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Carolina (English) No 240
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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 240, Friday, March 28, 1997.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (March 19-26)
Zantovsky New Chairman of Coalition Party ODA
At the Civic Democratic Alliance's (ODA) weekend conference in Most
March 22-23, Senator Michael Zantovsky was elected chairman. ODA
senator's club chairman, President Vaclav Havel's former spokesman and
former ambassador to the United States, Zantovsky, who became a member
of ODA only two months ago, won on the first ballot, garnering 142 of
244 votes. Zantovsky, a psychologist by trade, also worked as
a translator (his mother was also a translator, while he translated the
works of Norman Mailer, James Baldwin, Woody Allen and Bob Dylan, among
others) and songwriter, and was working as the Reuters news agency's
Czech correspondent when communism fell in 1989. He was Havel's first
spokesman, and the Czech media largely interpret his new post as
a potentially very successful move by ODA to bring new life to the
fading party.
Among his rivals for the post, the most successful were Environment
Minister Jiri Skalicky (41 votes) and Karel Ledvinka (34 votes). The
conference also chose three of five party vice-chairmen: Skalicky,
Minister without Portfolio Pavel Bratinka and Trade Minister Vladimir
Dlouhy. The remaining two vice-chairmen will be elected by the ODA party
congress in two weeks.
The second highlight of the conference was the March 22 performance
of outgoing Chairman Jan Kalvoda, who resigned after being uncovered as
falsely using the title doctor of law. He took an unusually critical
position towards the governing coalition's work, accusing the coalition
of sloth, an unwillingness to continue the transformation aggressively
and of minimizing its failures. However, he also admitted ODA, as
a member of the coalition, was responsible for its failures as well.
Jaroslav Schovanec/Denisa Vitkova
Teplik Joins ODS, Opposition Loses Majority
The balance of power between the goverment coalition and opposition
parties in the Czech Republic's Chamber of Deputies became even after
Tomas Teplik, expelled from the Social Democrats, joined the the
parliamentary club of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) March 25.
Coalition and opposition parties now each have 100 seats in
Parliament's lower house. Coalition parties have managed to erase the
two-vote advantage gained by the opposition in June's elections. ODS,
the Civic Democratic Alliance and the Christian Democrats can also count
on Josef Wagner's support, Wagner, like Teplik, was excommunicated from
the Social Democrats for supporting the government's budget proposal at
the end of last year (see Carolina 228).
Stanislav Gross, chairman of the Social Democrats' parliamentary
club, called Teplik's move treason to party voters. "I didn't leave the
Social Democrats voluntarily, the Social Democrats gave up on me and
I think it's my right to decide what I do next," said Teplik. Teplik,
who voted for the first time with Parliament's biggest club March 25, in
relation to the ombudsman issue, explained his choice by saying "ODS is
the most open party."
Jiri Fremuth/Sofia Karakeva
Deputies Refuse CSSD's Proposal for Ombudsman
Parliament's Chamber of Deputies voted down the Social Democrats'
(CSSD) proposal for the establishment of a public defender of civil
rights, an ombudsman. It was expected that the position would be
established despite the ruling Civic Democratic Party's opposition, as
they consider the post the meaningless growth of bureaucracy. The
unexpected rejection of the proposal opened a rift between the Social
Democrats and the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL). Christian Democrats had
made their support conditional to certain limits in the ombudsman's
rights, which the Social Democrats refused.
Petra Buzkova, vice-chairwoman of the Social Democrats, believes
her party will not submit the proposal again. "The proposal can be
submitted only when the political atmosphere will be suitable for the
proposal to be accepted," said Buzkova. According to the proposal she
co-authored, the ombudsman was supposed to be established, according to
an agreement with coalition-partner the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA),
by 1999. The wide-ranging authority of ombudsman, to whom citizens
feeling mistreated by public institutions could turn to, would stem from
his access to examine the files of public institutions.
Of the Chamber's 200 deputies, 88 voted for the ombudsman, 79 were
against it and 28 didn't vote. Representatives of each party voted as
follows: ODS (0 for, 63 against, 5 abstained), ODA (7/3/2), KDU-CSL
(4/4/10), CSSD (56/0/1), KSCM (Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia)
(20/0/1), Republicans (0/9/8), independents (1/0/1).
Jiri Fremuth/Sofia Karakeva
Defense Minister Finally Decides on Important Army Supplier
The EDS-Digital Equipment consortium won the tender for to become
the supplier of a staff information system (SIS) for the Czech army.
Defense Minister Miloslav Vyborny announced the decision March 20. He
decided for the consortium in spite of the selection commission's
evaluation of the offer from Unisys as the best one. The SIS is of key
importance for accepting the Czech Republic as a member of NATO.
The commission called into question Vyborny's main argument - EDS'
offer is almost 109 million crowns lower than the price of Unisys, which
estimated costs at 1.4 billion crowns. In its final statement, the
commission mentioned that EDS is offering 1,290 final stations less than
their main competitor. "EDS-Digital has launched staff information
systems in 14 NATO countries already, while Unisys has in only three and
in Thailand," said Vyborny in defense of his decision to daily MF DNES.
"It is not about quantity, but about quality. We can argue that we have
supplied the CIA, FBI and the Pentagon with information systems, and
other companies do not have such a position in these institutions," said
Unisys representative Jiri Nykodym for the same daily.
This was the second tender for the SIS in the last two years. The
first tender was cancelled by former Defense Minister Vilem Holan in
1995 because of procedural problems. At that time, the commission also
determined Unisys to be the best candidate. However, it offered the cost
of about 4 billion crowns then.
Matej Cerny/Denisa Vitkova
Number of Secondary Schools to Be Reduced by 20 Per Cent
On March 20 the Ministry of Education announced its secondary school
optimalization program. The ministry intends to reduce the number of
high schools by roughly 20 per cent, while hundreds of other schools
will have to justify their existence, and a change in their curriculum
is expected. The reform program, which will in total affect one out of
three schools (daily MF DNES reports 90 per cent), is meant to increase
the quality of instruction and to save money.
The measures are to check the nearly uncontrollable growth in the
number of secondary schools. While not expanding the choice of studies,
there has been a splintering of funding. Although the number of students
keeps dropping, new schools continue to open. This then leads to
classrooms not being fully utilized and to schools having to expand
their course offerings to survive. A variety of curriculi in one
institution naturally represents further expenditures from state
coffers. The opening of new schools also increases the demand for
teachers, resulting in unqualified personnel being hired.
In the 1991-92 school year there were 1,569 high schools in the
Czech Republic and today there are 1,917. The number of high schools has
risen by 62 per cent in comparison with 1990, and there are three times
more technical high schools. As a result, secondary schools are
competing for students instead of admitting the best.
Ondrej Slavik/Andy Faust
Government Office Opens to Public
On Saturday, March 22, for the first time in its 100-year history,
Straka Academy, where the Government Office resides and the government
cabinet regularly meets, was opened to the public. Most of the 15,000
visitors paid keen attention to Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus' study,
which, according to some, is not as pretentious as they expected. The
open house at Straka Academy probably pulled away some of those who were
to visit the Senate buildings, which were also opened to the public the
same day. About 3,000 people visited Wallenstein Palace, home of the
Senate.
Lucie Podesvova/Denisa Vitkova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Protests Lack Support Even among University Students
On March 25 between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. Slovak university students
interrupted classes as a protest against government education policy.
The Coordinating Center for Strike Committees (KCSV) at the College of
Musical Arts in Bratislava is having problems, however, in persuading
students to participate in a protest action called for March 26 at 19
colleges across Slovakia. After the return of performing artists to work
March 27, it appears the university protest is petering out as well.
According to law students at Comenius University in Bratislava,
there were many who did not even sign the List of Student Demands for
fear of having problems in the future. Their primary justification was
that they will apply for work in civil service. The KSCV has the
opposition press on its side and President Michal Kovac met with
a representative of the Center March 21, but without the support of the
rank-and-file university students similar actions do not have a chance
for success.
Of colleges outside of Bratislava, Trnava University was
particularly involved. The students there are upset by government plans
to finance the new St. Cyril and Methodius University in that city while
the existing Slovak universities are facing a 2-billion-crown funding
shortfall this year. Canceling plans for the new university is the first
item on the List of Student Demands.
Jan Potucek/Andy Faust
IN BRIEF
* On March 22 in Piestany, at its third congress, the Democratic Union
elected Eduard Kukan leader, while on the same day in Banska Bystrica,
the Association of Slovak Workers confirmed Jan Luptak as head of the
party at its second congress.
* On March 20 the Slovak National Assembly rejected an opposition
proposal to remove Culture Minister Ivan Hudec.
* On March 24 four kilograms of plastic explosives (danubite) with
remote-control detonators were found at a public rally of the Christian
Democratic Movement (KDH) at at the Pasienky Sport Hall in Bratislava.
KDH leaders expressed their belief that the government coalition is
behind the incident.
* New traffic regulations come into effect April 1, under which the
speed limit in municipalities will be raised from 50 kilometers per hour
(km/h) to 60 km/h and on freeways from 110 km/h to 130 km/h.
Jan Potucek/Andy Faust
ECONOMY
Czech Republic Decides to Buy Norwegian Gas
The Norwegian company Statoil won the contract for natural gas
supply to the Czech Republic. It means that the long-time monopoly of
the Russian company Gazprom on natural gas supply for the Czech Republic
will be broken. The decision to find a new supplier (regardless of being
more expensive) made by the Czech Government might have been motivated
by concerns about developments in Russia which could lead to an
interruption of natural gas supply.
The state-owned company Statoil was chosen over German firms
Wintershall and Ruhrgas and British Gas. Statoil is going to sell 53
billion cubic meters of natural gas within the next 20 years, and the
first Norwegian gas will arrive in the Czech Republic in May. Norwegian
gas is to cover a quarter of Czech gas consumption in the year 2000.
Gaparov Batyr/Milan Smid
Cabinet Rejects Crisis Report on Poldi Kladno
The Czech cabinet rejected March 19 the Trade Minister Vladimir
Dlouhy's report on solving the critical situation in the Poldi Kladno
steelworks, which have been in the bankruptcy proceedings since March.
The cabinet considered the submitted report too general and asked
Dlouhy to rewrite it by April 15. Dlouhy should suggest specific
proposals to bail out the indebted steel mill. "I could not be more
specific due to the expected court proceedings. As soon as concrete
judicial steps will be undertaken, I will be ready to suggest
a solution," said Dlouhy to the CTK news agency. However, the rescue of
the Kladno steel mill is nearly impossible, as debts exceed 7 billion
crowns and steel production was idle for nearly all of 1996.
Jakub Prochazka/Milan Smid
IN BRIEF
* The trade-balance deficit, one of the biggest problems of the Czech
economy, rose 27 billion crowns in the first two months of 1997. In
January and February, imports reached 123 billion crowns, while exports
brought home 96 billion crowns only. In comparison with the same period
last year, the trade-balance deficit increased 70 per cent.
* The Czech current-account balance, which expresses payments for
goods and services with foreign countries, ended 1996 in the red with
a 121.5 billion-crown deficit. It represents 8 per cent of the Czech
GNP, or, according to some economic experts, the maximum percentage the
Czech economy can handle.
* Last year's economic growth in the Czech Republic slowed to 4.4 per
cent, compared to 5.5 percent in 1995. The 1997 economic prognosis for
the Czech Republic puts the rate of growth between 4 per cent and 4.8
per cent.
Jakub Prochazka/Milan Smid
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from March 28)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 22.963
Belgium 100 BEF 84.106
Great Britain 1 GBP 47.608
Denmark 1 DKK 4.552
Finland 1 FIM 5.850
France 1 FRF 5.147
Ireland 1 IEP 46.028
Italy 1000 ITL 17.376
Japan 100 JPY 23.612
Canada 1 CAD 21.266
Luxemburg 100 LUF 84.106
Hungary 100 HUF 16.515
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.424
Norway 1 NOK 4.393
New Zealand 1 NZD 20.323
Poland 1 PLN 9.485
Portugal 100 PTE 17.257
Austria 1 ATS 2.466
Greece 100 GRD 10.970
Slovakia 100 SKK 88.571
Germany 1 DEM 17.352
Spain 100 ESP 20.457
Sweden 1 SEK 3.845
Switzerland 1 CHF 20.020
USA 1 USD 29.202
ECU 1 XEU 33.721
SDR 1 XDR 40.225
CULTURE
Kolya Takes Long-Awaited Oscar
The names of father and son Zdenek and Jan Sverak will forever be
inscribed in the history of Czech cinematography. Their successful
picture Kolya, already awarded the Golden Globe trophy by Hollywood
critics, received the Oscar for best foreign film of 1996.
After 29 years the Oscar winner for best foreign film is again
a Czech filmmaker. Prior to Kolya only Closely Watched Trains by Jiri
Menzel and The Shop on Main Street by the directing pair Elmar Klos and
Jan Kadar had been honored with the prize of the American Film Academy.
Czech emigre Milos Forman also won in the past with two films, but his
controversial picture The People vs. Larry Flynt at this year's award
ceremony came away empty-handed, despite receiving several nominations.
Director Jan Sverak, who already won a Student Oscar for his mock
documentary Oil Gobblers, addressed the golden statuette as "Dear Oscar"
when receiving the award, and said he would be glad to acquire a little
brother for it. This is how he expressed his ambition to make another
Oscar film, which next time would be in English.
Ondra Provaznik/Andy Faust
Thalie 96 Awards
The Thalie 96 prizes for extraordinary performance in drama, opera
and ballet were awarded March 22 in Prague's National Theater. The
ceremony was hosted by last year's Thalie winner, Slovak actor Milan
Lasica, and President Vaclav Havel was among the guests.
The prize for the best male drama performance was awarded to Jiri
Labus, a member of the theater Studio Ypsilon, for performing the role
of Bonneau in Boris Vian's play The Head of Medusa. The best drama
actress prize was given to Jana Hlavacova, a member of Vinohrady Theater
ensemble, for her performance in the role of Anges in Edward Albee's
drama A Delicate Balance.
Jaroslava Adamova received a lifetime achievement award from the
hands of the president's wife, actress Dagmar Veskrnova-Havlova. The
special Thalie award was given to well-known actor and comedian Miroslav
Hornicek.
Other Thalie awards by category:
Ballet, pantomime and contemporary dance: Karel Littera from the
National Theater in Brno for the role of Romeo in Prokofiev's Romeo and
Juliet, Tatiana Juricova from National Theater in Prague, for the role
of Odetta in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.
Opera performance: Ludek Vele, National Theater Prague, for
performing the role of Baron Ochs in The Pink Cavalier, and Eva
Drizgova, Moravian-Silesian National Theater in Ostrava, for the role of
Mimi in Giacomo Puccini's La Boheme.
Musical and operetta performance: Jitka Molavcova for Hello Dolly at
the Karlin Music Theater in Prague.
Miroslava Figarova also received a lifetime achievement Thalie for
her work in the ballet. For actors under 35, the winner was Jan
Potmesil, who has been confined to a wheelchair since a 1989 automobile
accident.
Bohdana Rambusova/Milan Smid
Havel Presents New Book
President and playwright Vaclav Havel presented his new book,
entitled Vaclav Havel 96, March 21 in the Paseka literary cafe in
Prague. His most important public performances and interviews are
collected in the book.
As the book talks also about theater, a few characters from Havel's
plays also appeared at the cafe. Writer, director and actor Ladislav
Smoljak, in costume as Captain Macheth from Havel's Beggar's Opera
(Zebracka opera), asked the president to write a new play because his
contradicting characters are difficult roles to play. Havel, accompanied
by his wife Dagmar on her 44th birthday, said, "I challenge all my
characters to become politicians. There is nothing to worry about,
I will write everything for you."
exclusively for Carolina by Lucie Podesvova/Magdalena Vanova
Sound Bath Washes Archa
Prague's Archa Theater got lucky again with its latest showing,
a concert by the British group :zoviet*france: March 20.
During their performance, the group's two musicians showed a keen
sense for improvisation. They were creating, mixing and structuring
melodies using a large number of instruments on the stage. Their
enthusiasm in what they play defies the critics who say electronic
groups cannot sound authentic when playing unplugged. :zoviet*france:
created a mystical atmosphere of meditation, on the part of the
musicians and the audience, in their Prague show.
Martin Cermak/Magdalena Vanova
SPORT
Slavia Ties Sparta in Crosstown Match
Sparta Praha and Slavia Praha's crosstown rivalry heated up again in
Slavia's stadium in Eden March 25 and ended in a 1-1 tie. Slavia's
Vagner scored early, putting in a header in the fourth minute, but in
the 11th minute Siegl tied the match at one. Horvath then hit Sparta's
crossbar at the end of the first half. Referee Krondl showed nine yellow
cards and five minutes before the finish he suspended Slavia's defender
Lerch.
Slavia caused itself unexpected troubles in its fight for the
league's championship by losing in the 20th round (March 21-23) on the
field of last-place Karvina. The loss knocked Slavia from first place to
fourth, behind Sparta, Liberec and Jablonec. Sparta defeated Ostrava
1-0 on a questionable penalty shot, Liberec beat Bohemians 2-0 and
Jablonec won its match in Teplice 1-0. Between first and fourth teams is
three points' difference.
In the fight for last place, Zizkov tied Opava 1-1, as did Hradec
Kralove and Ceske Budejovice. Karvina, after its win over Slavia, jumped
from the last place, where Bohemians now languish. Other results:
Olomouc - Drnovice 2-1, Brno - Plzen 2-0.
Results of the 21st round (played March 26): Ostrava - Liberec 0-0,
Jablonec - Karvina 1-0, Zizkov - Olomouc 1-0, Plzen - Drnovice 2-1,
Hradec - Teplice 1-0, Bohemians Praha - Brno 1-1. Opava will play with
Ceske Budejovice on March 28. Standings: 1. Sparta 40, 2. Jablonec 40,
3. Liberec 39, 4. Slavia 37 ... 15. Karvina 16, 16. Bohemians 15.
Honza Mazak, Mirek Langer/Mirek Langer
Hockey Extraleague Playoffs Continue
The fifth match between Sparta Praha and Ceske Budejovice, played in
a sold-out Sparta stadium, determined the last playoff semifinalist in
Czech hockey's extraleague. The home team lead 5-0 after two periods,
and advanced with its 5-2 win.
The first Vsetin-Pardubice semifinal contest resulted in a 10-1
blowout win for two-time defending champion Vsetin. Vsetin forward Tomas
Srsen recorded seven points on five goals and two assists. The second
match was similar, though Vsetin scored "only" five goals. National team
member Jiri Dopita ignited Vsetin, as he scored two goals and he
assisted once.
In the first Sparta-Vitkovice semifinal match, Sparta gave its home
fans an unpleasant surprise, losing 2-6. Excellent defense provided the
key to Vitkovice's win. The second match started better for Sparta,
which led 2-0, but they let Vitkovice tie the game thanks to their
reckless play in the last period. Skuta's goal then gave Vitkovice the
victory the first overtime of this year's playoffs.
Results: Vsetin - Pardubice 10-1, 5-1 (2-0 in games)
Sparta - Vitkovice 2-6, 2-3 (2-0 in games)
Zdenek Janda/Mirek Langer
Nordic Skiing World Cup Ends
Jaroslav Sakala repaired Czech jumpers' reputation with his March
22 fifth-place finish and his March 23 sixth place in this World Cup
season's last event, on Planica, Slovenia's mammoth ski-jump. Only two
Czechs (21st Suchacek and 23rd Sakala) finished in the top 30 in the
World Cup final results.
Also, skiers in the nordic combined discipline finished their season
with the last World Cup event in Slovakia's Strbske Pleso. Junior Jan
Matura finished 19th, Ladislav Rygl sixth. In the World Cup final
standings, Rygl finished 11th.
Zdenek Janda, Honza Mazak/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* Czech ice-dancing couple Katerina Mrazova and Martin Simecek posted
the country's best finish in the figure skating World Championships in
Paris, as they wound up 13th.
* Germans Kremer and Behling, in a Subaru, won the Sumava Rally - the
Czech Republic Championships - more then two minutes ahead of Czechs
Krecek and Krecman in a Ford.
* Sibera and Gross, in a Czech Skoda, finished 14th in the Portugal
Rally.
* Frantisek Jez won the Czech Republic Championships on the K-90
ski-jump, with Jaroslav Kahanek finishing second and Jaroslav Sakala
third.
* The Czech national hockey B-team played exhibition matches in
Canada, losing 4-2 and winning 7-3.
Mirek Langer, Zdenek Janda, Honza Mazak/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
The horizon is cloudy and above my head the sun is shining.
At noon it is warm and toward evening it becomes rather chilly.
You just do not know what to wear.
Ondra Provaznik
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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Study in Prague This Summer
From July 12 to August 3, the Faculty of Social Sciences, together
with Georgetown University and The Fund for American Studies, will
sponsor The American Institute on Comparative Political and Economic
Systems for the fifth consecutive year.
The Institute will take place at the Faculty of Social Sciences in
Prague, and will include lectures by professors from Georgetown
University and Charles University, as well as guest appearances by
notable political and cultural figures. All lectures and site briefings
will be held in English.
In 1996, more than 100 students from 22 different countries
attended the Institute. In 1997 the program hopes to maintain the same
number of students. The institute offers an equally diverse and
interesting program by combining lectures with site briefings around
Prague and an exciting program of social activities.
Scholarships are available for students from Central and Eastern
Europe. For further details and an application form, contact either Ann
Erker at The Fund for American Studies or Cyril Simsa at the Faculty of
Social Sciences at the following e-mail addresses:
Ann Erker: aipes@tfas.org
Cyril Simsa: SVOZ@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz
Please remember to include your full postal address, as well as
your e-mail address, since the applications will have to be sent by
post.
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