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Carolina (English) No 285
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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 285, Friday, April 17, 1998.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (April 8 - April 15)
NATO Membership Approved
Parliament's Chamber of Deputies April 15 approved the Czech
Republic's membership in NATO. All present deputies from the former
ruling coalition parties - the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the Civic
Democratic Alliance (ODA), the Freedom Union (US) and the Christian
Democrats (KDU-CSL) - plus Social Democrat deputies supported NATO
membership with 154 votes against 38 neo-Fascist Republicans and
Communists. Seven deputies did not take part in the vote.
Deputies launched their session in the lower house of Parliament
April 14 with a final reading of the government proposal. Opening the
debate, Foreign Minister Jaroslav Sedivy told the assembly the future of
the county lay in their hands. Then the Communist and Republican
deputies expressed their strong opposition to NATO membership.
Czech artists and students staged a demonstration in favor of NATO
membership on Prague's Castle Square. Demonstrators dressed as Nazi and
Soviet troops and a Russian army tank was brought in to remind deputies
of not-so-distant Czech history. Mostly older people came to demonstrate
their negative opinion of NATO membership in front of the Chamber
building.
The Czech Republic's move toward joining the ratification treaty is
to be approved by the Senate and signed by the president. The
ratification process should conclude April 4, 1999 in Washington, D.C.
with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty by the Czech Republic,
Poland and Hungary on the occasion of NATO's 50th anniversary.
Reactions:
Sedivy: "I am very happy about the results of the vote. We have sent
a very positive signal abroad."
Milos Zeman, Chamber of Deputies and Social Democrat chairman: "The
positives and negatives heard in the debate could have been communicated
to the people in an information campaign which could have led to
a referendum."
Zdenek Klanica, vice chairman of the Communist Party: "NATO membership
is a step back. When the Warsaw Pact was annulled, we all thought NATO
would be cancelled, too. Its expansion is not good for the European
security system."
Jana Ciglerova/Jana Ciglerova
Emergency Surgery for President Havel
A perforation of the colon and inflammation of the peritoneum put
President Vaclav Havel's life in danger while he was on private Easter
trip in Austria with his wife Dagmar. After suffering from fever and
stomach pain, Havel called in an Austrian physician April 14 who decided
to transport the president by helicopter to Innsbruck Hospital, where an
emergency surgery lasted three hours. At that night's press conference,
Austrian surgeon Ernst Bodner said Havel's life was no longer in danger.
However, there is still the possibility of post-operation
complications, which are common after such colon problems, according to
Miroslav Cerbak, head of the physicians' consilium responsible for the
president's healthcare. Therefore Havel will remain under the
surveillance of Austrian doctors for some time and transport to Prague
will not be considered for at least two weeks.
Surgeon Bodner said immediately after the surgery that the
perforation of the colon had no connection to Havel's previous health
problems. In 1996 part of Havel's right lung was removed because of
a malignant tumor, and some doctors suggested that the intestinal
problems could have been caused by cancer. Although this week's surgery
and later tests did not confirm the cancer hypothesis, it cannot yet be
ruled out.
Ondrej Drabek/Milan Smid
Prime Minister Tosovsky Says No to Meeting with Union Leaders
Prime Ministr Josef Tosovsky cancelled a meeting with
representatives of 10 trade union associations planned for April 9. He
rejected negotiations on wage demands because of the demonstration of
about 3,000 state employees in front of the Office of the Government
April 7.
The demonstration was organized by the Union of the Prague Financial
Directorate together with the Union Association of Public Servants, and
it was supported by the Czech-Moravian Chamber of Trade Unions (CMKOS).
The tax office public servants protested against the lowering of their
wages - last year's cuts represented a 7 per cent decrease - and asked
for legislative conditions and security guarantees against their
maltreatment while executing their office.
Union associations asked the prime minister to change his attitude
and to come to the negotiating table. Tosovsky, however, perceived the
demonstration just before the meeting as improper pressure on him and
was not going to yield. According to the daily MF DNES, also Ivan Pilip,
the minister of finance and thus responsible for the tax bureaus, sided
with the prime minister. Pilip described the union's behavior as
a little peculiar, although he said he sees the point of the
demonstration's demands.
On the other hand, the CMKOS Chairman Richard Falbr described the
prime minister's attitude as offended vanity, and labelled the Cabinet
decision as unfortunate and foolish. Alena Vondrova, the leader of the
public protest, also said she did not feel inappropriate in supporting
union demands two days before the official negotiation with a public
demonstration.
Lenka Vochocova/Milan Smid
Charles University Awards Honorary Doctorates and Commemorative Medals
As part of the celebration of the 650th anniversary of the April 7,
1348 founding of Charles University, 19 world-renowned scientists and
artists were presented honorary doctorates April 8.
Leading European history expert Jacques Le Goff, one of those
honored, gave a speech on Christianity in the Middle Ages/Europe - Today
and Tomorrow at the ceremony at the university's College of Humanities,
where 400 students were present. He noted the similarities between the
past and the present and he emphasized the need to open this
multicultural region.
Doctorates were also awarded to British pathologist and virologist
Anthony Epstein, to his fellow countryman, mathematician Michael Atiyah,
to German biochemist Norbert Hilschmann and also to Russian writer Oleg
Malevic.
Four more honorary doctorates should be awarded this year, and James
Watson, Nobel prizewinning discoverer of DNA, is thought to be among the
recipients.
Also, 87 commemorative medals were awarded April 9. There will be
another 200 commemorative and some 1,000 anniversary medals awarded
during the year.
Paula Majorova/Magda Vanova
Social Democrats Introduces Economic Program
The Program of the Republic's Economic Future, which the Social
Democrats presented April 9, promises voters growth up to 8 per cent.
This goal, however, is conditional on limiting efforts to reduce
inflation. Vice Chairman of the Social Democrats' Economic Commission
Jan Mladek spoke in support of the party's economic vision: "I would not
consider it unfortunate if, with economic growth, inflation was in
future years within the range planned for this year, 12 per cent." Many
economists do not agree. "Reducing inflation is a basic condition for
long-term economic growth," said Investment and Postal Bank (IPB) chief
analyst Miroslav Soucek. Economists say the Social Democrats could
ensure the country greater economic growth only with the help of foreign
loans which would cover deficits in public-sector budgets. The Social
Democrats want to support foreign investment with various tax breaks.
Unlike past programs, the Social Democrats are not now advocating
import tariffs, which would be used only in crisis situations. Imports
should be decreased by measures commonly used in the EU, such as
certification.
The Social Democrats made clear to voters that if victorious in the
upcoming elections they would give preferential treatment to industry
ahead of services. Their opinion is that industry must become the motor
of the Czech economy. The capital market could expect a further
reduction in the number of securities traded.
David Kozohorsky/Michael Bluhm
Canada Gives First Asylum to Czech Romanies
The hopes of a Romany (Gypsy) family of 20 members which left the
Czech Republic last year looking to gain asylum in Canada were
fulfilled. From the thousands of Czech Romanies waiting in Canada, the
family of Gejza Horvath, 54, became the first to gain asylum status. The
Canadian Council for Immigrants and Refugees made the decision at the
end of last week. The Council said it considered the Romanies' fears of
racially motivated persecution substantiated. "People on the streets
call Romanies blackface and spread hateful slogans against them," said
the Canadian Foreign Office April 14.
Government Minister and Chairman of the Inter-Ministry Commission
for Romany Affairs Vladimir Mlynar said he considers the decision bad
news for the Czech Republic. He said that a country from which people
leave and gain asylum in democratic ones is not in a good situation.
According to Horvath's lawyer George Kubes, the acceptance of their
asylum applications will set a precedent and lead to the acceptance of
further applications from Czech Romanies by Canada.
The first asylum since last year's exodus of Romanies from the Czech
Republic was given in February by Great Britain to a family of three.
After the four-year asylum, members of the family can apply for
permanent residence.
Petr Bilek Jr./Sofia Karakeva
NEWS IN BRIEF
* Former Czech ambassador to Sweden Petr Kolar, who in November
started the scandal concerning Civic Democratic Party (ODS) financing,
is to become next week an adviser to the chief of the President's Office
for European Integration Affairs.
* The title of Oil Gobbler of the Year (Ropak roku), given annually by
the Children of the Earth association to those who, according to
a 100-member jury, have had the most merit in harming the environment,
went April 10 to Moravia River Basin manager Stanislav Novotny.
* Anton Malloth, a Nazi war criminal and former guard in the Terezin
work camp now living in Germany, is not a German citizen, according to
new research, and can be given to Czech justice. Justice Minister Vlasta
Parkanova said the Czech Republic will ask for Malloth's extradition.
* Starting July 1, retirees will be better off each month by an
average of 380 crowns. The Cabinet April 14 approved valorization of
7.3 per cent, the maximum possible under the restrictions of decreasing
the budget by more than 500 million crowns.
Ondrej Hanzal/Denisa Vitkova
FROM SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF
* The Slovak National Party (SNS) launched a petition demanding the
restoration of the death penalty and a declaration of neutrality. Slovak
Premier Vladimir Meciar distanced himself from the petition, saying in
an interview for Slovak Radio that "the restoration of the death penalty
is not in accordance with Slovak law. It is an SNS initiative and not
one of the government I head." Among the first to sign the petition were
Slovak Defense Minister Jan Sitek, SNS Chairman Jan Slota and Education
Minister Eva Slavkovska.
* Jozef Kroslak, spokesman for Premier Vladimir Meciar, gave up his
position April 9, one day after Slovak media made public his statement
on the Twist radio station when he answered a question concerning why
Meciar's consultant Blazena Martinkova left by saying, "And why do you
give up your lovers?"
* The pro-government daily Slovak Republic appealed to the Slovak
government to prevent the holding of a referendum in Sturovo on direct
presidential election and NATO membership. Sturovo leaders decided to
keep the original April 19 date for the referendum announced by former
Slovak President Michal Kovac, despite the government having called off
the plebiscite after taking over some presidential powers. Premier
Vladimir Meciar emphatically rejected the newspaper's call April 14.
Prokop Havel/Ivona Pulkrabkova
ECONOMY
IMF Gives Positive Evaluation of Czech Economy
The growth of Central and Eastern European economies should this
year increase to 2.9 per cent from last year's 1.7 per cent, according
to estimates from the International Monetary Fund. For the Czech
Republic, budget restraint and wage discipline, which would keep the
current accounts balance at an acceptable deficit, are of key
importance, said Jiri Jonas, adviser to the IMF executive director. The
IMF recommends strengthening the banking system and restructuring
industry, and projects 1998 Czech Republic growth at 2.2 per cent with
11-per-cent inflation.
Prime Minister Josef Tosovsky and Finance Minister Ivan Pilip will
attend the session of the IMF and the World Bank to be held in
Washington.
Gabi Pecic, Ajla Zinhasovic/Michael Bluhm
Skoda No Laughing Matter Anymore
The annual automobile survey done by the BBC and market research
firm J. D. Power showed Skoda Felicia as the best-selling car in
Britain. Felicia is the first non-Japanese car to have won the survey in
five years. Customers rated the frequency of technical malfunctions,
performance and service. Felicia overwhelmingly won the first two
categories and drivers declared improvement in all of them since last
year. This might be the end to well-known British jokes about Skoda, and
perhaps the Brits will forget what happened about 10 years ago, when
a Skoda 120 was tested and all four wheels fell off.
Jaroslav Mares/Matej Cerny
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from April 17)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 21.791
Belgium 100 BEF 89.969
Great Britain 1 GBP 56.572
Denmark 1 DKK 4.868
ECU 1 XEU 36.798
Finland 1 FIM 6.114
France 1 FRF 5.535
Ireland 1 IEP 46.794
Italy 1000 ITL 18.779
Japan 100 JPY 25.542
Canada 1 CAD 23.327
Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.969
IMF 1 XDR 45.255
Hungary 100 HUF 15.896
Netherland 1 NLG 16.482
Norway 1 NOK 4.460
New Zealand 1 NZD 18.528
Poland 1 PLN 9.846
Portugal 100 PTE 18.118
Austria 1 ATS 2.638
Greece 100 GRD 10.669
Germany 1 DEM 18.560
Slovakia 100 SKK 96.166
Slovenia 100 SIT 19.930
Spain 100 ESP 21.857
Sweden 1 SEK 4.313
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.293
USA 1 USD 33.537
CULTURE IN BRIEF
* The fifth-annual European Films Days Festival will take place in
Prague April 15-24. The Czech Republic will be represented by the films
Cesta Pustym Lesem and Buttoners (Knoflikari), both of which received
the Czech Lion award for film excellence. More than 30 feature films
will be screened, including the Dutch film Character, this year's
Oscar-winner for best foreign-language film, and the Spanish film The
Gardener's Dog, based on Lope de Vega's drama.
* Czech Television April 11 showed the four-minute animated short
Geri's Game by Prague-born Jan Pinkava. The film won the Oscar for the
best animated short film. The director came to Prague to celebrate the
win April 8. Pinkava used the same computer animation that was used for
the film Toy Story to make his film.
* The new Czech film Traps, Traps, Little Traps (Pasti, pasti,
pasticky) had its premiere April 16. The film is a pessimistic feminist
black comedy about rape by director Vera Chytilova, who has not shot
anything since the comedy The Inheritance (Dedictvi aneb
Kurvahosigutntag). The film features Tomas Hanak and David Vavra, actors
from the Basement Theater (Divadlo Sklep), who also acted in
Chytilova's drama about AIDS, Hokey Pokey (Kopytem sem, kopytem tam).
The lead role in the new film is played by Miroslav Donutil.
* DJ Westbam, legend of Berlin techno part of the group Members of
Mayday, gave a concert in Prague's Roxy club April 10. Westbam's last
album is called We'll Never Stop Livin' This Way and he certainly will
not. He gave this concert, his third in Prague, from 3:30 a.m. till 5
a.m..
Pavel Turek/Matej Cerny
SPORTS
Hockey Extraleague: Vsetin Champion, Opava Remains
Vsetin became the winner of the ice-hockey extraleague for the
fourth time in a row. After 5-1 and 4-1 home-ice wins, it managed to
close out a three-game sweep in the finals in Trinec (3-1). Jiri Dopita,
one of the most valuable players and top scorers in the playoffs, scored
the winning goal.
Vsetin moved into the extraleague in the 1995-96 season, and since
then no season has finished other than with a title for the team. Only
one other team has managed to win the league four times in a row (Dukla
Jihlava between 1982-85).
The Opava team stayed in the extraleague by winning all four
remaining matches in its series against Znojmo after losing the first
three. In the seventh match of the series, Opava defeated Znojmo 6-0 at
home.
In the play for the third place, Sparta choked in the first match,
losing to Vitkovice 4-9 on its own ice. After that debacle, the Sparta
management gave the fans their money back. Although Vitkovice lost in
the rematch 1-2, on the aggregate score it finished third.
Final standings of the extraleague:
1. Petra Vsetin
2. Zelezarny Trinec
3. Vitkovice
4. Sparta Praha
5. Keramika Plzen
6. Slavia Praha
7. Chemopetrol Litvinov
8. Pojistovna IPB Pardubice
9. Dukla Jihlava
10. Ceske Budejovice
11. Barum ZPS Zlin
12. Velvana Kladno
13. Becherovka Karlovy Vary
14. Bohemex Trade Opava
Michal Cerny/Mirek Langer
National Team Starts Preparation for World Championships
The Czech national team started its preparation for the May hockey
World Championships, which will take place in Switzerland. It will play
two warm-up matches against Finland, then will start in the Swedish
Games and then will meet Canada once.
Coaches Ivan Hlinka and Slavomir Lener invited 18 players to the
first training in Litvinov April 14. The Olympic gold medalists will be
filled out for the matches in Finland by Moravec and Simicek (both from
Vitkovice), Spacek (Farjestad) and Libor Prochazka (AIK Stockholm).
Olympic gold medal holder Caloun from IFK Helsinki will probably miss
out because he had been bitten by a tick last summer and doctors are
afraid of boreliosa. Because of his absence the coaches nominated
Trinec's Kantor and Kadera.
"Two new formations will go to Sweden and there the basis of the
team for the championships should be created," Lener said. Other eight
players from Trinec and Vsetin, which played in the extraleague final,
will be on the team in the Swedish Games, where they will meet Patera
from AIK Stockholm and some NHL players like Reichel, Dvorak and
probably Martin Prochazka. "We are also thinking about players from
Ottawa, Edmonton and Carolina. However, we have not spoken with anyone
yet," Lener added.
Jiri Polak/Mirek Langer
Slavia Loses Second Consecutive Game, Sparta Closes in on Title
Slavia Praha added a third match without a win to its string of bad
luck, losing in Teplice 1-3. Teplice's forward Verbir assisted on all
three goals. Sparta battered Drnovice 4-0 and leads the standings with
a 13-point cushion ahead of Slavia, meaning the league's title will
probably stay with Sparta.
The scoreless tie between Olomouc and Ostrava did not decide the
fight to qualify for the UEFA Cup.
Results of the 23rd round: Teplice - Slavia Praha 3-1, Sparta Praha
- Drnovice 4-0, Olomouc - Ostrava 0-0, Ceske Budejovice - Dukla 0-0,
Jablonec - Opava 2-2, Hradec Kralove - Brno 1-1, Zizkov - Bohdanec 1-0,
Plzen - Liberec 0-0.
Jan Kozanek/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
Four minutes before 1 p.m. on April 12, southern Bohemia was shaken
by a small earthquake. The area around Lublana, Slovenia was struck by
an earthquake of 5.8 degrees on the Richter scale, while a smaller
ripple arrived in the Czech Republic.
Cold wind, a little snow around Vsetin and quite low temperatures
for this time of year characterized the week's weather, which really did
not provide a shock to Czech politicians. They are getting used to
unsure ground under their feet as the elections approach. Hotter days
are expected.
Lenka Jindrlova/Sofia Karakeva
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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