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Carolina (English) No 283
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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 283, Friday, April 3, 1998.
FROM EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (March 25 - April 1)
Czech Republic Opens EU Membership Talks
The Czech Republic March 31 took another step toward membership in
the European Union, as talks in Brussels began among the EU and the top
six applicants for new membership (Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Slovenia,
Cyprus and the Czech Republic). The negotiations participants concurred
on the unique character of European integration while emphasizing that
a period of tenacious work is beginning for the applicant countries.
Foreign Minister Jaroslav Sedivy said accepting the European legal
system should not cause any substantial problems in the Czech Republic.
He expressed his conviction that negotiations could be closed by the
year 2000 and that the Czech Republic could enter the EU soon after.
While in Brussels, he also submitted the Czechs' national program of
preparation for EU membership. This document deals with a majority of
the problems cited by the European Commission in its appraisal of the
Czech Republic's application for membership, the problems including
legal harmonization, its application and enforcement, reforms in the
economic sphere, agriculture and environmental protection.
Sedivy admitted the Czech Republic does not have the money to
realize the reforms in transportation and the environment required by
the EU. Conflicts could arise concerning the sale of land to foreigners,
which is limited in the Czech Republic and Poland, and with securing the
eastern borders of the enlarged EU. Sedivy said he fears the process
could lead to the end of the Czech-Slovak customs union, however, he
said he believes Slovakia will step up its efforts at EU integration.
Katerina Murlova/Denisa Vitkova
DOMESTIC NEWS
Social Democrats File Criminal Complaint in Bamberg Affair
The Czech Social Democrat Party (CSSD) submitted a criminal
complaint to the Prague District Attorney's Office accusing an
unidentified person of sabotage. Attorney Jiri Teryngel, who will
represent the Social Democrats in the case, said "an unidentified person
organized the 1995 meeting in Bamberg with the goal of signing
a document which was to have discredited CSSD before the parliamentary
elections." Teryngel went on to say the same person created a memorandum
and turned it in to Czech Television.
One of the station's programs showed that Social Democrat Chairman
Milos Zeman and former Vice Chairman Karel Machovec were to have met
with Czech-Swiss businessmen in Bamberg in 1995 and offered them
influence in Czech political decision-making in exchange for a loan (see
Carolina 281 a 282). Zeman requested President Vaclav Havel and Prime
Minister Josef Tosovsky to have the secret service (BIS) investigate the
case. BIS Spokesman Jan Subert said the president asked BIS to
investigate not only because the affair is threatening the political
stability of the country, but also because of the suspicion that an
attempt was made at corruption which could have endangered the
country's sovereignity.
Machovec said on the March 29 TV NOVA discussion program Seven or
7 Days that the Bamberg affair has been cleared up, because the meetings
took place and CSSD made no "incorrect commitments."
Jan Vizek, the main figure in the scandal, lives in Bern,
Switzerland. He said he sent the party about 8 million crowns in 1995
and started the affair to keep Zeman from coming to power, according to
the March 30 edition of daily MF DNES.
Social Democrat leaders deny Vizek's claim and say no one ever said
anything about money. Machovec told MF DNES "I do not remember anything
like that."
Former CSSD member Jozef Wagner said the affair is aimed at
discrediting Zeman and knocking him out of his position as chairman, so
a post-election coalition could be created among the Social Democrats
with the Freedom Union and the Christian Democrats. Machovec vehemently
rejected this theory.
Nora Novakova/Andrea Snyder
Christian Democrats Name Economic and Social Priorities
The Christian Democrats chose this weekend to present a party
platform which supports lower taxes, an extension on vacation time, and
a challenge to the government to enter more discussions with the Czech
National Bank (CNB). The party said the way to solve problems is by
bringing impartial and party experts together for talks.
The Christian Democrats said their main economic goal is to stop
economic growth from stagnating. They propose a quick end to
privatization, and opening the country to more foreign capital. The CNB
should remain independent, but consult its steps with the government.
This would stop problems between the government's budget policy and the
Czech National Bank's interest policies.
The party platform calls for tax reforms. Direct taxes should be
decreased (e.g., income taxes to 29 per cent for individuals), indirect
taxes, like the Value Added Tax, are to be raised. The Christian
Democrats call for basic food goods not to be taxed, other foods and
costs of living to have a tax of 5 per cent, and the rest to be taxed at
19 per cent to 20 per cent.
The Christian Democrats say this would add about 30 billion crowns
annually to the state budget. The party emphasizes social work instead
of direct financial support. The party platform also proposes an
extension of vacation time from three weeks to four weeks. Now, only
after 15 years of employment is one eligible for four weeks of vacation.
The party wants to increase supplements for children, which would raise
the state budget annually by an estimated 1 billion crowns.
Jan Puncochar/Andrea Snyder
Freedom Union Calls for Changes in Electoral System
The Freedom Union (US), the most-popular non-leftist Czech party,
proposed at its March 28 party meeting that the lower chamber of
Parliament be elected by majority vote and that senators be elected by
a proportional vote. Elections are now conducted in the opposite manner.
Government spokesman and US leader Vladimir Mlynar said the step
would stabilize the political scene and make it more transparent. He
said the move would remove extremist parties from Parliament and leave
more room for democratic parties. US Chairman Jan Ruml said a Senate
elected proportionally would ensure its role in the system of checks and
balances.
Although the US does not expect the electoral system to change
overnight, the party says that discussions will start intensively after
the early elections June 19-20 shake the political scene. Former Prime
Minister Vaclav Klaus' Civic Democratic Party supports the change, while
the Social Democrats, d the Christian Democrats, Communists and the
neo-Fascist Republicans are against it.
Freedom Union is divided on whether the President should be elected
directly or by Parliament, as is the practice in the Czech Republic now.
Party Chairman Jan Ruml said he supports direct election.
Ondrej Drabek/Andrea Snyder
Miners' Unions Cancels Strike Emergency
The crisis staff of the miners' union accepted April 1 the
government's guarantees of employment and decided to put an end to the
strike emergency.
About 25,000 northern Bohemian miners declared strike readiness
last week to protest the planned privatization of the three coal mines.
According to the Cabinet's proposal, the Most Coal Corporation (Mostecka
uhelna), the Sokolov Coal Corporation (Sokolovska uhelna) and the
Northern Bohemian Mines (Severoceske doly) are due to be privatized
before the June elections. Ivan Dzida, general director of the OKD
mining company, summed up the anxiety of the companies' managements and
the unions: "The state should not sell the mining companies before it
adopts a conception for the energy and raw materials sectors."
Union leader Cyril Zapletal March 27 threatened a strike. The
government reacted with an official declaration that "the miners unions'
methods are irresponsible and redundantly confrontational" and sent
Trade Minister Karel Kuhnl and the Agriculture Minister Josef Lux as
negotiators.
Ivona Pulkrabkova/Ivona Pulkrabkova
President Calls on Political Prisoners to Testify
More than 1,000 former political prisoners visited Prague's Zofin
March 31 to celebrate the 30th anniversary since the founding of the
K 231 club of political prisoners. President Vaclav Havel attended the
celebration and called on political prisoners to testify on violence and
dictatorship. He also conceded that insufficient settlement with the
Communist past is one of the results of the "velvet" aspect of the
change of regimes eight years ago.
At the beginning of his speech, Havel apologized to the visitors
for not being present at their meeting in Prague Castle February 24 (see
Carolina 278). Some of those in attendance felt offended that Havel had
time to meet with the Czech hockey players one day after he was released
from the hospital but did not have time to visit them. "Stupidly
I listened to my doctors, who forbid me to go. I am very sorry," said
Havel to the Czech daily MF DNES April 1.
Lenka Jindrlova/Sofia Karakeva
Sladek - the Only Candidate - Re-elected Republican Chairman
Miroslav Sladek was re-elected chairman of the neo-Fascist Union
for the Republic - Republican Party of Czechoslovakia (SPR-RSC) during
the party's fourth national congress. The only candidate for the
position, Sladek received the votes of 200 delegates out of 203 (he
abstained from voting). The congress took place in the "hermetically"
sealed Polish House in Ostrava, where no journalists were allowed.
The Vice Chairman post was won by Parliament deputy Martin Smetana,
and Jan Vik was re-elected party secretary. Vik said to the Czech daily
Pravo that his party, which has 8-per-cent support in voter preference
polls, would like to win 15 per cent of the vote in the election and
take part in forming the next government. Vik said he expects the coming
election campaign will see scandals thrown at his party. He also added
that in his opinion the Republican party "is the only one shining with
its purity."
Anna Kadava/Sofia Karakeva
Former ODA Members Unite in Ark
Some former members of the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) who left
the party because of its financial scandal (see Carolina 275-278) have
established a civic association called the Ark (Archa). It is supposed
to become a home for former ODA members and an integral element of the
Czech non-leftist scene. Martin Dvorak, the mayor of Hradec Kralove and
former ODA leader, was elected president of the Ark, while vice
president will be Pavel Bratinka, a Parliament deputy and former
minister in the government of Vaclav Klaus.
According to Bratinka, the Ark is not coming into existence as
a party in order to complicate the political scene further. Justice
Minister and Ark member Vlasta Parkanova said the Ark will not seek any
legislative mandates in the upcoming elections. Nevertheless, Bratinka
said he would not rule out the possibility that Ark members could run as
members of other parties (e.g., Trade Minister and Ark member Karel
Kuhnl is leading the Freedom Union's ballot in northern Bohemia).
Ludvik Pospisil/Ajla Zinhasovic
Wagner Chairman of Political Club
Jozef Wagner was elected chairman of the Political Club at its
nationwide conference March 29. Wagner is a former Social Democrat who
now chairs Parliament's Budget Committee as an independent. The
Political Club - Party of the Democratic Center was formed as an
association in December and, on Wagner's initiative, was in mid-January
registered as a political party.
First vice chairman is Martin Palous, a member of Helsinki
Committee, and among the other three vice chairmen film director Jan
Kacer. Wagner said the Political Club is negotiating with 10 political
subjects about election campaign cooperation and forming an election
platform. Conference participants also decided to shorten the party name
to the Political Club.
Anna Kadava/Gabriela Pecic
NEWS IN BRIEF
* The government decided to create a special commission that would
examine the purchase of several hotels by the Corinthia Group (see
Carolina 282). Members of the commission should be officials from the
ministries of foreign affairs, interior, regional development, trade and
justice. The intelligence service (BIS) will also cooperate with the
commission.
* The Prague District Attorney's Office started investigating the
purchase of hotels by the Corinthia Group. Investigators will try to
find out to what extend the company is controlled by Libyans and whether
the contract can be invalidated.
* The Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament did not approve
a bill April 2 to register the partnership of persons of the same sex.
According to the draft, homosexuals couples would have the same rights
as heterosexual couples, except for the right to adopt a child.
* Former Vice Chairman of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Libor Novak
was released from police custody after 41 days March 26. However, he
still faces charges of tax evasion in the amount of 500,000 crowns.
* The Cabinet decided April 1 that hospitals will get 4 per cent more
money in the second quarter than in the same period last year.
* The Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament adopted a resolution
March 25 which asks the government to stop the liquidation of hospitals.
Eva Fronkova a Paula Majorova/Matej Cerny
FROM SLOVAKIA
Third Round of the President Elections Has Two Candidates
Two candidates are to compete in the third round of presidential
elections. The Party of the Democratic Left (SDL') proposed Brigita
Schmognerova, its vice chairwoman, economy expert and former vice
premier in Jozef Moravcik's government.
Leadership of the ruling Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS)
decided March 28 to propose Milan Secansky, vice chairman of the
National Assembly's Constitutional Law Committee.
The elections are to take place April 16, although neither
candidate is likely to receive enough votes to be elected.
Paula Majorova/Denisa Vitkova
ECONOMY
Boeing to Buy Aero
The Cabinet April 1 gave its approval to the merger of Aero
Vodochody, the biggest domestic military aircraft producer, with the
Boeing-Czech Airlines (CSA) consortium. In spite of contrary proposals
from last spring, the government also increased its guarantees of
Aero's foreign loans to 42 billion crowns. This was criticized by some
of the ministers, as Agriculture Minister Josef Lux pointed out the
discrepancy between the guarantees and the 1 billion crowns that Boeing
will invest in Aero to increase the firm's capital. Boeing Ceska, the
Czech branch of Boeing, is to get 35 per cent to 45 per cent of Aero's
shares. The state-owned Consolidation Bank (Konsolidacni banka) and the
Letka company will keep a majority Aero's shares.
Jan Kozanek/Matej Cerny
CROWN NOTE
* The Czech National Bank (CNB) intervened on the currency market to
stop the continuing rise of the crown. The CNB knocked the crown down
from 18.25 per Deutschmark to 18.50 per Deutschmark. CNB spokesman
Martin Svehla said he believes the intervention was successful.
Jan Kozanek/Matej Cerny
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from April 4)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 22.487
Belgium 100 BEF 89.885
Great Britain 1 GBP 57.387
Denmark 1 DKK 4.866
ECU 1 XEU 36.905
Finland 1 FIM 6.107
France 1 FRF 5.535
Ireland 1 IEP 46.632
Italy 1000 ITL 18.814
Japan 100 JPY 25.680
Canada 1 CAD 24.209
Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.885
IMF 1 XDR 45.814
Hungary 100 HUF 16.064
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.457
Norway 1 NOK 4.482
New Zealand 1 NZD 18.879
Poland 1 PLN 9.932
Postugal 100 PTE 18.103
Austria 1 ATS 2.636
Greece 100 GRD 10.630
Germany 1 DEM 18.550
Slovakia 100 SKK 96.907
Slovenia 100 SIT 19.887
Spain 100 ESP 21.854
Sweden 1 SEK 4.276
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.378
USA 1 USD 34.331
CULTURE
Thalie '97 Awards
The Thalie '97 prizes for extraordinary performance in drama, opera,
musical and ballet were awarded March 28 in Prague's National Theater.
The ceremony was hosted by famous Slovak actor Milan Lasica, who won
a Thalie two years ago. To great applause from the audience, Lasica
noted the presence of the first lady Dagmar Havlova this year with
a bodyguard, whereas last year she was with her husband.
The best female actress in a drama prize was awarded to Alena
Vranova, a member of the Ungelt Prague Theater, for her role as Gertrude
Matthews in Arnold Wesker's Stormy Spring. National Theater actor Josef
Somr won in the category of best male drama performance for his role of
Mr. Frank in Frantisek Hrubin's Horn Romance (Romance pro kridlovku).
The winners in the opera category accepted their awards by
telephone. Eva Urbanova, on a guest stint at The New York Metropolitan
Opera, was awarded for her performance as Kostelnicka Burijovka in Leos
Janacek's Jenufa in the National Theater. The Thalie for best male opera
singer was given to another National Theater member, Ivan Kusnjer, for
his role of George III in Eight Songs for a Mad King by P.M. Davis.
The category of ballet, pantomime and contemporary dance was
dominated by Carmen Ou La Tragedy de Don Jose, reworked by A.
Schneider-Rossmy, and its main performers Tereza Podarilova (Carmen) and
Petr Zuska (Don Jose).
All the prizes were awarded to Prague theaters except one - best
female performance in a musical, which went to Ludmila Machytkova for
her role as Marie Anna Elisa in Franz Lehar's operetta Paganini, which
was performed at the Moravian Theater in Olomouc. The prize for best
male performance in a musical went to Lubomir Lipsky, who played Billy
Kipp in Gustav Oplustil's Dreams from New York, performed at the Karlin
Music Theater.
Ivo Zidek won the award for lifetime achievement in opera, dancer
Victor Malcev in ballet and comedian Vlastimil Brodsky for acting. Actor
Svatopluk Benes, who recalled how 61 years ago he stood on the stage of
the National Theater for the premiere of Karel Capek's White Disease
(Bila nemoc), won the special Thalie Collegium prize. The prize for
actors under 33 was awarded to 23-year-old Drama Theater (Cinoherni
divadlo) member Petra Spalkova.
Karolina Kucerova/Jana Ciglerova
SPORTS
Better Play Brings Win for New Soccer National Team Coach Chovanec
A good shot by Lasota at the end of the match determined that the
premiere of new national team coach Jozef Chovanec against Ireland
finished with a hard but deserved 2-1 win March 25. Slavia's player
crowned the Czech struggle to erase the Irish lead from the first half
on Breen's goal. Chovanec should be satisfied with the good form once
again shown by Karel Poborsky after his trade to Benfica Lisbon.
Vladimir Smicer fulfilled the role of the Czech top forward, not only by
his goal to make it 1-1, and sweeper Lubos Kozel's play was really
a nice surprise as he started both scoring plays.
"Tnhe whole team satisfied me with its approach and appetite for
play. However, we are only at the beginning of our trip. We must give
a chance to other players, to have a well-prepared team for the autumn
qualification matches," Chovanec said.
Milan Eisenhammer/Mirek Langer
Hockey Extraleague in Semifinals
The hockey Staropramen Extraleague playoffs continue with the
semifinal battles between Vsetin and Sparta, and Vitkovice and Trinec.
Vsetin beat Sparta in both games on their own ice, 4-1 and 3-1, and
they can advance already after the match in Prague April 3. Sparta lost
the second game due to a penalty on Petr Nedved, losing its third center
forward and decisively damaging its roster.
Trinec lost to Vitkovice 5-6, but by winning the second match 4-0
managed to fulfill its goal: to win at least once on Vitkovice's ice.
Goalie Radovan Biegl recorded the shut-out. Trinec forward Roman Kadera
was hurt after Skuta's highsticking foul at the end of the second match
and was taken to the hospital.
Michal Cerny/Mirek Langer
Slavia Still Waiting for Win against Sparta
The 133rd soccer league intracity derby between Sparta and Slavia in
Sparta's Letna Stadium finished in a 1-1 tie March 31. Slavia has not
defeated Sparta for five years and is 10 points behind them in the
standings, alone in second place. The home team played better, but
Slavia countered with fast breaks and, after an excellent pass from
Labant, Vagner scored on a shot from 18 meters/58 feet. Just before the
end of the halftime, Slavia's Vlcek fouled Baranek outside the penalty
box, the referee Vidlak ordered a penalty kick, but Lokvenc failed to
convert. Five minutes before the match ended, Lokvenc scored, although
he appeared to have been offside.
Vidlak's mistakes made Slavia's coach Pavel Tobias angry: "The match
was the high point of the season and I think that a team such as Sparta
does not need to be helped by the referee."
Results of the 21st round of the soccer league: Zizkov - Dukla 2-0,
Brno - Opava 1-2, Jablonec - Ostrava 2-2, Olomouc - Liberec 1-2, Plzen
- Ceske Budejovice 4-1, Teplice - Bohdanec 4-1, Hradec Kralove
- Drnovice 0-0, Sparta Praha - Slavia Praha 1-1.
Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 52 pts., 2. Slavia Praha 42, 3. Olomouc
34, 4. Ostrava 33, 5. Liberec 32, 6. Jablonec 31, 7. Brno 31, 8. Zizkov
29, 9. Drnovice 27, 10. Teplice 25, 11. Opava 25, 12. Dukla 25, 13.
Plzen 24, 14. Hradec Kralove 24, 15. Ceske Budejovice 22, 16. Bohdanec
7.
Jiri Polak/Mirek Langer
Czech Track And Field Hit by Doping Cases
The doping control found the anabolic steroid stanozol, known from
Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson's scandal, in Miroslav Menc's urine
sample. The Czech shot-putter will not be allowed to compete for two
years if a second test will confirm the result.
Indoor European Championships bronze medal winner Tomas Janku (high
jump) and also Martin Jelinek (decathlon) and Jiri Kuntos (triple jump)
positively tested for ephedrine. They will be only reprimanded, because
ephedrine is only a soft drug. The athletes said they did not know that
they were taking ephedrine by drinking the American drink Shock It. "You
could hardly explain why Janku would drink this product in front of the
commissioners to give them the demanded sample as soon as possible,"
said doping commissioner of the Czech Track and Field Union Ladislav
Knakal. The Czech distributor of the drink apologized to the athletes.
Gabriela Podzimkova/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
In contrast to the very first spring day a week ago, when much of
the Czech Republic were powdered with a layer of snow, these days the
sun has vigorously taken charge and penetrated through coats and woolen
sweaters to the hearts of the people. People are somehow more cheerful
and friendly all of a sudden. Only the stubborn sleepers who moved their
wristwatch one hour forward with disgust for the summer time shift may
have been in a bad mood. On the one hand, one hour of our sleep was
stolen, on the other hand we can start sunbathing at 7 a.m.
Eva Fronkova/Milan Smid
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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