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Carolina (English) No 253
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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: (+420 2) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+420 2) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 253, Friday, July 4, 1997.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (June 18 - July 2)
Coalition and Social Democrats Support Czech NATO Membership
The three government coalition parties and the opposition Social
Democrats support the Czech Republic's membership in NATO, announced
President Vaclav Havel June 26 after a meeting with the leaders of the
four parties.
All present at the meeting agreed that entry into NATO is a historic
chance for the country. "For the first time in our history, the
opportunity is open for our state to share in the active defense of
values we share, such as the freedom of citizens and nations, democracy
and the legal state," Havel said. NATO membership means, Havel said, not
only international guarantees of the Czech Republic's security, but also
the obligation of responsibility for the security of other members.
"I declare that the Czech Republic is prepared to undertake all acts
which are connected with NATO membership and that it will do everything
to become a full member of the alliance," Havel said. He added that
those present at the meeting intend to explain the importance of NATO
membership to the public in the coming months (a majority of Czech poll
respondents do not support NATO membership - see Carolina 252).
The unity of the stance was, however, broken by comments from Social
Democrat and Parliament Chairman Milos Zeman, who through a spokesman
said he still wants a referendum on NATO membership. In response, Havel
sent Zeman a three-line note expressing his disappointment with Zeman's
move. "I wanted to gain an utterly clear political mandate before the
trip to Madrid, so there would be no doubt that the Czech Republic wants
to get into the alliance, and that if it is offered mebership, it will
accept," said Havel. Havel said Zeman's comments called that mandate
into question. David Vlk/Michael Bluhm
International NATO Conference in Prague
The 14th NATO international conference on political and military
decision-making took place in Prague from June 23-25. It was the final
bigger NATO meeting before the Madrid summit, where membership offers
are expected to be announced (American President Bill Clinton recently
expressed his support for the membership for the Czech Republic, Hungary
and Poland - see Carolina 252).
At the opneing of the conference Czech President Vaclav Havel
expressed his support for the open character of the alliance, and his
ideas were supported by Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, one of
the conference's guests. Kwasniewski also implied that further NATO
expansion should involve his neighbors - Ukraine and the Baltic states,
according to Czech daily Lidove noviny. Ondrej Trunecka/Michael Bluhm
Some Patients Paying since July 1
As a result of the inability of doctors and insurers to come to an
agreement, some doctors began collecting money from their patients July
1, a first for the Czech Republic. Insurers and doctors could not agree
on how much doctors would receive for their services, and thus Czech
Physicians Chamber Chairman Bohuslav Svoboda told doctors to collect
fees.
Health Minister Jan Strasky said he considers the collection of fees
legally and morally wrong, and hopes for some resolution by July 10.
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus met June 29 with Svoboda, Strasky and
General Health Insurance's Jiri Nemec in an unsuccessful attempt to
avert a crisis. Doctors have also threatened to strike.
David Vlk, Ondrej Trunecka/Michael Bluhm
ODA Denies Failure of Liberal Policies in Declaration
The Political Council of the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA, the
smallest of the three government coalition parties) released June 24
a declaration entitled The Road to Trust, which defends liberal economic
policies and rejects a social market economy and the concept of
socialism. ODA Chairman Michael Zantovsky presented the document to the
media.
ODA realizes the urgent need for positive political perspectives for
Czech citizens, whose trust has been shaken as a result of the erroneous
and inconsistent policy of the government in fulfilling its program.
"Despite the undeniable successes of transformation and many years of
political and economic stabilit, we have paid a high price for these
mistakes, in the form of lost time, lost energy, lost means and lost
trust," the declaration claims.
The Political Council categorically denies the opinion that liberal
economic policy has failed in the Czech Republic and has no future. "In
spite of liberal rhetoric the state continued to act like a centralized
monolith, it consumed half of all financial means which we created by
our work, it complicated and worsened life for simple citizens and for
those who tried to take advantage of the freedoms declared for
independent business or other individual initiative. On the other hand
it further propped up unprofitable companies of the socialist type in
banking, industry and agriculture, it willingly gave itself up to the
influence of strong interest groups consisting mainly of former
socialist managers, and it criminally overlooked the theft of property,
the privatization of which was supposed to benefit all. The state did
what it should not have and did not do what it should have," the
declaration continues.
The Political Council also rejects efforts to revive socialism under
the label of a social market economy. "In the form of the demogogic
promises of our opposition, which dangerously approach socialist
slogans, such policies would lead to the radical limiting of our
freedoms by bureaucratic regulations and administrative police measures
against all citizens without differentiation, waste and ineffectiveness,
a rise in the domestic and international indebtedness of the country and
future generations, subsidies, shortages and poverty," the declaration
claims. David Vlk/Michael Bluhm
One-Fourth of Respondents Consider Situation Before 1989 Better
Under the headline "One-Fourth of the People Recall Socialism with
Love," the Czech daily MF DNES published June 24 the results of a poll
in which 25 per cent of respondents said they consider conditions before
November 1989 better than today's (in 1991 the same answer was given by
14 per cent). Twenty-six per cent prefer today's society (in 1991 it was
37 per cent), and 40 per cent consider things the same. Nine per cent of
respondents gave no answer.
The poll was conducted among about 1,000 respondents by the
Institute for Public Opinion Research, and it showed today's conditions
are preferreed by those under the age of 44, while the elderly have the
opposite opinion. Among the youngest group of respondents (age 15 to
19), 20 per cent consider today's conditions better.
Ondrej Trunecka/Michael Bluhm
FROM SLOVAKIA
Purge Expected at Schools With Bilinqual Report Cards
Principals of Slovak schools where classes are taught in Hungarian
who refused to give students report cards only in Slovak, are expected
to be fired. One of them has already lost his job in Roznava.
Each principal who refused to conform, as he or she let teachers
write report cards not only in Slovak - the official state language
- will be fired, Minister of Education Eva Slavkovska said. She said the
decision will be based on the controversial State Language Act.
Leaders of the Slovak Hungarian minority warn officials of massive
demonstrations of civil disobedience. One year ago, Hungarian Slovaks
successfully defended their rights when officials tried to start the
so-called alternative educational system, which would lead in fact to
the end of teaching in Hungarian. Lenka Javurkova/Jan Majer
New Slovak History Textbook Worsens Country's Relations to EU
A new history textbook for Slovak pupils entitled A History of
Slovakia and Slovaks has worsened already poor relations between the
country and the European Union. The book, written by historian Milan
Durica, defends the 1939-45 Fascist puppet regime of Josef Tiso,
installed by the Nazis, and its treatment of Jews during the war.
The publication was financed from the EU's Phare fund, a support
program for eastern European countries. The European Commission demanded
the Slovak Ministry of Education either to withdraw the book or return
the money they received from the program. Although the ministry claimed
the affair was a domestic matter, the book has been withdrawn.
Lenka Javurkova/Jan Majer
Salaries of Slovak Police to Rise
The Slovak government released money in order to allow police
salaries to increase by an average of about 15 per cent from July 1. All
policemen will be paid 8 per cent more, while the extra 7 per cent will
be divided among those who work in the most demanding jobs, Premier
Vladimir Meciar said. Police unions disagree with the method of dividing
the raise and have announced a protest for July 4. The unions want
increases of 15 per cent for all 20,000 Slovak policemen.
Lenka Javurkova/Jan Majer
ECONOMY
Budget Deficit Reaches 15 Billion Crowns
The budget deficit rose in June by 2.6 billion crowns and has
reached 14.8 billion crowns for the year, said Finance Ministry
spokeswoman Ludmila Nutilova July 1.
Because of insufficient revenue, the government has twice this year
been forced to slash the budget, by a total of 42 billion crowns. To
ensure more revenue, taxes on cigarettes and heating fuels will increase
at the latest October 1. The government is aiming for a balanced budget
this year, while next year's goal is a surplus of 10 million crowns.
Parliament's Budget Committee, however, has proposed reducing corporate
income taxes from 39 per cent to 33 per cent for next year.
David Vlk/Michael Bluhm
Government Can Borrow up to 6 Per Cent of Total Budget
State employees should never again have their pay delayed as it was
in June. The government is going to be able to borrow up to 6 per cent
of the total budget, which today would mean 33 billion crowns. In the
current state of legislative emergency, these powers were granted the
government by Parliament July 1, when it passed proposed changes to laws
on government spending.
Despite a unified opposition, it was not possible to pass the
changes proposed by the Social Democrats, which would have limited
borrowing to 27 billion crowns and made any change in the budget
exceeding 5 per cent of the total budget subject to Parliament approval.
Finance Minister Ivan Pilip promised to resolve the problem in a new set
of spending laws, which he intends to submit by the end of the year.
Pilip warned that the former limit of 16 billion crowns was set in
1991, when the budget was significantly lower. Raising the limit is
necessary because of the budget deficit, Pilip said.
David Vlk/Michael Bluhm
Households to Feel Cost Increases
From July 1 Czechs will pay more for rent, electricity, gas, heat,
as well as radio, television and telegrams. For some families it will
mean a budget increase of 25 per cent, according to Czech daily MF DNES.
"It is an unpopular but necessary step," said Minister for Regional
Development Tomas Kvapil (Christian Democrats). The government is making
known that within three years it will eliminate all subsidies and
controls which have been artificially keeping prices low, the daily
wrote. "We want the price of living to correspond to costs," said
Kvapil. David Vlk/Michael Bluhm
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from July 4)
country currency
----------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 24.562
Belgium 100 BEF 89.876
Great Britain 1 GBP 54.470
Denmark 1 DKK 4.868
Finland 1 FIM 6.218
France 1 FRF 5.501
Ireland 1 IEP 49.564
Italy 1000 ITL 19.030
Japan 100 JPY 28.422
Canada 1 CAD 23.615
Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.876
Hungary 100 HUF 17.262
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.465
Norway 1 NOK 4.432
New Zealand 1 NZD 21.976
Poland 1 PLN 9.861
Portugal 100 PTE 8.374
Austria 1 ATS 2.634
Greece 100 GRD 11.765
Slovakia 100 SKK 96.480
Germany 1 DEM 18.530
Spain 100 ESP 21.939
Sweden 1 SEK 4.180
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.101
USA 1 USD 32.535
CULTURE
Film Festival in Carlsbad about to Begin
The 32nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will be held from
July 4-12. The festival regained its A-category status after a two-year
hiatus, returning it to the same level as the festivals in Cannes,
Venice and Berlin.
The event is becoming more and more popular in the Czech Republic,
and there are widespread concerns whether the capacity of the western
Bohemian spa town of Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary) will be sufficent. "I am
afraid it will be worse than last year," said Pavel Melounek, festival
public relations director, at the last Prague pre-festival press
conference July 1 (last year the number of accredited visitors reached
7,000). The best film in the competition portion of the festival program
will be awarded the Crystal Globe, which is accompanied by 20,000 USD.
The decision as to which of the 18 films in competition will get the
prize rests with the international jury, chaired by Robert Wise, the
American director of West Side Story and The Sound of Music. Czech
emigre director Milos Forman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus)
will receive a special award for artistic contribution to world film.
Festival guest and American actor Jason Robards came to Prague July 2.
The festival will also be attended by American actors Christopher Walken
and Steve Buscemi, Maggie Cheung and many more. There will be more than
250 films shown. Matej Cerny/Matej Cerny
E.T. Jam Surpasses Expectations
An incredible 7,000 people visited Prague's Dzban swimming and
recreation area where, for the second year, the E.T. Jam festival took
place. Unlike last year, the festival lasted only one day, but, thanks
to particularly to lower ticket prices (450 crowns) and sunny weather,
it can boast of more spectators. In comparison with last year, when
organizers from 10:15 Promotions based the program around hard rock,
E.T. Jam 97 visitors could choose from a much more colorful spectrum of
music genres - to serve this purpose, the festival featured two stages.
At the outdoor stage, the main stars of the festival performed - the
Czech bands Tata bojs, Wohnout and United Heads, and foreign bands
Transglobal Underground with their singer Natascha Atlas, Erasure, Toy
Dolls, Spearhead and Irish singer Sinead O'Connor as the headliner of
the festival. The second stage was under a tent and dedicated to
alternative music - there Czech and foreign DJs and popular Czech bands
Naceva, Colorfactory or Ecstasy Of St. Theresa performed. The action
under the tent lasted till the next morning, so dance-crazy visitors did
not have to say goodbye to Jam after the midnight fireworks.
Lenka Javurkova/Denisa Vitkova
Writers Festival Hosts American Novelist E.L. Doctorow
American writer Edgar Lawrence Doctorow was the main star of the
7th International Writers Festival, held in Prague's Franz Kafka Center.
During his visit to Prague, Doctorow met Czech writer Ivan Klima,
dissident-turned-politician Michael Zantovsky and Czech PEN Club
President Jiri Stransky, with whom he discussed his book of political
essays The Poets and Presidents.
The four-day festival, sponsored by Doctorow's countryman, poet
Michael March, came to a close June 28. About 30 literati from
throughout the world participated in the festival, meeting their readers
in numerous discussions, autograph sessions, exhibits and readings. As
such, the Czech audience had the chance to meet lesser-known foreign
authors. The festival was formally dedicated to the memory of Samuel
Beckett. Observers agree that in future years it will not be easy to
match the extraordinary representation at this year's festival, with its
pedigreed intellectual character. Lenka Javurkova/Denisa Vitkova
Urbanova's Soprano Resounds with Met
Czech soprano Eva Urbanova's singing resounded through New York's
open-air Miller's Park June 28. Urbanova sang in Mascani's opera The
Gentleman Farmer, which the Metropolitan Opera performed together with
Leoncavallo's opera The Comedians. The Czech performance, directed by
Italian conductor Christian Badea, met with large ovations from the
public. Lenka Javurkova/Denisa Vitkova
WEATHER
It's gorgeous, and sometimes it rains.
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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