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Carolina (English) No 227
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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 227, Friday, December 13, 1996.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (December 4 - 11)
President's Health on the Mend
After eight days of recovery, doctors announced that Czech President
Vaclav Havel's post-surgery health is satisfactory. In order to remove
a malignant tumor, half of the president's right lung was removed at the
General Faculty Hospital December 2. Due to an infection in his left
lung, though, the President spent his weekend breathing with the help of
a machine. Three days after the initial surgery, a tube was surgically
inserted into Havel's windpipe in a tracheotomy. "The condition of his
health is better now. (His) temperature does not exceed 38 degrees
Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit), which is what we had wished. The
president is now showing interest in his surroundings and was even
thirsty for a beer," Emergency Care Hospital Director Jarmila Drabkova
told Czech Television (CT) December 10. Havel's post-surgery condition
had forced doctors to expand his medical team.
American surgeon Robert Ginsberg flew in from New York as
a consultant. "I am glad that Mr. Ginsberg confirmed both our diagnosis
and care procedure," said Dr. Pavel Pafko to CT. Pafko, the head of
surgery at the university hospital, operated on the President.
"I expected a very sick man, but I was pleasantly surprised," said
Ginsberg to Czech daily MF DNES.
Diagnosis of the removed tumor shows the President will most likely
fully recover. The tumor was removed in an early phase, and doctors
found no signs of spreading in the lungs or surrounding area.
The president cannot speak, and was not able to hold his weekly
radio program. He was replaced by his spokesman Ladislav Spacek, who
read get-well letters and cards addressed to the president. Thousands
attended the mass conducted by Cardinal Miroslav Vlk for Havel at the
Saint Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle.
Jakub Prochazka/Andrea Snyder
Czech-German Declaration Published
The long awaited Czech-German Declaration, the contents of which had
carefully been kept a secret, was printed by Czech and German media
December 9. Although the document has not yet been officially approved,
the official release was to have been December 20, but the German ARD
television station broadcast the contents due to an alleged indiscretion
in Bonn. Czech Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec and Prime Minister
Vaclav Klaus confirmed the validity of the document. The declaration
serves to place a thick dividing line between the present and the past
of the war. Both sides say that they will not "burden their relations
with political and legal questions from the past."
The key part of the declaration, which was long the cause of
conflict, concerns World War II and its consequences. The German side
admits responsibility for the historical development leading to the war,
and apologizes for "the suffering and wrongs committed toward the Czech
people through the national socialist crimes of the Germans," and goes
on to say "the national socialist policy of violence towards the Czech
people contributed to creation of the grounds for post-war escape,
expulsion and forced resettlement."
The Czech side expressed regret "that by the post-war expulsion and
forced resettlement of the Sudeten Germans from what was at that time
Czechoslovakia" and the loss of citizenship caused much suffering to
innocent people.
Both sides say they are prepared to consider requests to live and
work in each country, especially in light of blood relations and family
ties. Czech daily Pravo wrote that the declaration is a way for the
Czech state to approve the requests of former Czechoslovak Germans to
live in the Czech Republic, which Interior Minister Jiri Ruml denied.
Germany also supports the Czech Republic's entry into the EU and
NATO. Both sides will arrange a Czech-German Fund of the Future to
finance common-interest projects. The German side will contribute 140
million DM and the Czech will give 20 million DM to 25 million DM.
The full text was published by the CTK press agency December 10.
Jiri Fremuth/Andrea Snyder
Czechs and Germans Approve of Declaration
Both Czech and German politicians view the Czech-German Declaration
positively. The text was unexpectedly published December 9, and Czech
Communists and right-wing Republicans attacked the document, though
opinions of the opposition-leading Social Democrats vary.
Havel was unable to express an opinion due to his health (he cannot
speak), but Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus said the government views the
early publication as disadvantageous and unnecessary. The government
will officially meet to consider the declaration December 18. Foreign
Minister Josef Zieleniec said that here and in Germany groups of people
are interested in maintaining the tension in Czech-German relations, and
says that the quality of this document will be their greatest barrier.
Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman refused to comment on the text,
but one of his party's highest functionaries was heard to say "surely no
one thinks that we (Parliament) will approve such a text without
revision proposals."
The Germans' acceptance of the text was positive. German Foreign
Minister Klaus Kinkel said the premature media publication was
indiscreet, but then told the press that both governments would like to
finish talks by the end of the year. He believes that only the Sudeten
German Regional Association (Landsmannschaft) had major reservations, as
expected. The group called the published text "one-sided" and announced
that Landsmannschaft would not accept the document.
Jiri Fremuth/Andrea Snyder
ODS Congress Says Change a Necessity
The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) congress was held December 8-9 in
Brno, where Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus was re-elected chairman, though
he was criticized surprisingly sharply for his political style.
Four vice-chairmen were also elected, including Foreign Minister
Josef Zieleniec, Health Minister Jan Strasky and Education Minister Ivan
Pilip, as expected. However, one surprise was that controversial
Miroslav Macek also gained the position. Macek, secretary to the
Minister of Health, returns to the position for the first time since
1992, when he was involved in the Wholesale Book scandal.
ODS delegates see this congress as a marker of the political change
that the party was crying out for. For the first time, Parliamentary
club members do not hold the position of party vice-chairman. Former
vice-chairmen Jiri Vlach and Jiri Honajzer were not re-elected. Petr
Cermak, former executive vice-chairman, was the least successful in the
election.
Many delegates presented speeches on the necessity of directing ODS
policies towards the people, and to be open to new opinions and ideas.
Committees of experts will be formed for individual issues, thereby
diluting what was one the executive board's all-inclusive powers. Even
party non-members can participate in the committees.
Also, the controversial position of executive vice-chairman was
deleted, replaced by head manager and a head treasurer positions. The
chairman and vice-chairman terms were extended from one year to two.
Jaroslav Schovanec/Andrea Snyder
Czech Politicians Pleased with Albright's Naming
Czech politicians positively evaluate the naming of Madeleine
Albright as new U.S. secretary of state particularly because of her ties
to the former Czechoslovakia and her respect for Czech President Vaclav
Havel. Some politicians believe she could help the Czech Republic become
a member of NATO. Havel and Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus expressed
satisfaction after Albright was named.
"It's good news for us," Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandr
Vondra said. "Albright has great awareness of European events. Naming
her secretary of state means strong continuity for American foreign
policy."
Czech UN attache Karel Kovanda said it is naive to believe Albright
will influence US politics in order to make it advantageous for the
Czech Republic.
Albright was born in Prague in 1937 as the daughter of Czechoslovak
diplomat Josef Korbel. Her original name was Marie Jana Korbelova. She
lived in Great Britain during World War II and in Yugoslavia after
1945. The family moved to the USA in 1948.
Marketa Kropacova/Jan Majer
Number of NATO Opponents in Czech Republic Increases
The number of advocates and opponents to Czech membership in NATO
is becoming more even, according to research performed by the Institute
for Public Opinion Research in November.
Thirty-eight per cent of Czech inhabitants agree with the
republic's joining NATO, while 35 per cent do not agree. The number of
those who want the Czech Republic become a member of NATO has been
stable for the last two years, but the number of those with the opposite
opinion has slowly increased. November's research indicates there are
less Czech people without a clear opinion in comparison to previous
months (27 per cent).
With higher levels of education among respondents follows greater
support for joining. Joining NATO is supported more by supporters of
governing coalition parties than those who vote for the opposition, said
the poll.
Only 12 per cent of Czechs would agree with placing nuclear weapons
on Czech territory.
Eighty-two per cent would not agree. The greatest advantage to NATO
membership is seen as better security guarantees. Twenty per cent of
Czech people see no advantage in being a member of NATO.
Matej Cerny/Jan Majer
BIS Documents Falsified
Investigators of the Security Information Service (BIS) scandal
- see Carolina 224 - confirmed the BIS falsified documents about spying
on the government Vice-Chairman Josef Lux. The civil counterespionage
unit exchanged certain pages from the secret document called Iceland
with problem-free data.
Other details should be made clear in the forthcoming
investigation, where one of the witnesses is Stanislav Devaty, former
director of the BIS, who is suspected of ordering the falsification.
Devaty denies the accusation, arguing the destruction of unnecessary
materials is standard procedure at the BIS. He did not explain, however,
why unnecessary materials had been changed, why they had not been
officially destroyed and why the parliamentary commission had not been
informed.
Michaela Klevisova/Petra Sevcikova
Social Democrat Parliamentary Club Asks Noveska to Surrender Mandate
Social Democrat Parliamentary deputy Marie Noveska, who was
revealed to have used the title of lawyer falsely for two years, refused
to give up her parliamentary mandate December 10, in spite of the
recommendation of the party's Parliamentary club.
Her party colleagues have criticized her, but they have no legal
right to take away her mandate. The only thing they agreed on was that
Noveska will give up all her party functions.
Although Noveska unsuccessfully tried to graduate from law school
twice (in 1978 and 1990), and falsely used the title of lawyer, she
intends to remain in Parliament and clear her name with honorable
legislative work.
Jana Weisnerova/Petra Sevcikova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Deputy Gaulieder Removed from Mandate
Former Parliament club member of the Movement for a Democratic
Slovakia (HZDS) Frantisek Gaulieder had his mandate removed during
a National Assembly session December 4, although voting on mandate
removal is unconstitutional.
Gaulieder was mainly under the pressure from HZDS, which controls
his declaration that he binds himself to resign from his position in
case he leaves the HZDS deputy club (see Carolina 226). Legal experts
from the coalition and opposition state that this declaration itself is
against the Constitution of the Slovak Republic. Gaulieder remains
a deputy, in spite of the loss of his mandate.
At night of December 6 a bomb had exploded near Gaulieder's house
in Galanta. The opposition adds this obvious terrorist act to HZDS'
account, but it is hard to say if the movement would do something like
this while its approval ratings are continually decreasing.
The legality of the mandate removal will be judged by the
Constitutional Court, led by Chairman Milan Cic. On the day the Galanta
explosion took place, Cic received in his Kosice court office a letter
threatening him with death.
According to SME and MF DNES, Jan Potucek/Katerina Zachovalova
Coalition Deputies Approve the State Budget Proposal
The state budget proposal for 1997 was ratified by 80 coalition
deputies December 7 shortly after 4 a.m.. Besides coalition deputies,
only deputies of the Party of the Democratic Left were present during
the budget negotiations. They did not support the proposal. The rest of
the opposition refused to vote about the proposal, and to protest they
left the National Assembly building.
The 1997 Slovak budget plans on income of 171.1 billion Slovak
crowns income and expenses of 208 billion crown. Institutions such as
the government, the National Assembly and particularly the Slovak
Information Service, which operates with more money than the Office of
the Presidential, are expecting to get more finances.
On the day of the National Assembly's opening session,
demonstrations against the proposal were held by representatives of the
Union of Slovak Cities and by students from Pavel Jozef Safarik
University in Kosice.
According to SME from December 5 and 9, Jan Potucek/Katerina Zachovalova
Pavel Jozef Safarik University Will Be Divided
The Act on Dividing Pavel Jozef Safarik University (UPJS) was
approved by 75 votes of National Assembly deputies December 10. It
happened over President Michal Kovac's veto. The opposition pointed out
the coalition's disrespect for student and staff opinion. According to
Christian Democrat deputy Marie Sabolova, the act was missing statements
from the University Council, Accreditation Committee and also documents
from the Ministry of Finance about expenses related to founding the new
Presov University. Opposing a petition signed by 3,000 university
students, Igor Urban (HZDS) read a text written by professors of Presov
University departments, which argued for founding a university in Presov
independent from Kosice's UPJS.
According to daily Narodni obroda December 11, Jan Potucek/Katerina
Zachovalova
ONE-SENTENCE NEWS
* Igor Kubis, the moderator of STV (Slovak Television) News became
the new Central Director of Slovak Television, replacing Jozef Darmo
(according to a National Assembly vote December 10).
* The government put aside 26.5 million Slovak crowns for
celebrations of the fourth anniversary of the creation of an independent
Slovak state (Slovakia came into being January 1, 1993). The right of
its organization was given to the Donar Agency.
Jan Potucek/Katerina Zachovalova
ECONOMY
MARKETS/COMPANIES
* The Prague Stock Exchange's PX 50 index did not show any remarkable
swings, its value remained at 518.1 points after the December 12
session. The only bright point in the darkness of indifference was
represented by shares of the well known SPIF Cesky fund, which drew
a lot of attention last week. Trading with these securities on the
central market, as well as direct trades, made a considerable part of
the capital market's turnover every day. The steep rise of SPIF Cesky is
remarkable, and its price remains above its nominal value of 400 crowns.
* Bayerische Landesbank got preliminary approval from the Czech
National Bank for the purchase of 55 per cent shares of the ailing
Interbank. The remaining 45 per cent is to be acquired by the Hungarian
institute Magyar Kulkeresdelmi, where the Bavarians also have
a majority. This move should be the starting point for economic
expansion in the Czech Republic for Bayerische Landesbank, a financial
institute chaired by Franz Neubauer, head of the Sudeten German
political body.
* Christmas presents are likely to be given to all clients of the
bankrupt Czech Bank (Ceska banka). Their clients got only part of the
value of their lost savings in the bank, but the Parliament, cabinet and
the Czech National Bank are discussing the possibility to grant them
damages.
* The consortium of Czech companies headed by Skodaexport, the Skoda
Plzen exporting arm, won the tender to supply the power station for the
Chinese Schen-tchou. Skoda Plzen took part also in the energy
engineering trade fair in Canton, with an offer to supply coal, water
and nuclear power stations.
* Pilsen brewers are conquering the Baltic states, when Pilsener
Urquell (Plzensky prazdroj) became majority owner of the Lithuanian
brewery Ragutis. This investment cost 2.8 million USD.
* The Sokolov Coal Company (Sokolovska uhelna) signed a five-year
contract with CEZ (Ceske energeticke zavody). The CEZ power stations are
supplied by about 2 million tons of Sokolov coal every year.
* The Dutch company Devro, now the majority owner (92 per cent) of the
casing company Cutisin, decided to withdraw the northern Bohemian
company's shares from public trading on the Prague Stock Exchange.
* The Czechoslovak Elbe Shipping Company (Ceskoslovenska plavba
labska) in Decin is going to build a sea fleet with 2,000- to
3,000-tonnages for the North Sea.
Martin Cermak/Milan Smid
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from December 12)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Great Britain 1 GBP 45.193
France 1 FRF 5.228
Japan 100 JPY 24.192
Canada 1 CAD 20.074
Austria 1 ATS 2.515
Slovakia 100 SKK 86.773
Germany 1 DEM 17.689
Switzerland 1 CHF 20.689
USA 1 USD 27.311
ECU 1 XEU 34.119
SDR 1 XDR 39.252
CULTURE
Czech Literature Fund Awarded Prizes
The Czech Literature Fund Foundation annually awards prizes for
best original works, and the names of this year's winners were announced
December 4. Only works published between October 1995 and September
1996 could be nominated. The committee was made up of 11 literary
personalities, headed by Hana Belohradska. The prizes bring each
laureate not only prestige but also 20,000 crowns.
In the fiction category, Vladimir Tresnak's book The Key Is Under
the Mat wins the prize, while also garnering the award Book Of The Year
1996 in a poll conducted by daily Lidove Noviny. Poetry was best
represented by the collection Behind The River by Miroslav Cervenka. The
book Literature and Fictive Worlds by Ruzena Grebenickova won the prize
for literary criticism. The prize for short stories was received by
Lubomir Martinek for the work Palmset. Premie Bohemica, awarded to the
writer who best presents Czech literature abroad, was not awarded. The
winner will be announced on April 23, International Book Day.
Ondrej Slavik/Magdalena Vanova
Prague Chamber Ballet Introduces Two Premieres
The Prague Chamber Ballet, a troupe with more than 20 years of
tradition and an excellent reputation, has introduced two premieres at
the same time.
The Estates Theater (Stavovske divadlo) was filled by modern dance
afficionados to see three masterpieces of three great Czech
choreographers December 10. Pavel Smok, who is also the art director of
the group, created a game-like performance using a Bach piece. Petr
Zuska, who returned to his original ballet from the National Theater
Ballet, tried to reflect somehow the division and unbalance of humans.
This part, with only two female dancers, is performed to the music of
Leos Janacek - In Fogs (V mlhach). Jiri Kylian, a choreographer living
and working in the Netherlands, reminds us of the period around 1968
through music (Solitaire by Arne Nordheim) and dance expression.
After three days of dancing in Germany, the ballet was expecting
another show opening December 7. It was a performance by Dutch
choreographer and dancer Pieter de Ruiter called Zero Time. The
choreography was created specially for the Prague Ballet. Zero Time was
performed on the as part of the New Testament in Art festival, which is
following the last year's similar event inspired by the Old Testament.
Ondrej Slavik/Katerina Zachovalova
Sepultura Plays Prague's Sport Hall
The famous trash-metal band Sepultura came to Prague December 6 on
their world tour Roots 96. Their concert started shortly before 10
p.m., after the performance of the New Orleans group Floodgate.
Sepultura hails from Brazil and is known for their friendship with the
Indians of Xavante. That is also where they took the inspiration for
their last album, Roots. "Indians live much more well-balanced and
peaceful lives than we all do," said Max Cavalera, Sepultura's singer.
Originally for Carolina David Vlk/Magdalena Vanova
Laibach Marches on Prague
The controversial Slovenian group Laibach played in Prague's Sky
Club Brumlovka December 6. This was their fourth performance in Prague
since 1990. A massive number of people of various ages came to the
concert. In a two-hour long exhibition, all songs from the NATO and
Jesus Christ Superstar albums were played, along with some older songs.
Laibach never performs emotionally on stage, they are known instead for
their omnipresent march rhythm and remaking songs from famous groups
like The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Queen.
Originally for Carolina M.Cermak, J. Schovanec/M. Vanova
SPORT
Hingis the Best in Brno
The third-annual KB Open exhibition tennis tournament KB in Brno
was won by 16-year-old Martina Hingis, who has a Czecho-Slovak origins.
She defeated Slovak Karina Habsudova in the final 6:2, 7:6 and confirmed
her flawless play of this season. "The final was my last game this year,
so I put all my power in it," says Hingis, who beat Habsudova for the
first time. Hingis was born October 30, 1980 in Kosice, Slovakia, but
most of her childhood was spent in Roznov pod Radhostem, in the present
Czech Republic. When she was eight years old, she moved to Switzerland
with her parents, where she lives today, in Trubach, St. Gallen.
Zdenek Janda/Petra Sevcikova
Czech Hockey Extraleague
Results of the 27th round: Zlin - Ceske Budejovice 7-0, Sparta
- Trinec 1-5, Pardubice - Jihlava 1-4, Slavia - Litvinov 1-6, Opava
- Plzen 3-2, Olomouc - Vsetin 4-1, Kladno - Vitkovice 5-5.
Results of the 28th round: Sparta - Opava 3-1, Vsetin - Trinec 5-2,
Litvinov - Zlin 5-3, Jihlava - Plzen 0-0, Kladno - Olomouc 5-3,
Pardubice - Slavia 5-1, Ceske Budejovice - Vitkovice 3-1.
Standings after the 28th round (not complete because of postponed
Sparta matches - see Carolina 220) : 1. Vsetin 36, 2. Vitkovice 35, 3.
Trinec (-1) 34, 4. Pardubice 32, 5. Kladno 31, 6. Sparta (-4) 28, 7.
Budejovice 28, 8. Litvinov 28, 9. Slavia 25, 10. Zlin 24, 11. Olomouc
(-1) 22, 12. Plzen (-1) 22, 13. Jihlava 21, 14. Opava (-1) 18.
Zdenek Janda
WEATHER
The temperature stayed around 0 degrees Celsius/32 degrees
Fahrenheit all week and thus the turnover in the glove trade. The gray
color of the sky predetermines the mood of the citizenry (some people
like it that way), though Christmas is, fortunately, on the way.
Merry Christmas from Batyr Gaparov/Petra Sevcikova
P.S. Carolina will be published next week.
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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