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Carolina (English) No 260
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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 260, Friday, October 10, 1997.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (September 24 - October 8)
Government Presents Balanced 1998 Budget
Following complicated meetings (see Carolina 259), the government
unanimously approved September 25 a balanced 1998 budget of 536.6
billion crowns. Finance Minister Ivan Pilip of the Civic Democratic
Party (ODS) said the budget proposal means that outlays for investment
and state-sector wages will be practically frozen. However, money for
the defense, agriculture and foreign ministries is to increase. The
Cabinet plans to raise taxes on cigarettes to supply the extra 1.2
billion crowns for these areas.
Independent Josef Wagner, whose vote often tips the balance in
Parliament, said he supports the government-approved budget. However,
because the Civic Democratic Alliance's (ODA) position is unclear, the
coalition's battle is not yet won. ODA is against raising any taxes.
Michal Cerny/Andrea Snyder
Interior Minister Ruml to Step Down
Interior Minister Jan Ruml, a member of the ruling Civic Democratic
Party (ODS) has decided to leave his post November 30. Should
a replacement not be found, he will hold the post for an extra month.
Labor and Social Affairs Minister Jindrich Vodicka (ODS) is said to be
Ruml's probable successor. This will be the sixth change this year in
the Cabinet.
Ondrej Drabek/Andrea Snyder
New Prague Center Supports NATO Membership
The Center for Democracy and Free Enterprise foundation opened the
Center for Documentation and Information about NATO September 29. The
Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Czech Atlantic Commission
are cooperating on the project to inform the Czech public about NATO and
inform NATO member countries about the Czech Republic.
The new center should boost support for Czech NATO membership.
Opinion polls here have shown that 51 per cent of respondents support
NATO membership, as opposed to 80 per cent of respondents from Poland
supporting their country's membership.
Katerina Murlova/Andrea Snyder
Prague Taxis to Be Regulated Again
The City of Prague will begin to regulate taxi fares again December
1. Meters will be set at 25 crowns for the basic fee, and 17 crowns per
kilometer and 4 crowns for every minute of waiting will be the standard
rates. The City Council approved the proposal September 29. Although the
Ministry of Finance made it possible for all Czech cities to regulate
their taxi services, Prague is the only one to take advantage of the
opportunity.
The regulation does not apply to contracted transportation, such as
that at the airport. Prague Mayor Jan Koukal, Minister of Finance Ivan
Pilip and Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, all of the ruling Civic
Democratic Party, met to discuss the new changes. Taxi service has been
deregulated for about a year. Recently, well-known Czech expatriates,
led by director Milos Forman, addressed an angry letter to Koukal,
denouncing Prague taxi drivers who unabashedly cheat their clients,
particularly tourists.
Anna Kadava/Andrea Snyder
New City Speed Limit
Since October 1, the new speed limit in cities is 50 kilometers per
hour. Statistics from the first week of enforcement show that the number
of deaths and auto accidents have decreased. The Police Presidium said
that objective statistics will be available during the first week of
November. Interior Minister Jan Ruml proposed the new speed limit.
Drivers are required to have rear fog lights on their vehicles.
Police officers will not be slapping fog-light fines until January,
though; the change was not officially announced and fog lights have been
unavailable at many stores.
Filipa Sebova/Andrea Snyder
Christian Democrat Party Congress Adopts Leftist Economic Conception
The Christian Democrats approved September 27 at its party congress
a document called Christian Democratic Policy for the 21st Century. The
document emphasizes global demographic, population and information
trends. It bases its concept on tradition and realpolitik, filled out
with a spiritual element. In foreign policy matters, NATO and EU
membership receive priority. Social doctrine springs from
a state-centered concept.
Christian Democrat Chairman and Agriculture Minister Josef Lux said
by the end of the year he will propose meetings for coalition party
chairmen to discuss future government positions. "I see the matter
simply: if there is no change in policy, there will be a change in
government," said Lux. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, who was present at
the congress as a guest, called Lux's words too strong.
Lenka Jindrlova/Ivona Pulkrabkova
ODA Fraction Threatens Departure from Coalition
Conflict continues inside the governing coalition's smallest party,
the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA). Differences of opinion between the
rightist fraction, led by Ivan Masek, and the moderate party chairman,
Michael Zantovsky, threaten perhaps the dissolution of the party.
The result of the meetings of the fraction held September 27 in
Hradec Kralove is a stronger call for the departure of the party into
opposition. Its remaining in the coalition and the continued existence
of the party itself was made conditional to the acceptance of radical
reforms of the legal, tax, and social systems.
The central assembly of ODA held in Prostejov October 4-5 confirmed
the efforts of the alliance to enact strong reform steps, nevertheless
they rejected the notion of departure from the coalition. The assembly
later supported the proposal of a balanced budget for 1998 and promised
not to allow any further tax increases (ODA ministers had previously
supported an increase in cigarette taxes).
The national ODA conference, where party leaders will be elected,
was called on Zantovsky's initiative for November 29-30 in Brno. The
extraordinary conference thwarted Masek's plan to postpone confrontation
until the beginning of the next year.
Milan Eisenhammer/Ivona Pulkrabkova
Zeman Says Social Democrats Should Fear Loss in Municipal Elections
At the Social Democrats' Central Executive Committee session October
7, party Chairman Milos Zeman declared that his party, today atop the
polls, is in a creative crisis and should fear failure in next year's
municipal elections. Zeman has reached his conclusions after the party
unable to provide candidates for all the communities which held
extraordinary elections for administrative organs this year. The leader
criticized the stagnation of growth in the party's membership base.
Ondrej Drabek/Ajla Zinhasovic
NEWS IN BRIEF
* The courts rejected charges brought against two Communist
politicians, Milos Jakes and Josef Lenart, who were charged with treason
in connection with the Warsaw Pact occupation of the former
Czechoslovakia in 1968.
* According to Charles University Rector Karel Maly, students from the
flood-damaged regions will receive special flood scholarships.
* Ten senators from the ruling Civic Democratic Party (ODS) who
proposed, independently from negotiations with other parties, the
re-nomination of President Vaclav Havel withdrew their proposal October
7, because their move did not meet with understanding.
* The editorial staffs of some Czech media received faxes informing
them that before 1989 National Property Fund Chairman Roman Ceska (Civic
Democratic Alliance) was suspected of auto theft. The issue was not
taken seriously.
Jan Puncochar/Ajla Zinhasovic
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Kinkel's Visit Dashes Hopes of Nazi Victims
German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel came to Prague October 3, the
day of the seventh anniversary of German reunification, to discuss the
realization of the Czech-German Declaration (see Carolina 235) with his
Czech counterpart Josef Zieleniec. The politicians said the Fund of the
Future mentioned in the text of Declaration is going to be established
at the beginning of next year, but they did not specify methods of
compensation for the roughly 8,500 Czech victims of the Nazis. Czech
daily MF DNES October 4 published some voices of disappointment and
hopelessness from those left empty-handed again. "We are departing this
world with a feeling of injustice. We are always forgotten," said Vera
Zahourkova, who was interned in Theresienstadt.
Prokop Havel/Milan Smid
Havel Visits USA
President Vaclav Havel did not have an opportunity to feel the
warmth of the home. As soon as he finished his journey to the Middle
East (see Carolina 259), he flew October 2 for a personal visit to the
United States. From American Secretary of State Madelaine Albright he
received October 2 a prestigious award from the Fulbright Association
for extraordinary contribution to the international understanding. The
president used his visit to propagate the membership of post-Communist
countries in NATO.
Gabriela Podzimkova/Gabriela Pecic
Canada Resumes Visa Requirement for Czechs
Starting October 8, Czech citizens traveling to Canada will need
a visa. "Canada justified this step by the growing number of applicants
for refugee status from the Czech Republic," said Czech consul in Ottawa
Eva Hendrychova. Last year, Canada recorded 189 refugee status
applications; for the first 9 months of 1997, there have been 1,285
applications, of which more than half were submitted by Romanies
(Gypsies) during August and September (see Carolina 257 and 259).
A one-time visa costs about 1,800 crowns.
According to Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, the Canadian
administration could have found other ways to restrict the flow of
undesirable persons, but he acknowledged any country's right to prevent
uncontrolled immigration.
The Czech government considers the visa requirement to be
unfortunate, but it has not taken any reciprocal steps.
Madiyar Magauin/Denisa Vitkova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Controversy (Un)decided
The International Court in the Hague September 24 gave its verdict
on the Slovak-Hungarian conflict over the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros dam. It
ruled that Hungary, by its unilateral withdrawal from the waterworks
system construction, had broken international law, and therefore it
might seem the Slovaks had won the lengthy battle. However, the second
part of the verdict says Slovakia had no right to dam the flow of the
Danube River nor to continue with the construction by itself and thus
deprive Hungary of a sizable amount of water.
At the end of the verdict, the court recommends the two sides come
to an agreement, expressing damages in numbers and compare outstanding
debts. A definitive end to the controversy still depends on bilateral
negotiations, which observers view pessimistically, considering the
tense relationship between the countries and the politicization of the
problem.
Jana Ciglerova/Denisa Vitkova
Gaulieder Will Not Return to Assembly
Frantisek Gaulieder, the former National Assembly member for the
Movement for a Democratic Slovakia stripped of his mandate December 4,
will not return to the assembly. That was the decision of the assembly
September 30, as representatives decided not to respect the July
decision of the Constitutional Court. In connection with this case of
breaching the constitution and human rights there is talk not only of
one assemblyman, but of a constitutional crisis, the end of the rule of
law and further damage to Slovakia's international position.
Paula Majorova/Denisa Vitkova
ECONOMY
Brewery Situation Heats Up
The brewery industry has recently seen a number of significant
ownership changes. The Dutch company IMP Finance, connected to Japanese
investment giant Nomura (which recently was sold the state's share in
the Investment and Postal Bank), gained from the Investment and Postal
Bank a purchase contract for 35 per cent of the shares of Radegast
Brewery, as well as a promise of cooperation from shareholders
representing 22.5 of share capital, thereby gaining practical control
over the Moravian enterprise. Companies connected to Nomura already
control the Pilsener Urquell Brewery. The joining of these two groups
means control of more than 50 per cent of the Czech brewery market.
Prague Brewery, the other major group of breweries, protested at the
Anti-Monopoly Office. Prague Brewery is controlled by the British
company Bass, which also holds some shares in the Radegast Brewery. Bass
threatened it will leave the Czech market if its protest is ignored.
Through the media, both parties are trying to influence the
Anti-Monopoly Office. However, critics of Nomura admit the Japanese
investor simply outdid Bass, which had planned similar moves. Some
speculate that Nomura bought shares in Radegast only to sell later to
Bass.
Jakub Svab/Matej Cerny
Skloexport Versus Razlova
The situation in glass exporter Skloexport Liberec has come to
a stalemate. The firm has two boards of directors, and untangling the
case will probably be left to the courts. Regina Razlova, former
chairwoman of the board and a former actress, has been accused of
financial machinations to her benefit at the company's expense (see
Carolina 259).
The question of what will happen to the 67-per-cent share of
Skloexport will now be a matter of litigation. Part of the share is
frozen in the Commerce Bank (Komercni banka), to which Skloexport owes
880 million crowns. Through her family members, Razlova allegedly
transferred the rest of the shares to a related third party.
The general meeting planned for October 4 brought no solution - it
was not held at all.
Ondrej Hanzal/Matej Cerny
ECONOMY IN BRIEF
* In September the level of an unemployment in the Czech Republic
reached 4.9 per cent, the highest figure in the country's four-year
history. "There will be a record level every month now, this year it
will evidently pass 5 per cent and next year will approach 6 (per
cent)," said Tadeas Kokotek from the Labor Ministry. Work offices
registered a quarter of a million unemployed people, which is almost
80,000 more than last year.
* Three times in one week Eurotel's GSM network in Prague collapsed
for a number of hours because of overloaded software; the first collapse
was called a "once-in-a-century" event.
Jan Puncochar, Pedro Afanador/Gabriela Pecic
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from October 10)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 24.115
Belgium 100 BEF 90.540
Great Britain 1 GBP 53.080
Denmark 1 DKK 4.907
Finland 1 FIM 6.230
France 1 FRF 5.560
Ireland 1 IEP 47.677
Italy 1000 ITL 19.006
Japan 100 JPY 27.061
Canada 1 CAD 23.820
Luxemburg 100 LUF 90.540
Hungary 100 HUF 16.806
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.590
Norway 1 NOK 4.644
New Zealand 1 NZD 21.131
Poland 1 PLN 9.623
Portugal 100 PTE 18.348
Austria 1 ATS 2.656
Greece 100 GRD 11.851
Slovakia 100 SKK 97.352
Germany 1 DEM 18.685
Spain 100 ESP 22.129
Sweden 1 SEK 4.337
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.643
USA 1 USD 32.723
ECU 1 XEU 36.597
SDR 1 XDR 44.752
CULTURE
Jara Cimrman Theater Celebrates 30th Birthday
October 4 marked 30 years from the premiere of the Jara Cimrman
Theatre's first play, The Nude (Akt). The best proof of the lasting
popularity of the theater's dry, intelligent humour are its 7,865
performances and never-ending lines for tickets, as Czechs hope finally
to see shows they already know by heart from record. Cimrman, an
explorer, inventor and unrecognized genius, is the product of the
imaginations of a creative group now symbolized by Zdenek Sverak (who
wrote and starred in Oscar-winner Kolya) and Ladislav Smoljak, who wrote
most of the plays.
The birthday party took place in the theater, located in Prague's
Zizkov neighborhood. In a section called What Fell under the Table, the
audience, including Interior Minister Jan Ruml, was treated to scenes
which never made it into the final versions of some plays. The high
point of the evening was a march of all 70 characters from the Cimrman
plays.
Erik Tabery/Veronika Machova
CULTURE IN BRIEF
* The American Dance Company, founded by the late Alvin Ailey, began
a series of performances in Prague October 7.
* English saxophonist Courtney Pine, one of the leading figures in the
movement blending jazz with other forms of music such as hip hop,
performed in Prague October 8, his second show here this year.
* First lady Dagmar Havlova began a series of benefit performances for
flood-damaged regions of Moravia. Havlova, who gave up her acting career
after her marriage to Havel, will perform the role of Queen Kristina in
August Strindberg's play.
* Miroslav Donutil was voted the country's favorite radio actor at the
Prix Bohemia festival, held at the beginning of the month in Podebrady.
Eva Fronkova, Karolina Kucerova and Jan Puncochar/Michael Bluhm
SPORT
Czech Women Volleyball Players Win Bronze in European Championships
Czech Women volleyball players unexpectedly took home a bronze medal
October 5 from the European Championships, which were held in Brno. The
Czechs defeated Bulgaria 3:0 (13, 10, 7), and finished behind Croatia
and Russia, which won its 13th European title.
David Kozohorsky/Michael Bluhm
Soccer Extraleague: Despite First Tie Sparta Still on Top
Results of the 8th round (October 3-6): Opava - Jablonec 3-0,
Ostrava - Olomouc 1-0, Bohdanec - Zizkov 0-1, Brno - Hradec Kralove
0-0, Liberec - Plzen 3-2, Slavie - Teplice 0-0, Drnovice - Sparta 2-2.
Extraleague Standings
1. Sparta 8 7 1 0 20:7 22
2. Slavia 8 3 4 1 13:5 13
3. Ostrava 8 3 4 1 13:12 13
4. Liberec 8 4 1 3 12:14 13
5. Brno 8 3 3 2 14:8 12
6. Teplice 8 3 3 2 12:8 12
7. Drnovice 8 3 3 2 11:10 12
8. Hradec Kral. 8 3 3 2 7:9 12
9. Olomouc 8 3 2 3 7:5 11
10. Opava 8 2 4 2 12:12 10
11. Zizkov 8 2 3 3 4:6 9
12. Jablonec 8 2 3 3 7:11 9
13. Dukla 8 2 2 4 8:13 8
14. Plzen 8 2 1 5 8:11 7
15. Ces.Budejovice 8 1 3 4 8:13 6
16. Laz. Bohdanec 8 1 0 7 3:15 3
Results of European Cups Soccer Games
Champions Extraleague: Borussia Dortmund - Sparta Praha 4-1 (October
1). Sparta still has not won in the competition.
Cup Winners Cup: FZ Lucerne - Slavia Praha 0-2 (October 2), Slavia
advances. Slavia defeated Lucerne in the first match, in Prague, 4-2.
World Championships Qualification
The Czech Republic soccer team defeated Malta 1:0 in Malta September
24. The only goal was scored by Radek Bejbl in the 33rd minute.
WEATHER
Despite the onset of October, a few final warm currents dawdled in
the Czech Republic. The mercury reached 22 degrees Celsius/73 degrees
Fahrenheit last weekend. The evenings were seasonably chilly, though we
were lucky enough to see the sun all of the afternoon of October 7.
A cold front, however, is rumored to be on its way.
Jaroslav Mares/Michael Bluhm
Dear Readers,
With this issue a new school year has begun and Carolina will resume
its weekly release schedule.
English version edited buy Michael Bluhm.
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