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Carolina (English) No 231
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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 231, Friday, January 24, 1997.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (January 15-22)
Kohl and Klaus Sign Czech-German Declaration
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus and his German counterpart Chancellor
Helmut Kohl signed the Czech-German declaration in Prague January 21
after nearly two years of preparations (see Carolina 227 for details).
Czech Television (CT) broadcast the signing and the press conference
that followed live. Even though the text was to provide a break from the
past, many issues are yet unresolved. Kohl said at the press conference
that Sudeten German property claims are still open, while in the
declaration, both sides claim that "they will not burden their relations
with political and legal issues from the past."
Czech President Vaclav Havel's announced to CT January 23 that "of
course Sudeten Germans will continue to press their property rights as
individuals, and German law enables them to do so ... However, for us it
is important that the German government will now stop politically
supporting these demands."
Head of the opposition Social Democrats' Parliament Club Stanislav
Gross spoke against the announcements made by the German chancellor.
"For me it is a shocking interpretation, which tells those who are
partially against the declaration that they are right," he told MF DNES
January 22.
Even Vice-Chairman of Parliament and the Christian Democrats Jan
Kasal said "I do not think that on our side anyone has ever said that we
want to re-open property issues in the sense that we want to implement
the Benes Decrees (which provided the basis for the expulsion of Sudeten
Germans after WW II). I do not know what Mr. Kohl expects, but I can
only say that these issues ended for me February 25, 1948. That means
that if we returned to restitutions before this date, we don't know when
to stop."
However, Parliament member for the Civic Democratic Alliance Daniel
Kroupa says that Kohl's announcement does not conflict with the the text
of the declaration. "The declaration does not touch on these legal
issues. It is not possible to find a simple solution for them, because
our country interprets the Munich Pact differently than Germany," he
told daily MF DNES.
Several dozen members of the neo-fascist Republicans demonstrated
their disapproval of the declaration in front of the Lichtenstein
Palace. After attacking it verbally, members of Sladek's Association for
the Republic-Republican Party of Bohemia nad Moravia burned a German
flag.
The Communist Party collected signatures for a petition against the
declaration. Czech daily Pravo reported that former party General
Secretary Milous Jakes was a signatory. Organizers expect 250,000
signatures.
Marketa Kropacova/Andrea Snyder
Church Finance Divides Coalition
Czech ministers have conflicting ideas about church funding.
Catholic dignitaries are criticizing the cabinet, and Cardinal Miroslav
Vlk told Czech Television that some Czech ministers have a similar
opinion towards the role of the Church in society as did the communists.
Vlk was responding to a proposal made by Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik,
to use the so-called Austrian model as an example, where churchgoers
would support the church instead of the state completely supporting it.
Christian Democrat Minister of Culture Jaromir Talir and some Civic
Democratic Alliance representatives supported the church, while ruling
Civic Democratic Party members supported their party colleague Kocarnik.
Marketa Kropacova/Andrea Snyder
President Not to Need Cancer Treatment
Seven weeks after President Vaclav Havel underwent an operation to
remove a malignant tumor, the president is doing well. An international
oncology committee decided that chemotherapy and anti-tumor medication
are unnecessary, according to the Czech press. Professor Pavel Pafko was
the president's surgeon and a member of the committee. Havel reassured
him at a private meeting that he had not wanted to blame anyone for
anything in his statement on his weekly radio program, when he said "it
seems that my life was really only hanging by a thread. Whether it had
to be that way or not is something the physicians should discuss among
themselves.". Presidential spokesman Ladislav Spacek said Havel meant
"an internal, informal and professional discussion." Both Havel and
Pafko have decided that they will no longer publicly comment on the
issue.
Petra Sevcikova/Andrea Snyder
Havel Talks about Zeman's BIS Materials
President Vaclav Havel says the materials Social Democrat Chairman
Milos Zeman gave him last week do not prove that a group of people from
the Ministry of the Interior and the Security Information Service (BIS)
is illegally following politicians. Zeman brought the documents to the
president before the November Senate elections, when the BIS affair
resulted in Stanislav Devaty's resignation (see Carolina 223) as BIS
chief, and the coalition could not decide on anyone to take his place.
Havel also said the the documents could give reason to suspect something
illegal. Two Czech dailies ran these headlines: "Havel Rejects Zeman's
Accusations" from Lidove Noviny and "Havel Confirms Part of Zeman's
Suspicions" from Pravo.
January 20 Zeman gave the 50-page document to the Parliament
Committee for BIS Control.
Petra Sevcikova/Andrea Snyder
Dlouhy to Leave ODA?
ODA Vice-Chairman and Trade Minister Vladimir Dlouhy said this
weekend that if the newly elected chairman will not be able to keep the
Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) in Parliament, he would be prepared to
leave the party. ODA just squeezed over the requisite five-per-cent
margin in the 1992 and 1996 elections. With 13 seats in Parliament, they
are the weakest party there. Parliamentary club boss Ivan Masek
indirectly challenged Dlouhy to leave, saying that he is damaging the
party in Parliament with his doubts. Party leaders will be voted in at
the national party congress in March.
Dlouhy said January 17 that ODA should now play the role of the
rightist political integrator, and be strong enough. The party should
also clearly and more critically define itself against the policies of
the opposition Social Democrats and the leftist tendencies Dlouhy
clearly sees in some steps of the Christian Democrats. Christian
Democrat Chairman and Agriculture Minister Josef Lux called Dlouhy's
comment meaningless and not worth attention, and he also recalled
Dlouhy's past ("a former Communist should not say such things").
Dlouhy is generally considered a supporter of cooperation with the
ruling Civic Democratic Party. At the ODA conference in Olomouc, he said
the ODA and the ODS should "strongly and constructively meet over
specific problems."
Petra Sevcikova/Andrea Snyder
Government to Propose Salary Reduction for Public Officials
The government wants to propose in Parliament a reduction of 10 per
cent to 15 per cent in public officials' salaries. If deputies accept
it, the change would affect them, senators, judges, ministers, chairmen
of both legislative chambers and also the president.
The government started to consider the proposal after they refused
a demand from public prosecutors' for a pay raise. Prosecutors wanted
their wages increased to 80 per cent of judges' salaries. Besides
prosecutors, teachers also want a raise, though Education Minister Ivan
Pilip and Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus have refused their demand for
a 19-per-cent increase. Teachers have declared a chain strike, which
should start January 28.
Klaus expressed his dissatisfaction with the high salaries of public
officials last summer, but no steps were taken because of the cold
reception from deputies. A majority of politicians accept the move. The
president makes 112,400 crowns a month plus expenses of up to 104,600
crowns, the prime minister and chairmen of the two legislative chambers
90,500 crowns (plus expenses up to 18,100), ministers 59,300 crowns
(plus 9,400 crowns) and deputies make 31,200 crowns (plus 23,800
crowns). The average monthly wage in the Czech Republic is slightly more
than 9,000 crowns.
Marketa Kropacova/Magdalena Vanova
To The Memory of Jan Palach
The College of Humanities of Charles University in Prague has
awarded the first Jan Palach Prize for extraordinary research work
January 21. Alumnus Ondrej Koupil received the prize for his thesis The
Translation Of Rosa's Cechorecnost with Introduction and Commentary. The
award for extraordinary research work or for an activity which advances
the reputation of the school was established by the students of the
college and will be awarded annually in the memory of Jan Palach. Palach
was a student of the college who burned himself to death January 16,
1969 on Prague's Wenceslas Square near the statue of St. Wenceslas as
a protest against the Soviet army occupation of Czechoslovakia. His
funeral January 25, 1969 became a massive demonstration for freedom and
democracy.
On the 28th anniversary of his act, representatives of the school
laid flowers at his death mask at the school and at the statue of St.
Wenceslas. Less than 400 people took part in the ceremony at the
cemetery in Vsetaty this year, while in 1990 about 5,000 people came.
Simona Malkovska/Magdalena Vanova
Guests from Uzbekistan and France Support Czech Entrance into NATO
A joint declaration of development of cooperation between Czech
Republic and Uzbekistan was signated by the presidents of both countries
January 15. This document should support transformation processes and
help with national and regional projects. The two countries will also
cooperate in the fight against terrorism and drugs. At a press
conference attended by Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, Uzbekistan President
Islam Karimov surprised some with his strong support for Czech entrance
into NATO.
Dagmar Havlova, newly wedded to President Vaclav Havel, played the
role of first lady for the first time, during Karimov's visit.
Also Herve de Charette, the French Foreign Minister, promised his
country's support for integrating the Czech Republic into NATO. De
Charette met his Czech opposite number Josef Zieleniec in Prague January
18. De Charette paid honor to Zieleniec for the maturity and ability for
political vision which lead the Czech government to the Czech-German
Declaration.
Lucie Podesvova/Magdalena Vanova
FROM SLOVAKIA
First Official Czech Parliamentary Delegation Visits Bratislava
A seven-member delegation of the Czech Parliament led by Chamber of
Deputies Chairman Milos Zeman visited the Slovak Republic January 15-6.
Zeman and Ivan Gasparovic, Chairman of the Slovak National Assembly,
declared the cooperation of both parliamentary bodies is good, but the
frequency of meetings of prime ministers and presidents is not
satisfactory, and it is in contradiction to the basic treaty between the
countries. Deputies were assured of mutual support in matters of EU and
NATO integration efforts.
"If the gold that is the property of the Slovak Republic, and which
is situated in the Czech Republic, would have ceased to be considered as
a deposit or something like an instrument of guarantee, and if this gold
would have returned to Slovakia, than it would, in my opinion, have been
beneficial to our mutual relations, and would have eased our mutual
communication," said Slovak Premier Vladimir Meciar after meeting with
the delegation. Zeman reacted by remarking on the fact that the last
meeting of the commission on dividing federal property last took place
in 1993. Meciar rejected the critical stance of Czech deputy Daniel
Kroupa (Civic Democratic Alliance) on the unsatisfactory record of human
rights in Slovakia (Kroupa described as problematic the amendment of the
penal code, political redistricting and the attitude towards independent
media), and stated that Slovak democracy is full-fledged.
Miroslav Sladek, chairman of the neo-Fascist Czech Republican Party,
a properly appointed member of the Czech parliamentary delegation,
organized his own show. He ignored the official program, he did not
attended the January 15 reception with Slovak President Michal Kovac,
and he went to Slovakia in his own car.
Simona Malkovska/Milan Smid
ECONOMY
1996 Czech Economy Ends with 1.5 Billion-Crown Deficit
The 1996 state budget ended with a deficit of 1.56 billion crowns,
said Finance Ministry spokeswoman Ludmila Nutilova January 17. This
amount is, according to her information, definitive, and will be
presented in the state final account which is to be submitted to
Parliament in March.
Revenues were 482.8 billion crowns, and expenditures reached the sum
of 484.3 billion crowns. The deficit thus represents 0.1 per cent of
Gross domestic product and parliament will decide on the method of its
compensation. "the standard way of resolving a deficit is the issuing of
state bonds and one can assume the government will propose them," said
Deputy Finance Minister Miroslav Havel.
"It is not possible to consider a deficit which does not even
represent 1 per cent of gross domestic product as very significant,"
said Budget Committee Chairman Josef Wagner of the Social Democrats.
Zdenek Janda/Milan Smid
Czech Crown Breaks Record
January 17 the Czech crown rose to its highest level since last
year's expansion of the crown's ability to fluctuate, and reached 5.25
per cent on the revaluation side. Currency traders were selling
deutschmarks for less than 17 crowns, the lowest price since devaluation
six years ago.
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from January 23)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Great Britain 1 GBP 45.945
France 1 FRF 5.018
Japan 100 JPY 23.370
Canada 1 CAD 20.758
Austria 1 ATS 2.406
Slovakia 100 SKK 85.594
Germany 1 DEM 16.919
Switzerland 1 CHF 19.400
USA 1 USD 27.782
ECU 1 XEU 32.959
SDR 1 XDR 39.188
CULTURE
Sverak's Kolya Wins Golden Globe
In Hollywood January 19 the Czech movie Kolya, written and directed
by father and son Zdenek and Jan Sverak, respectively (see Carolina 206
and 218), won the second most important movie award - the Golden Globe
- in the best foreign film category. Two Golden Globes - for best
director and screenplay - were given to the newest movie by another
Czech director - The People Vs. Larry Flynt from Milos Forman (One Flew
over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus).
Lucie Podesvova/Denisa Vitkova
Toyen In Vltavin Gallery
Prague's Vltavin Gallery has taken advantage of the enthusiasm for
surrealism inspired by the fall successful exhibit in Prague's City
Library (see Carolina 220). The gallery prepared a collection of works
for sale by the most famous Czech surrealistic female painter, Marie
Cerminova (1902-1980), known as Toyen. The graphics cost more than
10,000 crowns, the paintings reach prices of more than 100,000 crowns.
There is one picture which costs 1 million crowns. The exhibit in
Vltavin is open till February 9, and then an exhibit of Czech and world
surrealist graphics, drawings and pictures for sale follows from
February 11 to March 2.
Lucie Podesvova/Denisa Vitkova
Matragi Raises Interest at Elegance of the First Republic Exhibit
Fifty-thousand visitors have already seen the exhibit Elegance of
the First Republic - Czech Fashion 1918-1939, which has been prolonged
at the Prague Museum of Applied Arts till January 26. Visitors have been
most interested in a model by the designer and painter Blanka
Matragi-Kyselova. The author donated this robe, originally made in the
author's Beirut salon for Saudi Arabian Princess Latifa, to the museum
during her Prague visit in January. The outfit was made last year and
costs about 500,000 crowns.
Lucie Podesvova/Denisa Vitkova
Jezek Revue Will Not Return at ABC Theater
Plans to renew the musical performance about Jaroslav Jezek's life,
The Dark-Blue Revue, dissolved after the discovery that performance
expenses increased from the original 1.5 million crowns almost five
times and that indebted producer Roman Wimmer does not intend to pay.
From March through June of last year, this Czech retro-musical had
20 performances (see Carolina 195), but almost the same number of
performances were cancelled due to lack of fan interest and financial
reasons. The producer, who at first said he would cover all expenses,
owes 150,000 crowns just for rent at Prague's ABC Theater. When called
to pay the debt, according to the ABC Theater secretary, Wimmer moved
and changed his phone number. The whole situation is now going to court.
The musical, where Jezek's life story is supplemented with music, was
created by director Roman Stolpa and young actors and students of at
Jezek's conservatory on the occasion of the late Jezek's 90th birthday.
Those who bought tickets for performances never given will not get any
money back, though they can exchange them for tickets for any
performance on the January ABC Theater schedule.
Lucie Podesvova/Denisa Vitkova
SPORT
Czech Hockey Extraleague
Results of the 35th round: Plzen - Slavia 2-5, Sparta - Pardubice
6-1, Kladno - Ceske Budejovice 2-2, Vsetin - Litvinov 4-1, Olomouc
- Jihlava 3-2, Opava - Zlin 1-7, Trinec - Vitkovice 5-7.
Results of the 36th round: Slavia - Sparta 2-6, Litvinov - Kladno
- 2-2, Pardubice - Vsetin 2-0, Jihlava - Ceske Budejovice 4-4, Vitkovice
- Opava 4-3, Olomouc - Trinec 1-7, Zlin - Plzen 6-3.
Standings after the complete 36th round: 1. Vsetin 49, 2. Vitkovice
45, 3. Pardubice 43, 4. Sparta 42, 5. Trinec 40, 6. Kladno 39, 7.
Litvinov 38, 8. Zlin 35, 9. Ceske Budejovice 34, 10. Slavia 33, 11.
Olomouc 30, 12. Plzen 28, 13. Jihlava 25, 14. Opava 19.
Poborsky among World Soccer Elite
Karel Poborsky, the Czech soccer player who wears Manchester
United's colors and one of the best strikers at the Euro 96
Championships (where the Czech soccer team unexpectedly took second
place), was voted the world's 17th-best soccer player of 1996 in the
International Soccer Federation poll. The same number of votes as
Poborsky received was also given to Alessandro del Piero (Juventus
Turin), Zouri Djorkaeff (Inter Milan) and Dejan Savicevic (AC Milan),
who all share his 17th position. Two other Czech soccer players, Patrik
Berger (Liverpool) and Radek Bejbl (Atletico Madrid), managed to be
included into the world soccer elite, Berger 28th and Bejbl 34th on the
chart.
Votes of 120 national soccer team coaches decided that the 1996 top
soccer player's trophy went to Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who plays for
Barcelona.
Zdenek Janda/Milan Smid
WEATHER
The warm air and thaw nearly cleaned the Prague sidewalks from the
ice of last week. However, the white winter continues, as the snow cover
survived at least in Prague's suburban areas. Night temperatures
fluctuate around the 0 degrees Celsius/32 degrees Fahrenheit. The recent
inversion was the cause of incredible 20 degrees Celsius/68 degrees
Fahrenheit temperatures in mountainous areas, in Sumava even 25 degrees
Celsius/77 degrees Fahrenheit. The skiers got the sun but lost the snow
in mid-January.
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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ANNOUNCING: The International Study Program of the Faculty of Social
Sciences. Beginning in February 1997, a one-semester English-language
program will be offered twice a year in Central and Eastern European
Studies, with a selection of courses in modern history and recent
political and economic developments in the region. Some courses are also
available in German. For further information contact Cyril Simsa at:
E-mail-- svoz@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz
Phone-- 42/2/2481 0804
Fax-- 42/2/2481 0987
When e-mailing, please include a regular mailing address so an
information packet can be sent without delay.
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