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Carolina (English) No 259
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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 259, Friday, September 26, 1997.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (September 11-24)
Havel Visits Middle East
Czech President Vaclav Havel began his week-long visit to the Middle
East September 19. He was accompanied by his wife, Dagmar. Havel met
with the leaders of Lebanon, Jordan and Israel, including Benjamin
Netanyahu September 23, and Yasser Arafat the following day. The Czech
president says he would like to support the peace process in the region.
Zieleniec Supports UN Reform
Czech Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec spoke in support of UN
General Secretary Kofi Annan's proposed reforms at the UN General
Assembly meeting September 22. He also backed the Security Council's
possible inclusion of Germany, Japan and three third-world countries. He
announced that Prague wants to further assist in the effort for world
security and UN peace-keeping missions.
Miroslav Macek and the Trust Crisis
Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Vice Chairman Miroslav Macek published
a critical booklet entitled "A Crisis in Trust" September 10, analyzing
the current political situation and ODS's role in it. Macek writes that
the current crisis was not caused by the economy, but by a "deep crisis
of faith in the government, Parliament and the system as a whole."
More than by Macek's criticism and forecast that ODS would not win
the next elections, an uproar among party members was caused by the fact
that the booklet, intended for internal discussion, was leaked to the
press before ODS leaders could review it.
The ODS Parliamentary Club met to discuss the booklet September 22
and said that the quality of the analysis was poor, while other party
members said that it read like a series of newspaper stories and did not
offer solutions. The ODS Executive Council will further discuss the
booklet this weekend.
Zantovsky to Resign?
Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) Chairman Michael Zantovsky announced
September 19 that will offer to resign from his post at a special party
conference in November. The former ambassador to the United States cited
continual conflict within the party as the reason for his decision.
Although Zantovsky refused to speak with journalists for three days
after his announcement, in an interview broadcast by radio station F1
September 23, he said he plans to stay involved in politics.
Demonstration Yes, Strike No
Union members are to demonstrate November 8 their disagreement with
the government's economic and social policies, the Czech Moravian
Chamber of Unions (CMKOS) announced September 23. Radical railroad
workers and miners wanted to announce a general strike, but CMKOS
leadership prevailed with their demonstration proposal. CMKOS Chairman
Richard Falbr threatened to resign in the event of a strike. However,
railway union leader Jaromir Dusek said after voting "there will be
a strike. Sooner or later, after the demonstration, but there will be
a strike. When everyone realizes that a demonstration is for nothing."
Canada Considers Establishing Visa Because of Czech Refugees
Canada, outflanked by a continuous flow of immigrating Czech
Romanies (Gypsies, see Carolina 257), has not ruled out the possibility
of renewing visa requirements for Czech citizens. "However, it is the
last option, and the Canadian side expects the situation to be calmed
down," said Canadian Embassy in Prague spokeswoman Lucie Cermakova for
Carolina. So far, the Czech Embassy in Ottawa has refused to comment on
this possible solution. Its spokeswoman, Nora Jurkovicova, announced
that that about 1,000 Czech Romanies have applied for political asylum
in Canada in 1997. During August and the first two weeks of September,
more than 600 refugees flew over the ocean.
Still, Canadian immigration officials have decided to accept
Romanies who, in their judgment, are in the Czech Republic persecuted
and confronted with insufficient police and court activity. In spite of
this, dozens of Romanies have already returned home. However, most of
the asylum applicants say they fear for their safety in the Czech
Republic, particularly from Neo-Nazi skinhead groups.
Prague City Hall Wants Taxi Fare Regulation and Stricter Laws
One year after fares deregulation in Prague taxis, taxi drivers hold
in their hands trumps which enable them to rob customers without
practically any punishment. The deregulation made it possible, through
flawed legislation, for taxi drivers to multiply fares, and even sums of
more than 500 crowns per kilometer are not exceptional. City Hall is
trying to establish regulation again, but the Finance Ministry, which
enacted deregulation last fall, is still against it. "We consider
regulation to be the very last solution for the taxi service problem,"
said Finance Ministry spokeswoman Ludmila Nutilova. Prague Mayor Jan
Koukal said it requires, together with regulation, amendments to
business and road legislation which would enable more control over taxi
drivers.
"The legislative changes would then entitle city hall to issue
regulations which would precisely define the offenses for which taxi
drivers can lose their licenses," Koukal said.
Every year, based on inspections, about 10 drivers lose their
licenses for committing fraud. However, since running a taxi service is
a non-regulated business, the punished taxi driver has no difficulties
obtaining a new license in another city.
Attention in the Czech media was given September 19 to a letter from
Czechs residing in the U.S.A. which called on Koukal to ensure order in
the Prague taxi service as a standard for civilized countries. Among the
letter's signatories were writer Iva Hercikova, movie director Milos
Forman and former figure skating world champion Aja Vrzanova. The letter
was signed also by former American ambassador to Prague William Luers.
ECONOMY
Drinkers, Smokers, Gamblers and Drivers to Make Budget
Governing coalition parties have been arguing over the 1998 budget
for the past two weeks, though negotiations are expected to finish up at
the Cabinet meeting September 25. Ministers rejected the temporary
income-tax raise considered as a kind of "flood" tax. Instead they
agreed September 17 to cut expenses, including household-utilities
subsidies and funds for adding on to Prague's subway system.
However, Agriculture Minister Josef Lux (Christian Democrats) still
insists on increasing subsidies for agriculture, and, because of
imminent NATO membership, no Defense Ministry cuts are likely. Even
fiscally prudent ministers from the governing Civic Democratic Party
(ODS) see no more room to trim. "In several sectors we have reached the
edge of the state's ability to function," Minister of Health Jan Strasky
(ODS) said to daily MF DNES September 24.
It appeared from the September 17 Cabinet session that the
government is considering raising excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol and
possibly gasoline. The government also proposed doubling the
automobile-license tax (from 400 crowns to 800 crowns per year) and
raising fees on gambling machines.
Klaus Talks about Slowing Wage Growth at Engineering Expo Opening
The 39th International Engineering Exposition began September 27 in
Brno in the presence of Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus. The fair's 2,870
participating firms include about 1,200 foreign enterprises. "There is
the same number of participants as before, but their exhibits are poorer
and their efforts to save are visible," said Brno Expositions and
Fairgrounds General Director Antonin Surka.
In his speech, Klaus emphasized the government's commitment to
slowing wage growth in the public sector, which he said he believes will
also occur in the private sphere. "Without the slowing of nominal and
real wages we cannot go further," said Klaus. "However much we want and
need to start a new phase of rapid economic growth, we well know that
now we cannot afford it."
Skoda Plzen General Director Lubomir Soudek, a harsh Klaus critic,
said about the prime minister's speech: "The prime minister
unfortunately did not touch on two important areas connected with
industrial development: banking, which is entirely a brake to
development, and the support of exports."
Who Will Control Biggest Glass Exporter?
The attorney hired by some members of the board of directors of
Skloexport Liberec filed a criminal complaint against Chairwoman of the
Board Regina Razlova September 17. Razlova, a former actress, is said in
the complaint to be illegally transferring Skloexport's assets to the
Skloexport Group (SEG), in which she is also board chairwoman. Those who
hired the attorney were replaced at an extraordinary general meeting
September 20. The new board claims that all transactions were legal,
including the transfer of a small chateau in downtown Liberec estimated
to be worth 100 million crowns. On September 23, Czech Television
announced Razlova left the country. Her whereabouts were not specified.
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from September 25)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 23.989
Belgium 100 BEF 90.483
Great Britain 1 GBP 53.798
Denmark 1 DKK 4.904
Finland 1 FIM 6.258
France 1 FRF 5.558
Ireland 1 IEP 48.884
Italy 1000 ITL 19.141
Japan 100 JPY 27.798
Canada 1 CAD 23.950
Luxembourgh 100 LUF 90.483
Hungary 100 HUF 16.984
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.579
Norway 1 NOK 4.612
New Zealand 1 NZD 21.226
Poland 1 PLN 9.706
Portugal 100 PTE 18.373
Austria 1 ATS 2.654
Greece 100 GRD 11.824
Slovakia 100 SKK 97.606
Germany 1 DEM 18.670
Spain 100 ESP 22.136
Sweden 1 SEK 4.384
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.721
USA 1 USD 33.289
ECU 1 XEU 36.669
SDR 1 XDR 45.173
CULTURE
Second Try for Prague German Theater Festival
The second-annual Prague German Theater Festival began with a gala
opening, attended by President Vaclav Havel and many foreign dignitaries
at the Estates Theater (Stavovske divadlo) September 12. The festival
will last till September 30, and 16 theater ensembles from Germany,
Austria, Slovakia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic will perform.
The first performance of the festival was Goethe's Faust, staged the
Czech National Theater. This performance was also a comeback for the
director of the play, Otomar Krejca, who returned to the stage of the
top Czech theater after 30 years. Critics praised the scenography of
Josef Svoboda, as well as the acting of Jan Hartl as Faust, Boris
Roesner as Mephisto and Zuzana Stivinova as Marketa, but reviews seemed
rather polite and showed a certain disappointment at the monumental but
cold style chosen by Krejca, himself something of a Czech drama
monument.
Rudolf Rokl Died
At age 55, pianist and composer Rudolf Rokl died in Prague September
23 after a long illness. He studied piano at the Academy of Arts under
Professor Rauch and performed as a jazz pianist since age 15. Besides
jazz and pop music, he was interested by classical music as well. Rokl
was best known as the pianist of Ladislav Staidl's orchestra or as the
accompanist of pop music stars Karel Gott and Jitka Zelenkova.
SPORT
Czech Volleyballers Sixth in European Championships
Czech volleyballers brought home a sixth-place finish from the
European Championships, which ended September 14 in Eindhoven, the
Netherlands. In their final group, they beat Slovakia 3:0, but fell to
the Russians 0:3.
The Czechs' finish among Europe's best teams was unexpected, while
the Dutch convincingly won the title.
Soccer Extraleague: Sparta on Top
Results of the 6th round (September 12-14): Slavia - Sparta 0-1,
Drnovice - Hradec Kralove 1-0, Liberec - Olomouc 1-0, Opava - Brno 1-1,
Lazne Bohdanec - Teplice 1-2, Ceske Budejovice - Plzen 1-1, Dukla
- Zizkov 0-0, Ostrava - Jablonec 2-2.
Extraleague Standings
1. Sparta 6 6 0 0 14:4 18
2. Slavia 6 3 2 1 12:4 11
3. Ostrava 6 2 4 0 11:8 10
4. Olomouc 6 3 1 2 6:3 10
5. Liberec 6 3 1 2 8:7 10
6. Jablonec 6 2 3 1 6:6 9
7. Brno 6 2 2 2 10:8 8
8. Teplice 6 2 2 2 7:7 8
9. Drnovice 6 2 2 2 7:7 8
10. Hradec Kral. 6 2 2 2 4:9 8
11. Opava 6 1 4 1 9:9 7
12. Plzen 6 2 1 3 5:6 7
13. C. Budejovice 6 1 3 2 6:8 6
14. Dukla 6 1 2 3 5:8 5
15. Zizkov 6 0 3 3 1:5 3
16. Laz. Bohdanec 6 0 0 6 1:13 0
Results of European Cups Soccer Games
Champions Extraleague: Sparta Praha - AC Parma 0-0 (September 17)
Cup Winners Cup: Slavia Praha - FZ Luzern 4-2 (September 18)
Hockey Extraleague - Favorites Win
Results of the 8th round (September 23): Kladno - Vitkovice 8-4,
Opava - Zlin 3-3, Vsetin - Jihlava 6-2, Trinec - Litvinov 2-2, Pardubice
- Ceske Budejovice 6-2, Plzen - Slavia 2-1, Sparta - Karlovy Vary 5-3.
Standings after the 8th round: 1. Sparta - 11 points, 2. Vitkovice
- 11, 3. Litvinov - 10, 4. Plzen - 10. 5. Vsetin - 10. 6. Zlin - 9, 7.
Slavia - 8, 8. Pardubice - 8, 9. Trinec - 8, 10. Kladno - 8, 11. Jihlava
- 7, 12. Opava - 6, 13. Ceske Budejovice - 4, 14, Karlovy Vary - 2.
WEATHER
Indian Summer in the Czech Republic continues. Morning temperatures do
get down to 5 degrees Celsius/41 degrees Fahrenheit, and in the
mountains one can find frost, but afternoons still see people walking
coatless under sunny and cloudless skies in temperatures up to 20
degrees Celsius/68 degrees Fahrenheit - as if nature used up its share
of clouds and water during July's floods.
The articles in this issue were written by Jakub Prochazka, Jiri Fremuth
and Milan Smid, and were translated into English by Andrea Snyder,
Denisa Vitkova, Magdalena Vanova and Michael Bluhm.
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