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Carolina (English) No 215
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STUDENTS' 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 215, Friday, September 13, 1996.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (August 28-September 11)
ODA Accuses ODS of Losing Courage for Reforms
Harsh criticism of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) reigned at the
Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) national conference this weekend. ODS is
the countries leading party.
ODA Chairman Jan Kalvoda says that "the loss of judgement while
overestimating success, blindness to their own faults, deafness to
critical voices and different opinions, and mainly too little courage in
taking further reform steps" are the first symptoms of a creeping
illness, which has afflicted part of the right wing. He went on to say
in his speech that a large part of the population feels that the state
behaves arrogantly towards it, and that the right wing believes itself
to be invincible. Other conference delegates added opinions, as well.
"ODS is invalid," said member of Parliament Daniel Kroupa. He continued
by saying that, in the future, the entire right wing should not collapse
along with ODS.
ODS Vice-Chairman Ivan Pilip and Christian Democratic
Union-Czechoslovak People's Party head Josef Lux visited the conference
as guests. Pilip said that he had expected criticism and that he would
have been surprised had it not been given. ODS Parliament deputies do
not agree with the accusations. The press quotes ODS Deputy Club
Vice-Chairman Marek Benda as saying, "Due to its election results, ODA
should look more after itself than after ODS. I do not care too much for
their style of giving advice." (ODS barely squeaked by the five per cent
minimum at the elections, winning the vote of 6.4 per cent of the
population.)
Candidates for the November Senate Elections were approved at the
conference. ODA once again postponed talks concerning ODA itself.
Barbora Spevakova
Social Democrats Demand Kreditni Banka Crash Investigation
Kreditni banka (Credit Bank) shareholders voted August 29 to close
the country's sixth largest financial institution. Liquidation will
begin September 30. The Plzen bank is the eleventh financial institution
to close since 1989.
After two months of secret meetings, Czech Insurance shareholders,
to whom the institution belongs, and state representatives could still
not come to an agreement as to who was to pay the multibillion crown
losses to bank had incurred. As a result, Kreditni banka began operating
without a license August 8, and closing branch offices. Read more about
the 11.8 billion crown losses in Carolina 213.
The Czech Social Democrat Party (CSSD) said that it is planning on
iniciating a parliamentary committee to look into the Kreditni banka's
decline, and to determine who is responsible, both politically, and
legally for the crash. Head of CSSD and of Parliament Milos Zeman blames
Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik of ODS for deviating from his duties in
following the banking sphere.
President Vaclav Havel is also not satisfied. Czech daily "Lidove
noviny" quote him as asking on his weekly radio program "Talks from
Lany" how the bank could "operate so strangely and for so long, why is
nobody being prosecuted, why is no one responsible for it? The tax
payers will indirectly pay for it all anyway."
In response to the continuing problems in the banking sector, the
government appointed Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik, Justice Minister
Jan Kalvoda and Interior Minister Jiri Ruml September 6 to investigate
the problem.
Milos Zeman called the government-appointed committee for
investigation of the Kreditni banka crash illegal. He says that only
a parliamentary committee, with participation of the opposition, would
be objective.
September 10 CSSD representatives demanded that a special
Parliamentary committee be created to look into the Kreditni banka case.
None of the coalition parties oppose forming this body, however, all are
waiting for the problem to be solved by the justice system.
Radim Wolak
New Defense Minister to Downsize Army
At a special meeting with high-ranking army officials, Defense
Minister Miloslav Vyborny announced a radical plan to downsize the Czech
army. The plan will cut the army's current 90,000-person staff by
15,000 by 1998. A member of the Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak
People's Party, the new minister announced his intentions August 29.
Vyborny's plan takes the country's economic situation into account, and
examines steps to obtain funds for technology modernization. The press
notes that 30 billion crowns is alloted for the army annually, which
only serves to maintain its current condition. Prime Minister Vaclav
Klaus says that the proposal should be reviewed by the government. He
requested that Vyborny prepare a more thorough analysis of the impact
that these cuts could have. The Minister's spokesman says that a complex
report concerning fundemental changes in the army should be submitted to
the government within a few days.
Zbynek Vicar
Havel, Klaus and Zeman Attend Slovak National Holiday Reception
The three highest-placed political figures of the Czech Republic
- President Vaclav Havel, Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus and Chairman of
Parliament Milos Zeman attended a gala reception at Prague's Ambassador
Hotel August 29. The Slovak Embassy organized the reception celebrating
Slovakia's national holiday, in honor of the 1944 uprising against
fascism.
Lida Truneckova
Prime Minister Visits Japan
On an official visit to Japan September 5-7, Prime Minister Vaclav
Klaus met in Tokyo with Foreign Affairs Minister Yukihito Ikedo, Foreign
Industry and Trade Minister Shumpei Tsukahara and with Prime Minister
Hashimoto. At all of the meetings, Klaus stated that he would like more
Japanese capital to be invested into the Czech Republic. He was welcomed
Saturday by Japanese Emporer Akihito and Empress Michiko.
On the way to Japan, Prime Minister Klaus stopped briefly in
Moscow, and completed his Asian trip with a visit to Malaysia and
Singapore.
Barbora Spevakova
Finnish President Visits Czech Republic
Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, who arrived September 9 to
commence his three-day official visit to the Czech Republic, told
President Vaclav Havel that he respects the Czech Republic's decision to
join NATO. He stated that although Finland is not considering taking
this step, each country has the right to choose this solution. Following
the meeting, President Havel said that they had agreed on the importance
of European integration processes.
Barbora Spevakova
Czech and German Youth Meet
More than 200 young people, ranging in age from 16 to 23, met at
the Czech-German conference held in Policka, of the Svitavy region. The
September 2-5 gathering was sponsored by Czech and German Presidents
Vaclav Havel and Roman Herzog. Jiri Oberfalzer, Director of the Patriae
Foundation, which organized the event, characterized it as "work for
a good future neighborhood."
German Minister of Education Claudia Nolte and her Czech
counterpart Ivan Pilip signed an agreement announcing plans to establish
coordination centers for Czech-German youth exchange. The centers should
be based in Plzen, Czech Republic and in Regensburg, Bavaria. Czech
daily "Pravo" wrote that the center should also develop consulting
services, and support both state-owned and public organizations, while
striving to increase youth exchange.
Both Presidents Havel and Herzog visited the conference Wednesday.
Lida Truneckova
Czech President Robbed by Castle Police Officer
One of President Havel's guards was detained August 29 on suspicion
of theft from the presidential residence. During July and August,
30,000 Czech crowns, jewels from the safe, a precious sixteenth century
carpet, compact discs signed by celebrities, valuable wines, neckties,
a blanket and soccer player Karel Poborsky's team uniform from the
European Championship finals were stolen.
The twenty-nine-year old under suspicion admitted to the theft. He
is being held in prison, and is awaiting a sentence of six months to
three years. Charges against the other two men, who were investigated in
connection to the theft, will probably be dropped by the end of this
week.
According to Castle Police Director Antonin Manena, this is the
first time one of his subordinates has been involved in such an
incident.
Zbynek Vicar
Miroslav Macek Secretary to the Minister of Health
Former ODS Vice-Chairman Miroslav Macek, who was the Deputy Prime
Minister of the Czechoslovak Federal Government in 1992, is well-known
due to his participation on the Wholesale Book Affair (see Carolina 41
and 214). Macek was appointed to the position of Secretary to the
Minister of Health in late August. His duties will include coordinating
the activities of the Minister Strasky's Deputies.
Lida Truneckova
ECONOMY
New Skoda Car Model Octavia Introduced
The Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus christened the new Skoda car
model Octavia on Prague's Old Town Square Sunday, September 1. Octavia
sales will begin November 15, at a predicted price of about 340,000
Czech crowns for the model with 1.6 liter, 75 horsepower VW engine.
According to the press, an Octavia with an Audi engine will cost more
than 450,000 crowns.
Approximatly 5,000 vehicles should be manufactured this year; next
year, 70,000 models are expected, including a five-door model to be
introduced in the summer of 1997. If the basic model will be sold at
less than 350,000 crowns, it will be at least 50,000 crowns less
expensive than imported cars of the same type.
Lida Truneckova
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from September 16)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 21.161
Belgium 100 BEF 85.263
Great Britain 1 GBP 41.259
Denmark 1 DKK 4.555
Finland 1 FIM 5.800
France 1 FRF 5.140
Ireland 1 IEP 42.682
Italy 1000 ITL 17.378
Japan 100 JPY 24.111
Canada 1 CAD 19.370
Luxemburg 100 LUF 85.263
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.665
Norway 1 NOK 4.095
New Zealand 1 NZD 18.501
Portugal 100 PTE 17.149
Austria 1 ATS 2.495
Greece 100 GRD 11.024
Slovakia 100 SKK 86.307
Germany 1 DEM 17.551
Spain 100 ESP 20.797
Sweden 1 SEK 3.972
Switzerland 1 CHF 21.459
USA 1 USD 26.576
ECU 1 XEU 33.235
SDR 1 XDR 38.393
CULTURE
Michael Jackson Opens World Tour in Prague
About 130,000 people from all of Europe came to see the "King of
Pop" Michael Jackson concert on Letna Plain in Prague Saturday,
September 7. After an opening performance by the Swiss pop singer D. J.
Bob, Jackson, the star of the evening, appeared on the hundred meter
large stage at 8.30 p.m., beginning his new World Tour HIStory. Michael
Jackson gave a two hour performance, with the audience going wild.
Although the concert passed without major disturbances, hundreds of
people were treated mainly for exhaustion or hysteria, after long hours
of waiting and being crowded in the cold weather. The Prague media
criticized the traffic chaos caused by an invasion of buses, cars and
taxi drivers into the city's downtown area.
Tickets were available throughout the day, but just before the
concert began, ticket hawkers dropped their prices from the official
890 Czech crowns to a mere 50 crowns (about two dollars). VIP section
tickets were sold for nearly 5,000 Czech crowns.
Zbynek Vicar
SPORT
Czech Team Eliminated from Hockey World Cup
After two defeats in World Cup qualification games with Finland and
Sweden (see Carolina 214), Czech hockey players also lost the third and
final match with Germany in Garmisch-Partenkirchen 7-1, resulting in
their elimination from this year's World Cup. The Czech press labeled
the perfomance a disgrace and a catastrophe for the Czech hockey team,
still the 1996 World hockey champion.
International Soccer: Czech Republic - Iceland 2-1
The Czech national soccer team won the international friendly match
with Iceland 2-1 in Jablonec, September 4. It was the Czech team's first
appearance following their successful performance at the Euro 96
tournament in Great Britain. Due to the fact that several players from
the team that medaled silver in the Eurpean Championship have been
bought by other European teams, Trainer Uhrin was able to put in several
new players from the Czech soccer league. This match served as
preparation for the first World Cup qualification game with Malta, which
will be played in Teplice September 18.
Soccer League Hits Round 4 and 5
The Bohemians victory over Sparta was the fourth round's biggest
surprise, especially after Sparta's initial 2-0 lead. Also, last year's
champion, Slavia lost in Teplice in the last minute after not deflecting
a penalty shot. The fifth round was remarkable in the amount of ties and
shortage of goals.
Results of the 4th round August 30 - September 1: FK Teplice
- Slavia 1-0, Viktoria Zizkov-Hradec Kralove 1-1, Sigma Olomouc - Kaucuk
Opava 1-1, Slovan Liberec - Viktoria Plzen 1-0, Boby Brno - Petra
Drnovice 4-1, SK Ceske Budejovice - FK Jablonec 0-0, Sparta Praha
- Bohemians Praha 3-4, FC Karvina - Banik Ostrava - postponed because of
the weather.
Results of the 5th round September 6-8: Kaucuk Opava - Viktoria
Zizkov 1-0, Petra Drnovice - Sigma Olomouc 0-0, Slavia Praha - FC
Karvina 5-1, Banik Ostrava - Sparta Praha 1-1, FK Jablonec - FK Teplice
0-0, Viktoria Plzen - Boby Brno 1-0, Bohemians Praha - Slovan Liberec
0-0, Hradec Kralove - Ceske Budejovice 1-1.
Standings after 5 rounds: 1. Boby Brno 12 points, 2. Kaucuk Opava
9, 3. Slavia Praha 8, 4. Jablonec 8, 5. Slovan Liberec 8, 6. FK Teplice
8, 7. Banik Ostrava 7, 8. Sigma Olomouc 6, 9. Viktoria Plzen 6, 10.
Ceske Budejovice 6, 11. Petra Drnovice 5, 12. Bohemians Praha 5, 13. FC
Karvinna 4, 14. Sparta Praha 3, 15. Hradec Kralove 3, 16. Viktoria
Zizkov 2.
SPORT IN BRIEF
* Slavia Praha defeated the Swedish soccer team Malmo FF 2-1 in the
first match of the UEFA Cup in Sweden September 10. The return match
will take place September 24 in Prague.
* Jana Novotna lost the US Open quarter-final match with the
sixteen-year old Swiss player Martina Hingis 6-7, 4-6. The
Czech-Spanish doubles team Jana Novotna/Sanchez-Vicario was defeated by
the Belorussian-US couple Zvereva/Fernandez 6-1, 1-6, 4-6.
* Czech soccer player Karel Poborsky, scored his very first goal in the
British Premiere League when his team Manchester United defeated Leeds
4-0.
Sports news by Jiri Trunecka
WEATHER
Cold and wet air invaded the Central Europe last week. Temperatures
dropped to 13-17 degrees Celsius. Northern Moravia is experiencing
flooding, and the Krkonose Mountains were covered last weekend by their
first snowfall of the winter.
Translated by Andrea Snyder and Milan Smid
English version edited by Andrea Snyder
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