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Carolina (English) No 250
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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: (+4202) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+4202) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 250, Friday, June 6, 1997.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (May 28 - June 4)
President Names New Ministers
The Cabinet was reconstructed June 2 when Czech President Vaclav
Havel named two men to new ministerial positions. Current ambassador to
Great Britain Karel Kuhnl, nominated by the Civic Democratic Alliance
(ODA) will replace Vladimir Dlouhy (ODA) as minister of industry and
trade. Civic Democratic Party (ODS) member Jiri Grusa, ambassador to
Germany, will take Ivan Pilip's place at the Education Ministry, while
Pilip moves into the Ministry of Finance to take over Ivan Kocarnik's
former post. Both Pilip and Kocarnik are ODS members, and because Pilip
was already in the Cabinet he did not retake the oath from Havel.
Interior Minister Jan Ruml (ODS) created some drama with his
resignation. ODS nominee for the seat Petr Necas, a Parliament deputy,
decided overnight to turn the position down, citing personal affairs of
a family character as the reason. Havel then refused to accept Ruml's
resignation, although Ruml says that it is only a matter of time before
he leaves the ministry.
Although Havel had approached the Cabinet reconstruction with
reserve (see Carolina 249), he said that given the current situation, he
approves the changes and is pleased that Ruml will keep his job.
Jaroslav Schovanec/Andrea Snyder
Klaus Leapfrogs Zeman in Asking for Parliament Confidence Vote
Opposition Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman announced May 29
that he would call for a confidence vote on the government at the next
Parliament session. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus was quoted in the June
2 edition of Czech daily Pravo as saying "If by chance the Social
Democrats wouldn't start the voting, then I myself will demand
a government confidence vote." Klaus also said that he will fight for
his Cabinet on the Parliament floor.
President Vaclav Havel, who had criticized the government two weeks
ago for indecision (see Carolina 248), commended Klaus' move, saying
that it is more positive than the Social Democrats' proposal.
The government needs an absolute majority of 101 votes to maintain
its existence. The coalition has 100 deputies in Parliament.
Michal Schindler/Andrea Snyder
Voter Confidence Shaken
A May 31 poll showed that a mere 23 per cent of respondents believe
the reconstructed government can lead the country from its current
economic crisis. Fifty-eight per cent say it can not. Although only two
weeks ago only 15 per cent of the surveyed voter sample believed that
the government's resignation would be a solution, now about 46 per cent
agree.
Only 10 percent of those polled have faith in Education-
cum-Finance Minister Ivan Pilip, while 36 per cent trust new Trade
Minister Karel Kuhnl and new Education Minister Jiri Grusa to do their
jobs.
The Factum agency surveyed 1,028 Czechs over the age of 18
exclusively for the Czech daily MF Dnes.
Jaroslav Schovanec/Andrea Snyder
Klaus Denies Keeping Facts of Economic Situation Secret
Vice Premier and Christian Democrat Chairman Josef Lux has started
a new wave of controversy in the coalition by criticizing the Civic
Democrat Party (ODS) during Debata - a regular discussion program on
Czech Television. He blamed the party for the current economic problems
and claimed Prime Minister and ODS Chairman Vaclav Klaus had kept secret
a precise analysis of the economic and financial situation in the Czech
Republic prepared the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Lux said Klaus
had not given the analysis to ministers, and thus they had not been
aware of the information from the analysis while working on the
government's package of economic measures.
The IMF responded from Washington June 2, as IMF delegate from the
Czech Republic Jiri Jonas said the report was not only for the prime
minister and had also been sent to Czech National Bank Governor Josef
Tosovsky and former Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik.
However, Lux's charges concern not only the IMF report but also
a letter from IMF Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer. According to
information from Klaus (exclusively for Carolina), the letter contained
only short summaries of the analysis, which itself was public
information. Klaus says the letter was only a one-page fax pointing out
certain parts of the analysis. Klaus did not specify which parts, even
after meeting during the night of June 3-4 with Fischer, Tosovsky and
new Finance Minister Ivan Pilip in Prague. During a private dinner they
also talked about the statements of Foreign Minister and ODS Vice
Chairman Josef Zieleniec, who June 3 voiced his agreement with Lux's
claims. "When we worked on the package of economic measures I was not
aware of any of these documents. I came to see the documents not long
ago in an unofficial, somewhat roundabout way," said Zieleniec for Czech
Television.
Klaus refused to comment on the new controversies in the coalition
and the ODS. He only added that if the ministers had had an interest to
read the IMF analysis, they would have been able to. Thus, no
information had been kept secret.
Petra Sevcikova/Zdenek Janda
Secret Police Files Go Public
Czechs can now view the former regime's secret police (StB) files
documenting those who collaborated with the StB or provided them
information. Some 60,000 of the original 900,000 volumes were put on
display June 2 at the Ministry of the Interior, while the rest have
disappeared or been destroyed.
The Czech Press Agency reports that all who peruse the documents
must list their full name (including all changes), date and place of
birth, current address and an application to view the documents with
their notarized signature. All must be current or former Czech or
Czechoslovak citizens.
Marketa Kropacova/Andrea Snyder
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Pope Calls On Presidents to Integrate Europe
Pope John Paul II met seven central European countries' presidents
June 3 in Hnezdno, Poland. On the occasion of a mass celebrating one
millenium since the death of Saint Adalbert (Vojtech), he appealed to
the presidents, Czech President Vaclav Havel among them, for mutual
cooperation and European unity. The pope also emphasized that the
presidents should not forget the needs of their countries' citizens.
Marketa Kropacova/Denisa Vitkova
Zeman and Members of Parliament Visit Russia
Parliament Chairman Milos Zeman and a delegation of members of the
Chamber of Deputies' Foreign Committee visited Russia June 3, where they
discussed foremost Russia's stance on Czech membership in NATO. Zeman
met with Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov and said that, in spite of
its negative attitude towards expansion of Euro-Atlantic structures,
Russia is a democratic country which respects other countries' will to
enter NATO. He also assured Russian representatives that the Czech
Republic does not want nuclear weapons on its territory.
Marketa Kropacova/Denisa Vitkova
FROM SLOVAKIA
European Union Concerned with Course of Slovak Referendum
European Union Commissioner for Foreign Relations Hans van den
Broek visited Slovakia May 29 and threatened that if Slovakia does not
improve its democracy situation by the end of this year, the EU will not
begin discussion of Slovak membership in European structures. Van den
Broek arrived in Slovakia because of the scandalous referendum on NATO
membership and direct presidential election (see Carolina 249), and
explained the warning to President Michal Kovac and Premier Vladimir
Meciar.
In spite of his words and the number of written declarations
concerning the Union's dissatisfaction with the failed referendum (in
a communique sent May 30 from the Hague, Meciar's cabinet was called on
to respect the legal state and the principles of democratic society),
van den Broek assured Slovakia that Brussels was unambiguously
interested in Slovakia's entry into the EU.
Marketa Kropacova/Denisa Vitkova
ECONOMY
MARKETS AND COMPANIES
* The Prague Stock Exchange went on a diet again, and 500 less liquid
stocks ended up on the rubbish heap of capital-market history. Shortly
thereafter the exchange recuperated a little, and despite the government
crisis the PX 50 index ended up at 492.7 points. The number of active
stocks reached its a new minimum of 276 titles.
* Nova Hut, a steelworks in Ostrava, will finally get its coveted
steel mill, thanks to a loan worth 250 million USD from the World Bank
IFC and 100 million crowns from Czech banks.
* Czechoslovak Elbe River Shipyards (Ceskoslovenska labska plavba)
will supply 3 ships to the Dutch company Scheepswerft Peters B.V.. The
delivery is part of a contract worth 10 million guldens.
* Management of Stasis, the second-biggest Czech producer of road
machines, took over the company by getting all 100 per cent of its
shares for 166 million crowns.
* The new owner of the Poldi Kladno steelworks, the Blaxy Corporation,
will in cooperation with the Trinec Steelworks (Trinecke zelezarny)
prepare the renewal of production during the summer. Some plants are
expected to start working in the fall. Their main task will be to keep
the company's workers. Experts are still examining the state of the
machines in the factory, plundered by its former owners, Vladimir and
Marko Stehlik.
* Zivnobanka's revenue of 378 million crowns in 1996 will enable the
bank to pay dividends of 160 crowns per share.
* The Pilsner Urquell (plzensky prazdroj) brewery is obviously
striving to maintain the reputation of its beer as being a most
exclusive brand. It thus increased the price by 70 halers (1 crown =
100 halers) for each bottle or can. Protecting the image of the premium
beer is not a cheap matter. According to latest news, the worldwide
protection of its trademarks costs Pilsner 3.5 million crowns a year.
* The Constitutional Court approved the verdict of the lower court
which sentenced the automaker Skoda to pay 3.5 million crowns for
abusing its dominant position on the market.
Martin Cermak/Matej Cerny
..And the Czech Crown?
Much of the current government crisis concerns the economy, and in
turn the development of the Czech crown. When the Czech National Bank
ended its regulation of the crown last week, Czechs were forced to
purchase German marks for 20 crowns and American dollars for 35 crowns,
as opposed to the foregoing rates of 17 crowns and 27 crowns,
respectively. With the sharp drop, black-market trading has surfaced
with a force not seen since the totalitarian regime.
People rushed to buy consumer goods, especially electronics.
Importers quickly made use of the exchange rate, and prices shot up 10
per cent to 30 per cent for stereo equipment, for example. Banks raised
short-term CD interest rates to 30 per cent annually, because banks in
Bohemia and Moravia are low on crown reserves. President Vaclav Havel
warned the nation not to panic on his Sunday radio program, Talks from
Lany.
Martin Cermak/Andrea Snyder
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from June 6)
country currency
----------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 25.085
Belgium 100 BEF 93.027
Great Britain 1 GBP 54.023
Denmark 1 DKK 5.041
Finland 1 FIM 6.397
France 1 FRF 5.688
Ireland 1 IEP 49.349
Italy 1000 ITL 19.510
Japan 100 JPY 28.637
Canada 1 CAD 24.058
Luxemburg 100 LUF 93.027
Hungary 100 HUF 17.963
Netherlands 1 NLG 17.054
Norway 1 NOK 4.622
New Zealand 1 NZD 22.727
Poland 1 PLN 10.270
Portugal 100 PTE 18.988
Austria 1 ATS 2.728
Greece 100 GRD 12.067
Slovakia 100 SKK 98.774
Germany 1 DEM 19.190
Spain 100 ESP 22.711
Sweden 1 SEK 4.282
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.979
USA 1 USD 33.127
ECU 1 XEU 37.438
IMF 1 XDR 45.838
CULTURE
Art from Rudolf's Age in Prague
The exhibition Rudolf II and Prague, opened May 30, offers a unique
opportunity to see works of art of the age of the emperor in the
historical expanses of several Prague Castle pavilions (Obrazarna,
Cisarska konirna, Belveder, Micovna and Valdstejnska jizdarna).
Prague became the cultural and spiritual center of Europe, a Mecca
for artists and scientists, at the end of the 16th and beginning of the
17th century, thanks to Hapsburg emperor Rudolf II (1522-1612). More
than 2,000 works are on display within the grand exhibition, the first
of its kind. The exhibit collection is made up of works of famous
painters like Hans von Aachen, Bartholomeus Spranger and Giuseppe
Arcimboldo. A frequent theme of the pictures is the erotic, but there
are also official portraits of the emperor, landscapes and religious
scenes. Portraits by the Italian Arcimboldo are worth mentioning for his
presentation of the emperor and courtiers as composites of vegetables,
roast chicken and other edibles. Also, famous sculptors like Adrian de
Vries and Hans Mont are represented at the exhibit, together with
goldsmiths and other artisans. The exhibit also documents the prosperity
of science and social life in Rudolf's age, when legendary astronomers
Tycho de Brahe and Johannes Kepler lived in Prague.
A display showing life in a typical town during Rudolf's reign is
in the Wallenstein Stables (Valdstejnska jizdarna), featuring pictures
by of K. Skreta, A. Altman, J.J. Hering and plastics by J.J. Bendl. The
exhibit also presents Prague in the period of conflicts which led to the
Thirty Years' War, which greatly changed the course of Czech history.
Besides the exhibit, many other events are to be held, such as
theater performances from Rudolf's age in Prague's Comedy, Minor,
Ypsilon and other theaters. Also a technical relic will be on display,
Rudolf's aquaduct, which Rudolf had made for the irrigation of ponds in
the King's Preserve.
Michaela Klevisova/Magdalena Vanova
Prague Spring Festival Attended by 63,000 People
This year's Prague Spring Festival was, in accordance with
tradition, brought to a close by the Czech Philharmonic performing
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony June 2. After a number of years, festival
concerts were performed again in the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House
(Obecni dum), which was recently reopened after reconstruction.
Altogether 65 concerts were attended by some 63,000 people, and 93
per cent of tickets were sold. The most successful performances were
concerts of the London and St. Petersburg Philharmonics, the Kronos
Quartet and the world premiere of Petr Eben's church opera Jeremias. The
final jewel was violin-cellist Mstislav Rostropovic's concert with the
Prague Symphony Orchestra.
Next year there will probably also be a concerts devoted to ethnic
music, so that Prague Spring audiences might hear performances of
Eskimos or Australian bushmen.
Jaroslav Schovanec/Jan Majer
Discovery of Hrabal's Will Ends Disputes
A valid will of recently deceased Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal was
found in the archives of a notary's office. The finding should end
disputes over the author's copyrights. Hrabal wrote in the testament
that he wanted to divide the rights between his sister-in-law, Prague
ecology activists and a club of handicapped athletes.
Several months before Hrabal's death, Czech directors Jiri Menzel
and Karel Kachyna were battling over the right to create a film based on
Hrabal's novel I Served The King of England. They both had the author's
written permission and both insisted on their right. Although Hrabal
never concerned himself much with such formalities, the row between
Menzel and Kachyna became gristle for the media with the probable result
that neither director will make the movie.
The will, from 1989, also says the new owner of Hrabal's legendary
cottage in Kersko with its herd of cats will become his sister-in-law,
who has been taking care of the cats for a some time.
Jaroslav Schovanec/Jan Majer
SPORTS
Sparta Praha New Czech Soccer Champion
The penultimate round of the Czech premier soccer league decided its
new champion. Sparta Praha defeated Olomouc 2-1 in Prague, while its
rival, incumbent champion Slavia Praha, lost in Jablonec both the game
(1-0) and its last chance to defend its title.
Sparta's coach (and former player) Josef Chovanec said: "No
championship title which I won on the field is comparable with this one,
which was so exhausting for me on the coach's bench."
Results of the 29th round: Hradec Kralove - Ostrava 2-0, Teplice
- Brno 1-2, Sparta - Olomouc 2-1, Jablonec - Slavia 1-0, Zizkov - Plzen
2-1, Ceske Budejovice - Drnovice 2-1, Karvina - Liberec 1-1, Opava
- Bohemians 4-0.
Roman Jedlicka/Milan Smid
Czech Sportsman of the Century
The Czech Track and Field Union declared runner Emil Zatopek the
century's greatest Czech athlete. The vote was organized by the Union to
mark the centennial of organized Czech track and field competition and
was published during the Golden Cleats Track and Field Meet (Zlata
tretra) in Ostrava May 28. Zatopek won the gold and silver medals at the
Olympics in London 1948, and four years later he triumphed in Helsinki
1952 with three Olympic golds (5 km, 10 km, marathon).
The next nine best Czech 20th-century athletes were named in no
particular order: Imrich Bugar, Ludvik Danek, Helena Fibingerova, Olga
Fikotova-Connoly, Jarmila Kratochvilova, Milena Rezkova-Hubnerova, Dana
Zatopkova, Robert Zmelik and Jan Zelezny.
Roman Jedlicka/Milan Smid
WEATHER
Last week was as cold as April. The wind blew, it rained, black
clouds roamed the skies and people walked around gloomily - drivers
drove sadly, walkers walked with melancholy. Metereologists were
typically conservative and kept to old sayings. Sunday evening the sun
showed up and has stayed around the last two days. When it shines, it's
warm (maybe 20 degrees Celsius/68 degrees Fahrenheit), but when it goes
into hiding, it's cold (around 10 degrees Celsius/50 degrees
Fahrenheit). At the end of the week thermometers should show up to 29
degrees Celsius/75 degrees Fahrenheit), but after a look out the window,
only indefatigable optimists believe that.
Michal Schindler
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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