceremony, Klaus
was quoted by Czech daily Pravo as saying, "I believe capitalism is the
only system the makes material affluence, as well as political,
economical and human freedom possible."
At the conservative CATO Institute, Klaus jokingly offered the USA
Czech advisors to teach Americans how to create a balanced budget.
Natasa Hajkova, Olga Huderova/Andrea Snyder
SD + LSNS = SD-LSNS
The Free Democrats (SD) and the Liberal Socialist National Party
(LSNS) united December 3 as the Free Democrats - Liberal Socialist
National Party (SD-LSNS).
Leadership congresses of both parties preceded the uniting congress
on December 2 in Hradec Kralove, where the unification was ratified.
According to earlier statements from both parties' leaders, the
integration means the development of a strong central party that should
become an alternative to the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD)and the
Civil Democratic Party (ODS). Members of the two original parties will
split in half the official posts in the new party. Liberal, national,
social principles and sustainable growth were declared the party
platform, according to approved memorandum. Hitherto chairmen of
individual parties - Jiri Dienstbier (SD) and Vavrinec Bodenlos (LSNS)
- will serve as co-chairmen of the party until the next parliamentary
elections. Jiri Dienstbier was selected as campaign leader for the
elections to the lower house of Parliment, and Jaroslav Safarik,
a former chairman of the Czech National Council, to represent party the
for the Senate. A guest to the unification congress was Christian
Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL) Chairman Josef
Lux, who did not refuse the possibility of a pre-election coalition of
his party with SD-LSNS.
Approval of the integration did not confirm fears of some LSNS
long-time members that the unification with the much younger SD would
not go through.
LSNS and SD in brief:
The LSNS is a successor of the Czech National Socialist Party, which
originated in 1897 and later renamed itself the Czechoslovak Socialist
Party, becoming a part of the National Frontier in the socialist era.
Its current name came into use in 1993.
The SD is a successor of the Civil Movement, one of the branches of
the post-1989 Civil Forum. On the basis of the latest public opinion
polls, both parties had minimal election preferances that peaked out at
two per cent.
Radim Wolak/Klara Schirova
Miroslav Grebenicek Re-elected KSCM Chairman
Miroslav Grebenicek was again voted chairman of the Czech and
Moravian Communist Party (KSCM) at the party congress in Liberec
December 2. He received 297 of the 316 delegates' votes.
Grebenicek said in his address that although he respects the program
and personalities of the Civil Democratic Party (ODS), the party will be
his main rival in the future, because ODS is the political polar
opposite of the KSCM. The main platform aim of the KSCM is a basic
transformation of the social system toward socialism, which must adapt
to contemporary conditions and possibilities.
Lucie Dvorakova/Arsen Kocharian
ODS Popularity Rises Again
The number of potential Civic Democratic Party (ODS) voters rose by
4 per cent last month, while its main rival, the Czech Social Democratic
Party (CSSD), lost 2 per cent of its popularity, showed a poll taken by
Factum and published at the end of November. The gap between the two
parties is more than 11 per cent now, while a month ago CSSD was 5 per
cent behind ODS, and in September the Social Democrats trailed by 1 per
cent.
According to the results of the poll, the Czech and Moravian
Communist Party (KSCM), at 7.3 per cent, the Christian Democratic Union
- Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL), the Civic Democratic Alliance
(ODA), both at 6.6 per cent, and Miroslav Sladek's Republicans, at 5.4
per cent, also have the chance to get over the five-per-cent minimum to
enter Parliament.
Petra Rubesova/Alice Ticha
Mlynar Accused Unjustly, Grygarek Said
The Office of the Attorney General November 1 confirmed the
decision of the Prague district attorney to dismiss high treason charges
against Zdenek Mlynar. Attorney General Libor Grygarek claims Mlynar was
unjustly accused, and that there were no lawful reason for the
accusation. (See Carolina 180 and 181)
Lucie Dvorakova/Maria Tripoliti
Czechs and Minorities
An opinion poll on Czechs' attitudes towards people of other
nationalities showed the most popular minority continues to be Slovaks.
According to the 1035 answers of respondents older than 15, the highest
animosity still belongs to the Romany (Gypsy) population. Results, for
positive perception: Slovaks (63 per cent), Polish (39 per cent), Jewish
(34 per cent), Germans (33 per cent), citizens of the Balkans (11 per
cent), citizens of the former USSR (10 per cent), Vietnamese (9 per
cent), Romanies (5 per cent).
Klara Schirova, Marketa Hudkova/Maria Tripoliti
AIDS in the Czech Republic
December 1, proclaimed the world Day against AIDS, was marked by
several public actions supporting the campaign against the incurable
illness in the Czech Republic.
By October 31, 242 bearers (including 39 women) of the HIV virus,
which causes AIDS, were recorded in the Czech Republic (about 1.17
million people infected by AIDS are registered in the world, of which
140,000 live in Europe). AIDS has reached later stages in 68 case, and
44 pacients have already died. Specialists judge the real number of the
infected in the Czech Republic to be 10 times the number of confirmed
cases.
Thirty-one people were infected by blood transfusion before 1987,
including two children under the age of nine, though blood samples are
now controlled.
Jitka Motejzikova/Jitka Motejzikova
LOK - Strike Emergency Continues
Delegates of the Physician's Union Club (LOK) decided a date for
eventual continuation of the doctors' strikes - March 11, 1996.
If the government raises salaries by 40 per cent in January, and an
additional 20 per cent in April, LOK will call off the strike. If all
goes as planned, LOK will raise an assistent's monthly pay to
8,000-17,000 crowns, a doctor's monthly salary will increase to 25,000
crowns, and a surgeon will receive 27,000 crowns per month.
LOK will decide February 29 whether to strike. Until that time, the
government and the Ministry of Health have time to meet the union's
demands, and to convince physicians of the merits of Minister Jan
Strasky's long-term program.
Petr Mrzena/Andrea Snyder
Zdenek Sverak Works to Make Things Right
Actor, author and screenwriter Zdenek Sverak was awarded the Pangea
Foundation's annual prize for Efforts for Betterment of Humanity
December 3 in the Vinohrady Theater. Preceded by writer Jaroslav Foglar,
entertainer Jiri Suchy, and contact lens inventor Otto Wichterle, Sverak
is the fourth recipient of the prize.
Sverak is president of the Paraple Foundation, which helps
paraplegics live normally and learn to be as independent as possible.
Many of Sverak's friends and colleagues attended the event,
including Sverak's writing partner, actor Ladislav Smoljak, director
Jiri Menzel, composer Jaroslav Uhlir and members of the Jara Cimrman
Theater.
Alice Ticha/Andrea Snyder
FROM SLOVAKIA
Irregular Slovak Parliament Committees Unconstitutional
The Slovak Constitutional Court ruled November 29 that the creation
and activities of certain Slovak Parliament investigative committees are
unconstitutional. Parts of the parliamentary rules of order enabling
creation of irregular committees, passed by lawmakers last year at the
infamous "night meeting," were also ruled unconstitutional.
Most of the investigative committees are made up of members of the
ruling coalition. As a result, the opposition refuses to acknowlege
their decisions.
One investigative committees is trying to determine whether
unconstitutional activities ocurred during the forced resignation of
Premier Vladimir Meciar's cabinet last year. A second team is checking
the validity of petition signatures for the Democratic Union (DU) from
the last parliamenty elections, and consequently the validity of DU's
parliament madates. Two other committees are investigating former
Minister of Defense Pavel Kanis and the fatal car accident of former
Czechoslovak Parliament Chairman Alexander Dubcek.
Marketa Skodova/Andrea Snyder
President Kovac Pardons His Son's Kidnapper
Slovak President Michal Kovac November 30 granted a pardon to
Slovak Information Service (SIS) ex-first lieutenant Oskar F., who
confessed to participation in the abduction of Kovac's son.
Oskar F. said in the confession that SIS Chief Ivan Lexa led the
entire operation personally, and that Premier Vladimir Meciar knew about
the operation. Oskar F. is now under federal protection and his
whereabouts are not publicly known.
Kovac's spokesman said the president appreciated the sincerity of
the former agent's confession and his effort to help investigate the
crime.
Marketa Skodova/Jitka Motejzikova
Slovak Credit Fund Prosecutes Czech Central Securities Registry
An unknown individual, using falsified personal documents,
transfered stocks worth 80 million crowns from the Slovak Credit Fund
account at the Jihlava Branch of the Central Securities Registry (SCP)
to another company's account this August. As a result, Credit Fund is
prosecuting the SCP in Prague's Trade Court for not upholding contract
conditions.
Credit Fund legal representative Ernest Valko said the SCP didn't
do all that it could have to stop the theft from taking place. He claims
that SCP Director Jiri Sedlacek and Deputy Minister Of Finance Vladimir
Rudlovsky advised Credit Fund to sue, pointing out that the Czech
Republic has no procedure for handling such cases, and that the unknown
individual carries the blame.
At about the same time that Credit Fund's stock was stolen, two
other Slovak funds, Casiova Fund and Slov-Kupon, lost stocks worth 360
million crowns in a similar fashion. Valko reports that neither of the
other funds are prosecuting, and are instead working with the Czech
Police.
Marketa Skodova/Andrea Snyder
ECONOMICS
Industrial Production Grows
The Czech Statistical Office (CSU) reported yesterday that
industrial production this October is up 18.8 per cent from last year at
the same time. Industrial production grew nine per cent in the first 10
months of 1995, a record pace for the Czech Republic.
Matej Bartosek/Andrea Snyder
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from Dec. 1)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 19.742
Belgium 100 BEF 89.881
Great Britain 1 GBP 41.001
Danemark 1 DKK 4.769
Finland 1 FIM 6.194
France 1 FRF 5.359
Ireland 1 IEP 42.393
Italy 1000 ITL 16.750
Japan 100 JPY 26.331
Canada 1 CAD 19.520
Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.881
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.492
Norway 1 NOK 4.213
New Zealand 1 NZD 17.241
Portugal 100 PTE 17.593
Austria 1 ATS 2.627
Greece 100 GRD 11.220
Slovakia 100 SKK 89.519
Germany 1 DEM 18.476
Spain 100 ESP 21.681
Sweden 1 SEK 4.033
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.826
United States 1 USD 26.668
ECU 1 XEU 34.057
IMF 1 XDR 39.649
CULTURE
Three-Year Quarrel About Bojnice Altar Resolved
At a November 30 meeting, Czech Minister of Culture Pavel Tigrid
and Slovak Ambassador Ivan Mjartan decided the Altar of Bojnice will
find its home in Bojnice Castle from mid-December. A polyptych of the
Virgin Mary with child by Florencian painter Narda di Cione, the Altar
of Bojnice will be received by the Prague National Gallery, in exchange
for 10 Gothic paintings of Slovak provenance, from the Slovak National
Gallery. The October meeting of Czech Prime Ministers Vaclav Klaus and
Slovak Premier Vladimir Meciar played the main role in concluding the
drawn-out culture conflict.
Klara Schirova, Marketa Hudkova/Klara Schirova
Atlantis Publishing House Celebrates 6th Anniversary
The 6th anniversary celebration of the founding of Brno's Atlantis
Publishing House took place in Prague's Viola wine cellar November 30.
By unpleasant coincidence, the funeral of critic, translator and
Atlantis founding partner Sergej Machonin ocurred the same day. (See
Carolina 181.) Among the guests who came to commemorate the founding of
Atlantis, and also to honor Machonin, were Parliament Chairman and
former dissident Milan Uhde, Minister of Culture Pavel Tigrid, writer
Ludvik Vaculik, translator Zdenek Urbanek and critic Milan Jungmann.
The occasion opened with Atlantis Director Jitka Uhdeova (the
Parliament chairman's wife) presenting the history and activities of the
publishing house. The original editiorial strategy, focused on former
"undesirable" authors has, step by step, changed into a specialization
in Czech prose and essay writers. Foreign literature was and will be
a minority interest. Uhdeova explained the predominance of French
authors by the existence of the French-funded F.X. Salda Project,
through which the French Foreign Ministry supports publishing activity
in the former Czechoslovakia.
Viktorie Reschova/Jitka Hejtmanova
Benefit Concert at Prague Castle
A benefit concert for the Czech Union of the Blind and Visually
Impaired was held December 3 in the Spanish salon at Prague Castle. The
money collected went to The Czech Union for blind andbadsighted. The
event went on under the patronage of Prague Mayor Jan Koukal (ODS) and
was organized by Mathilda Nosticova.
Blind artists Olga Stepankova, a Czech mezzosoprano, and Alberto
Colombo, an Italian pianist, performed works by Martinu, Mahler and
Beethoven. They were accompanied by the Prague Symphony Orchestra, led
by conducter Petr Vronsky. A number of diplomats and renowned
politicians and businessmen were in attendance.
Petra Rubesova/Katerina Rus
An Original Show of Unoriginal Fashions
The satirical Second-Hand Fashion Show took over the runways at
Prague's Belmondo Club December 1. The event was inspired by designer
Simona Rybakova and directed by brothers Michal and Simon Cabanova of
the Krec (Cramp) ballet group. About 60 people took part in the show,
displaying the used wares supplied by Texpress, a Prague second-hand
shop. The whole anti-show was done in a farcical manner, underlined by
the presence of "models" known to the public from the Sklep Theater and
Krec (e.g., Tomas Hanak, Jaroslav Rona and Vaclav Marhoul). The whole
evening ended with an auction of the most attractive items, with the
proceeds going to the Chantal Poullain Foundation for improving
childrens' hospitals.
Matej Bartosek/Katerina Rus
CULTURE IN BRIEF
* Josef Sudek's photographs made with pigment technology during 40's
and 50's are being exhibited in Sudek's former Prague atelier until
March 10.
* Nativity scenes by 80 different artists made from such materials as
wood, ginger bread, paper, plaster, corn leaves, glass, tiles and
painted tin are being shown in Prague's Palace of Culture till December
20.
* The four-volume History of Charles University's first part,
describing the years 1347-1622, was introduced in the renowned
graduation hall in the university's Karolinum building November 30.
* Luciano Pavarotti will perform in Prague during the Prague Spring
music festival December 22, 1996, said festival Director Oleg Pokorny
November 29.
* The first internet cafe in Prague, called Cybeteria, opened on
Stepanska street; 30 minutes riding the Infobahn there costs 50 crowns
(about two USD).
Klara Schirova, Marketa Hudkova, Katerina Zachovalova/K. Zachovalova
Giant St. Nicholas on Old Town Square
On the evening before St. Nicholas' Day at Old Town Square, where
masked Nicholases, devils and angels traditionally gather, a giant St.
Nicholas appeared, measuring about nine feet (274 centimeters),
according to daily MF DNES. Zdenek Jires, the most well-known Czech
stilt-walker, was hidden behind the giant Nicholas mask (Jires has
walked on stilts across the Czech Republic, and to the top of the
highest Czech mountain, Snezka). He gave away presents and ginger bread,
often given by Nicholases in the past, from his eight-foot (2.4-meter)
tall basket (said to be the world's largest).
The cult of St. Nicholas came to this country around the 13th or
14th century, worshiping him as the patron of marriage, trade, sailors
and children.
Lucie Chytrackova/Katerina Zachovalova
SPORT
Slavia Is Fall Champion of Soccer League
The last two matches of the Czech soccer league's autumn schedule
were on last week's program. Slavia won in Hradec Kralove 3-0, and leads
the standings at the end of the fall schedule. Plzen surprisingly
defeated defending champion Sparta 2-1.
Standings after the 15th round: 1. Slavia (31 points), 2. Olomouc
(27), Liberec (27), 4. Sparta (26), Drnovice (26), 6. Plzen (25), 7.
Opava (24), 8. Jablonec (23), 9. Zizkov (22), Cheb (22), 11. Ceske
Budejovice (20), 12. Brno (17), 13. Ostrava (15), 14. Uherske Hradiste
(11), 15. Hradec Kralove (9), 16. Zlin (8).
Jan Palicka/Jan Palicka
Season's Second Half Kicks off in Extraleague
The 26th round of hockey's Extraleague ended the first part of the
season, with the first games of the supplementary part taking place
December 5. Teams at the top of the standings faced off against the
squads from the bottom - league-leading Vsetin played a 1-1 tie against
the last-place side from Brno, and 13th place Pardubice defeated
second-place Litvinov.
Results from the 25th round: Sparta-C. Budejovice 2-2.
Results from the 26th round: Slavia-Jihlava 5-5, Kladno-Litvinov
3-5, Vitkovice-Brno 3-3, Olomouc-Vsetin 1-5, C. Budejovice-Trinec 3-0,
Zlin-Plzen 7-1, Sparta-Pardubice 6-5.
Results from the 27th round: Brno-Vsetin 1-1, Pardubice-Litvinov
4-3, Sparta-Trinec 4-2, Plzen-Zlin 6-3, Olomouc-C. Budejovice 2-3,
Jihlava-Kladno 1-4, Vitkovice-Slavia 4-4.
Jan Palicka/Jan Palicka
Mary Jo Fernandez Wins KB Open Tennis Exhibition
America's Mary Jo Fernandez (USA) won the Commerce Bank Open Tennis
Exhibition, held from November 28-30 in Prague's Sport Hall. Fernandez
fought off a match point against 15-year-old Kosice native Martha Hingis
in the semifinal, and withstood a set point against Anke Huber in the
final.
Semifinal: Fernandez (USA)-Hingis (SWI) 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, Huber
(GER)-Sanchez-Vicario (SPA) 6-3, 6-4.
Final: Fernandez-Huber 7-5, 7-6.
Jan Palicka/Jan Palicka
Cyclocross Holidays on Strahov Hill
The 4th part of Cyclocross World Cup took place December 3 in
Prague's Strahov Stadium. Reigning world champion Runkel (Switzerland)
came out in first, second place went to Pontoni (Italy) and third
belonged to local Jiri Pospisil (Czech Republic). The top Czech cyclist
of recent years, Radomir Simunek, finished sixth.
Jan Palicka/Jan Palicka
Czech Handball Players into European Championship
December 29 the Czech handball team bested Hungary 34-28 in Zubri,
ensuring the team of a spot in the 1996 European championships in Spain.
In the final match of the group, Hungary defeated the Czechs 23-17 in
Veszprem.
Result of the Czech Republic's group: 1. CR, 2. Hungary, 3.
Macedonia, 4. Slovakia.
Jan Palicka/Jan Palicka
WEATHER
December's first week started with drizzle and ended in a blizzard. The
temperatures hovered around zero during the days, and sank below zero at
nights, in some places as low as minus 15 degrees Centigrade.
Maria Tripolti
Edited by Michael Bluhm
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