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Carolina (English) No 289
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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 289, Friday, May 15, 1998.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (May 6 - 13)
Deadline Passes for Submitting Party Ballots
The list of political parties taking part in the early June
elections was definitely closed midnight May 10. Eighteen political
parties will fight for the favor of the electorate in at least one
election region.
Fifteen parties submitted ballots in all eight election regions,
among them all parliamentary parties: the Czech Social Democratic Party,
(CSSD), the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the Civic Democratic Alliance
(ODA), the Freedom Union (US), the Christian Democratic
Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL), the Communist Party of
Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) and the Association for the
Republic-Czechoslovak Republican Party (SPR-RSC). In all eight electoral
regions voters also will find the Party of Retirees for Life Security
(DZJ), the Czech National Socialist Party (CSNS), the Green Party (SZ),
the Democratic Union (DEU), the Civic Coalition-Political Club (OK) and
some relatively unheard-of organizations (Association of Czech Republic
Retirees, Alternativa 2000 and the Independents). Among the subjects
which submitted ballots in only certain regions are political movements
such as the Right Block (Pravy blok), the Nationwide Civic Assembly
(Celostatni aktiv obcanu) and the Moravian Independent Party (Moravska
demokraticka strana).
Karolina Kucerova/Milan Smid
Romanies Attack Sladek during Campaign Rally
Miroslav Sladek, chairman of the neo-fascist Republican Party
(SPR-RSC) was May 9 attacked by Romanies during a party campaign rally
in Novy Bor, a northern Bohemian town near Ceska Lipa. The incident came
to an end when a policeman fired two warning shots and the attackers
fled. Four Romanies were taken to a hospital with slight injuries. The
police arrested two Romanies suspected of rioting, violence against an
ethnic group and assault.
Sladek allegedly provoked the Romanies. "He was arrogant, insulted
the president, his wife and Prime Minister Tosovsky. He spurred on
ethnic conflict," said Stefan Gorol, a Novy Bor Romany, to the Czech
daily Lidove noviny. Romanies then called upon Sladek to stop provoking,
he said. Sladek, however, continued, and the Romanies attacked his
bodyguards and then got to Sladek, also.
Republican deputy Jan Vik said that there were hundreds of Romanies
and some of them were carrying guns. Ceska Lipa Police spokeswoman Ivana
Balkova refused to comment on any information concerning guns. According
to the latest information, Republicans were attacked by kicks and fists.
Jan Puncochar/Sofia Karakeva
President Grants Pardon to Romanies Who Attacked Sladek
President Vaclav Havel granted a pardon to brothers Jan and Josef
Tancos, the two Romanies arrested for attacking Miroslav Sladek,
chairman of the neo-fascist Republicans.
Romany Civic Initiative (ROI) spokesman Miroslav Tancos said to the
Czech daily Pravo that the incident had no racial motives. Romanies felt
offended by the "disgusting remarks" about the president and his wife.
Havel's wife Dagmar expressed her thanks to the Romanies citizens who,
she said, upheld her and her husband's honor. She said she respects
their protest, although the form they chose was not the best one.
The Czech press May 12 reported a wave of criticism of Havel's step.
Republican spokesman Jan Vik said Havel's decision means that violent
attacks on Republicans by Romanies are acceptable to the political
elite. "By making this decision Havel told Gypsies: kill him," said Vik.
Representatives of other parties also disagree with Havel's decision.
According to the Social Democrats, the incident should have been
officially investigated. Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Vice Chairman Ivan
Langer said Havel's decision was an emotional reaction.
Lenka Vochocova/Sofia Karakeva
Liberation Celebrations Officially Passed, Little Notice Taken
Celebrations of the 53rd anniversary of V-E Day passed July 8
without any great interest from Czech citizens. The Czech flag rarely
appeared in the streets, in contrast to recent years. On the other hand,
public transportation was decorated with two flags. The public could
visit the representative areas of the Prague Castle, the House of
Parliament and the Senate opened for the occasion.
Putting wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Prague's
Vitkov was one of the day's ceremonies. President Vaclav Havel, still
convalescing from his recent operations, was filled in for by the Chief
of the Office of the President Ivan Medek, and members of the Czech
Freedom Fighters' Union were there, as well. Czech generals were
appointed and promoted in the presence of Defense Minister Michal
Lobkowicz and Medek at the Prague Castle.
The March against Racism and Fascism, organized by the Initiative
against Racism (IPRA) and other organizations started in Prague's Krizik
Street in the afternoon. Participants in the march stopped by the Czech
Radio building and continued to Old Town Square.
Gabriela Podzimkova and Lenka Vochocova/Nora Novakova
Bronislaw Geremek in Prague for Two-Day Visit
Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek arrived May 12 in Prague
for a two-day visit. During talks with the Czech Foreign Minister
Jaroslav Sedivy he said that the cooperation between Poland, Hungary and
Czech Republic still offers one more place for a fourth partner. Poland
is first of all counting on the Baltic states, whose efforts are also
supported by the Czech Republic. Both countries also have interest in
Slovakia, but said its fate depends on Slovakia alone.
According to the two ministers, Poland and the Czech Republic are
now focusing their regional policy eastward from the future NATO
borders, but after joining the Alliance they will support the further
expansion of the organization.
Lenka Vochocova/Gabriela Pecic
Deputies Approve Controversial Anti-Drug Measure
The Chamber of Deputies May 12 adopted changes to the Criminal Code
giving police the right to prosecute drug possession. The deputies
approved the amendments with an overwhelming majority of 128 votes
(Christian Democrats, Republicans, Communists and most of the Social
Democrats) and so overruled President Vaclav Havel, who vetoed the law
April 6. Members of the Freedom Union made up most of the 43 votes
against the changes. Seventeen legislators abstained from voting.
Havel disagrees with the law, saying it would do more harm to
victims of drugs than to dealers and manufacturers (see Carolina 284).
The law says possessing a "smaller than small" amount of a drug will be
considered a misdemeanor. If the amount is "greater than small" it will
be viewed as a felony and the person could be sentenced to prison for up
to two years. Incarceration from one to five years awaits anyone who
commits the crime to a greater degree.
Lenka Jindrichova/Matej Cerny
Chamber of Deputies Adopts Lottery Changes
The Chamber of Deputies adopted amendments to the Lottery Act May
12. By a majority of 138 votes (189 were present) they overruled the
Senate, which rejected the amendments in April. The changes, in harmony
with the European Union's laws, bans foreign firms from taking part in
the lottery and gambling business. Parliament deputies resisted the
strong lobbying from foreign companies. The Senate's disapproval had
aroused speculation about the lobbying efforts. The president has 15
days to sign the bill.
Lenka Jindrichova/Matej Cerny
Head of Prague Police Did Not Break Law
According to the Inspection Commission of the Police Presidium,
Prague Police Chief Miroslav Bornik did not violate the law.
Bornik resigned May 7 after he was accused of interrogating,
together with the members of the Communist secret police (StB), people
who demonstrated in January 1989 during the so-called Palach Week (named
for Jan Palach, who as a student in 1969 immolated himself to protest
the Soviet-led occupation of Czechoslovakia). Bornik allegedly changed
one testimony, which later was used by the prosecution during its trial
of then-dissident Vaclav Havel. Although the matter is still under
investigation, Police President Oldrich Tomasek and Interior Minister
Cyril Svoboda accepted Bornik's resignation. Svoboda said Bornik did not
leave the police because he violated the law but becouse he did not want
to discredit the police's reputation.
"The commission interviewed the witnesses and came to the
conclusion that Mr. Bornik did not break any laws," said Jiri Vokus of
the Police Presidium in daily Lidove Noviny May 12.
Lenka Jindrichova/Matej Cerny
Past Catches up with Secret Service's Deputy Director
Deputy to the director of the Security and Information Service
(BIS) Lubos Dolezal resigned, because he worked as a political advisor
to the armed forces of the Interior Ministry before 1989.
Dolezal was chosen personally by the head of BIS, Karel Vulterin,
who said he did not know anything about Dolezal's past. Vulterin later
said that Dolezal successfully passed security checks and his
suitability for work in the security service was also approved by civic
commissions. However, Jaroslav Basta, security expert of the opposition
Social Democrats, claims Dolezal passed the checks because Dolezal
worked on them. An official investigation did not find any violations of
the law.
Jan Puncochar/Matej Cerny
Zeman's Position Remains Stable
Social Democratic leadership discussed May 7 their Chairman Milos
Zeman's release of documents alleging that Freedom Union Chairman and
former Interior Minister Jan Ruml undertook a conspiracy "against the
interests of the Czech Republic." Though Zeman has been unofficially
castigated for not having discussed the release of the documents with
party leadership beforehand, his position as party leader has not been
weakened.
Zeman appeared pleased by the gremium's conclusions: "It is
necessary to determine the authenticity of the document." Although the
documents are generally considered fakes and President Vaclav Havel was
said to have had a long laugh over them, some Social Democrats believe
they are based on reality.
Ales Bartl/Jana Ciglerova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Meciar Agrees with Opposition
The coalition parties of the Slovak government agreed with the
opposition to create a law which should keep the country out of
a constitutional crisis. This norm is supposed to assure the validity of
the fall general elections if Slovakia has not by then elected
a president. Without a president, the standing Cabinet does not have
anyone to whom they can submit their resignation. Premier Vladimir
Meciar suggested that the authority to accept the resignation and
nominate a new government be entrusted to the chairman of the National
Assembly.
Both sides also reached a partial agreement regarding the election
of a president. Meciar still rejects direct election but offered to
negotiate the possibility of voting in accordance with the present
system - in the National Assembly. Government and opposition parties
also agreed not to enter candidates for the upcoming forth round of
presidential elections, and will wait for the fifth round, by which time
an agreement may be reached.
Slovakia has not had a president since March 3, when Michal
Kovac's term of office expired.
Lenka Jindrlova/Jana Ciglerova
ECONOMY
Apples from Europe Again
The Czech government May 11 cancelled import quotas which had
restricted the amount of apples imported from the European Union since
February. The quotas limited EU farmers to 6,000 tons of apples for the
Czech market every three months with low import duties. Duties for
apples imported above the quota were 95 per cent.
In return for the cancellation it is also expected that EU measures
which practically prohibited Czech export of pork, poultry and fruit
juices to the EU will be repealed. Johan Reyniers, spokesman for
European Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler, said to Czech daily MF
DNES May 12, "We are not going to do anything until the quota is
actually cancelled. The counter-measures do not have any direct
connection to the apple quota, so I cannot confirm their repeal."
Prokop Havel/Jana Ciglerova
New Leadership for Stock Exchange Chamber
Petr Budinsky May 7 became the new chief of the Stock Exchange
Chamber (Burzovni komora), while Josef Kotrba was elected deputy (both
were deputy directors at the Czech Savings Bank). Budinsky replaced
Tomas Jezek, who held the position for nearly two years before becoming
one of the Securities Commission's commissioners.
Prokop Havel/Ajla Zinhasovic
Aero Joins with Boeing
The general meeting of the biggest domestic airplane producer - Aero
Vodochody - confirmed the capital participation of the Boeing-CSA
consortium in the company May 6. The conditions for participation of the
American-Czech consortium, in which Boeing controls 90 per cent and
Czech Airlines the remaining 10 per cent, were approved by the
government in March (see Carolina 283). The consortium plans to raise
Aero's capital by 950 million crowns, through which it will gain
35-per-cent control of the Aero. The entry of the Americans should not
only strengthen Aero's financial situation but should also open the door
to foreign markets for Aero.
Prokop Havel/Ajla Zinhasovic
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from May 15)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 20.409
Belgium 100 BEF 88.726
Great Britain 1 GBP 52.797
Denmark 1 DKK 4.807
ECU 1 XEU 36.018
Finland 1 FIM 6.025
France 1 FRF 5.460
Ireland 1 IEP 46.118
Italy 1000 ITL 18.566
Japan 100 JPY 24.233
Canada 1 CAD 22.405
Luxemburg 100 LUF 88.726
IMF 1 XDR 43.651
Hungary 100 HUF 15.470
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.251
Norway 1 NOK 4.361
New Zealand 1 NZD 17.331
Poland 1 PLN 9.564
Portugal 100 PTE 17.875
Austria 1 ATS 2.602
Greece 100 GRD 10.565
Germany 1 DEM 18.310
Slovakia 100 SKK 94.949
Slovenia 100 SIT 19.582
Spain 100 ESP 21.552
Sweden 1 SEK 4.226
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.015
USA 1 USD 32.500
CULTURE
Smetana's My Country Kicks off 53rd Prague Spring
The Czech Philharmonic, led by conductor Vladimir Valek, opened the
53rd international Prague Spring music festival with the traditional My
Country from Bedrich Smetana May 12. Despite economic problems last
autumn, classical music fans can look forward to 57 concerts, 11 operas
and ballets. The opus of George Gershwin will be one of the hot tips of
the festival - by the way, Gershwin would be celebrating his 100th
birthday this year.
The 300th anniversary of the dulcimer will be commemorated by
several concerts, topped off by unknown music from Smetana. As usual,
several famous orchestras will take part: the Orchestre de Paris with
conductor Semjon Byckov and piano virtuoso Radu Lupe, the Detroit
Symphony Orchestra with the famous Neeme Jaervi. Jarvi's son Paavo, with
Stockholm's Royal Philharmony, will come. Also Swedish mezzosoprano Anne
Sofie von Otter and American soprano Kathleen Battle will also perform.
The music festival, almost without contemporary compositions this
year, will be ended, as is tradition, with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
July 3. It will be performed by the Prague Chamber Orchestra with
conductor Jiri Belohlavek and Kuhn's Prague Chamber Choir.
Gabriela Podzimkova/Nora Novakova
Golden Prague Festival Gives Awards for TV Production
The 35th version of the world's only festival of television
production, Golden Prague, announced its winners May 7. The main award
was given to the Canadian company Rhombus Media for the film Wartime
Symphony - Shostakovich against Stalin. Czech Crystals were also awarded
to the British Channel 4 for its cycle of Schubert's Winter Road (Zimni
cesta) pieces and to the Swedish channel Contercoup for its dance
presentation The Alienation of Relationships in the Middle of the City
(Odcizeni vztahu uprostred mesta).
Two of three honorable mentions were given to Great Britain thanks
to the Arts Council and its film Men (Muzi), and to Channel 4, which
presented the film Dancing for Dollars - The Bolshoi in Las Vegas (Tanec
za dolary - Bolsoj v Las Vegas). The other award was given to Czech
Television for its film of the dance vision of the Caban brothers,
KusPoKusu.
Gabriela Podzimkova/Sofia Karakeva
CULTURE IN BRIEF
* Spanish soprano Monserrat Caballe performed in Prague's Congress
Center May 12. She appeared with her long-time pianist Manuel Burgueras
in a recital of arias and songs by Spanish and Italian composers from
the 17th century through the 20th century.
* The Czech rock group Lucie opened its 10th anniversary tour in
Zlin May 12.
* Czech-born Milan Kundera's latest novel Identity has been
favorably received in the United States in its English translation.
Kundera, who has lived in France since 1975, wrote the book in French.
* The Czech movie Dead Beetle (Mrtvej Brouk) from Pavel Marek was
warmly received at the international film festival in Washington.
Critics compared it to films by Lindsay Anderson and Antonioni.
* Martin Fendrych, Minister Vladimir Mlynar's successor as the
political weekly Respekt's editor-in-chief and former Deputy Interior
Minister, wrote in his Memoirs his version of the last days of Prime
Minister Vaclav Klaus' government. The book was published by Torst.
* The publishing company Duel has released 5,000 copies of the book
A Week in Captivity. The author, David Vlk, is a second-year College of
Social Sciences student and a member of last year's Carolina editorial
team. The book deals with Czech UN observer Jaroslav Kulisek's week of
captivity in Georgia in February.
Gabriela Podzimkova and Ludvik Pospisil/Ivona Pulkrabkova
SPORTS
Hockey World Championships Semifinal: Czech Republic - Finland 1-4
Czech hockey players lost for the first time in the World
Championships in Switzerland May 12 to Finland's superbly skating team.
Three of Finland's four goals were scored at the beginning of periods.
The semifinal rematch will be played May 14 and the Czech team has to
win the game and also in the overtime period to advance to the finals.
Scores do not affect advance, only points do.
In the first match of the other semifinal match-up, Sweden defeated
Switzerland 4-1.
The Czech team advanced to the semifinal from first place in the
quarterfinal group. It defeated Slovakia 1-0 (May 7, goal scored by
Kucera) thanks to the error-free performance of goalie Milan Hnilicka.
Then they met the surprisingly good home-team. Eighteen power-plays were
featured in the exciting match, and although Switzerland's players
heartily attacked the Czechs, they lost 1-3 (Czech goals: Lubina,
Belohlav, Kucera). In the last match, Russia had to win to secure its
advance, the Czechs needed only a point. Patera and Dopita scored in the
second period, but Petrov and Yushkevich evened the count to the final
2-2 draw.
Gabriela Podzimkova and Jakub Svab/Mirek Langer
After deadline: Second semifinal result: Czech Republic - Finland 2-2
(0-0, 1-0, 1-2). Finland advances to the final against Sweden, while the
Czechs will play for the bronze medal against Switzerland.
Soccer: Ceske Budejovice Closer to Second League
After a 0-1 loss to Ostrava on Budejovice's field, the South
Bohemian players have more to worry about. They are very close to
dropping into the second league, because Hradec Kralove managed to tie
Olomouc, which is fighting for a place in the UEFA Cup next year.
Prague's Slavia continued its run of bad showings. In Lazne
Bohdanec, which has managed to collect eight points all season, Slavia
tied 1-1. After Bohdanec's pressure in the game's final minutes, Slavia
might be glad it left without further embarassment.
Results of the 27th round: Plzen - Opava 3-2, Ceske Budejovice -
Ostrava 0-1, Bohdanec - Slavia Praha 1-1, Olomouc - Hradec Kralove 2-2,
Zizkov - Drnovice 0-0, Teplice - Brno 3-2, Liberec - Dukla 2-1, Sparta
Praha - Jablonec 2-1.
Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 67 points, 2. Slavia Praha 52, 3. Ostrava
46, 4. Olomouc 46, 5. Liberec 44, 6. Jablonec 42, 7. Teplice 38, 8.
Zizkov 36, 9. Brno 34, 10. Plzen 32, 11. Dukla 32, 12. Drnovice 31, 13.
Opava 29, 14. Hradec Kralove 29, 15. Ceske Budejovice 27, 16. Bohdanec
9.
Gabriela Podzimkova/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* Czech national soccer team member Vladimir Smicer's Racing Lens team
won the French league title after Lens tied Auxerre 1-1 and finished
first, ahead of Metz, thanks to a better difference between goals scored
and allowed. It was the first title in the team's history.
Gabriela Podzimkova/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
Don't count your chickens before they hatch - this proverb came to
mind when I was reading the last weather report from Gabriela. She
mentioned the weather had supposed to become cool last week and would be
suitable to studying for the coming exam period. Yes, the exams are here
already (at our school), but the weather has been summer-like the whole
past week with temperatures climbing to 29 degrees Celsius/84 degrees
Fahrenheit. Prague's public pools started their summer season last week,
and cooler temperatures are arriving only now.
Karolina Kucerova
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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