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Carolina (English) No 303
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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) 22112252, fax: (+4202) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 303, Friday, October 9, 1998.
FROM EVENTS OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS (September 23 - October 7)
Sula Resigns as Anti-Corruption Group Chairman
Jan Sula resigned October 5, 10 days after being named to his
post, from the position of chairman of the coordination group which will
work under the government's Committee for the Protection of Economic
Interests. The committee should run the Operation Clean Hands, designed
to fight economic crime and corruption. Sula said he had received death
threats and threats of scandalizing his family in the media. No
replacement for Sula has been named.
According to some press reports, behind the threats might stand
the Security Information Service (BIS). While chairman of the Service
for Detecting Corruption and Serious Economic Crime, Sula's squad had
some conflicts with BIS. BIS spokesman Jan Subert emphatically denied
these speculations.
Interior Minister Vaclav Grulich indicated Sula might be afraid of
revealing some of his less transparent business activities. Grulich
noted that Sula has not notified the police of the alleged threats and
has not asked for protection. Sula refuses to comment on the issue. He
is said to be staying somewhere in southern Bohemia until media interest
in his person declines.
Jan Mates/Denisa Vitkova
Shadow of Zeman's Government Has Clear Outlines
The Civic Democratic Party (ODS), after its Executive Council
meeting September 26 in Luhacovice, announced its shadow cabinet. It
amounts to 15 members, four less than in the Social Democrat government
(the offices of three deputy prime ministers and one minister were not
filled). The shadow government is not without a female member, whose
absence has led to criticism of Prime Minister Milos Zeman's Cabinet.
The shadow cabinet is led by ODS chairman and Chairman of
Parliament Vaclav Klaus as prime minister, Defense Minister Petr Necas
(member of Parliament and chairman of the Defense and Security
Committee), Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlusty (chairman of the ODS
parliamentary club and of the Budget Committee), Foreign Minister Jan
Zahradil (member of Parliament), Labor Minister Libuse Benesova (ODS
vice chairwoman), Interior Minister Ivan Langer (vice chairman of
Parliament), Health Minister Miroslav Macek (ODS vice chairman, former
deputy prime minister and labor minister in the Czechoslovak federal
government), Regional Development Minister Miroslav Benes (ODS vice
chairman and Housing Committee chairman), Environment Minister Vaclav
Mencl (Senator), Education Minister Jaroslav Zverina (member of
Parliament and sexologist), Justice Minister Eva Dundackova (new member
of Parliament), Industry Minister Vladimir Budinsky (former
transportation minister), Agriculture Minister Miloslav Kucera (private
farmer and member of Parliament), Culture Minister Miroslava Nemcova
(new member of Parliament) and Transportation Minister Martin Riman
(transportation minister in Klaus' last government).
This one-party shadow cabinet is completely unacceptable to the
Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union. However, trade unionists and
the Social Democrats called the shadow cabinet necessary for improving
the quality of the real government.
Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova
Kasal to Lead KDU-CSL
The Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party
(KDU-CSL) has a new temporary leader - Jan Kasal. Kasal, after former
Chairman Josef Lux's resignation, will also lead KDU-CSL's parliamentary
deputy club. For a long time Kasal was considered to be Lux's opponent,
but Kasal said no great changes in party leadership should take place.
During the party's committee meeting October 23 the date should be
announced for a Christian Democrat party congress to elect new
leadership. Apart from Kasal, former ministers Cyril Svoboda and
Miloslav Vyborny are being talked about as candidates for chairman. No
one is willing to comment on the position before the Senate elections.
A change in KDU-CSL policy is not expected, but a cooling of the
disputes between Lux and former Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus could
improve relations among right-wing parties.
Lux's return to the political scene should happen no earlier than
a year after successful treatment of his chronic leukemia. The former
deputy prime minister minister of agriculture, who unexpectedly
announced his resignation September 24, remains on the political scene
only as a deputy in Parliament.
Petr Sladky/Sofia Karakeva
Transportation Minister's Wife Named to Czech Railways Management
Kvetoslava Korinkova became the new general inspector of Czech
Railways September 29. There are no doubts concerning her expertise (for
years Korinkova has dealt with railway problems and after the June
elections was a Social Democrat candidate for the position of minister
of transportation), nevertheless though she became a target of criticism
because she is the wife of Antonin Peltram, the minister of
transportation.
According to Martin Riman (Civic Democratic Party, ODS), former
minister of transportation, the general inspector has extensive powers
to control Czech Railways property and family relationships between the
highest executive and inspection positions means a clear degradation of
the position of general inspector.
Marketa Kaclova/Sofia Karakeva
Justice for Vrchlabi Hygiene Commandos
The closely watched case of Romany (Gypsy) Helena Bihariova's death
was decided in court with the conviction of the men responsible but with
absolution of racist motives.
Bihariova died February 15, after a dispute with two drunk men, P.
Klazar, 24, and J. Neff, 24. They accused the victim of stealing 200
crowns from them, and, after a fight, they drove her to the banks of
Labe River, where they wanted her to "wash herself because she was
dirty". They claim they left her when she was waist-high in the water.
Bihariova, the mother of four children, was drawn in by the strong
current and although Czech Radio reporter Eliska Pilarova jumped in and
tried to save her, Bihariova died. From the beginning the case was
closely watched by the in media. It was undoubtedly proved that the
accused were in favor of the skinhead movement. But the court did not
take it into consideration, deciding the incident did not occur because
of racism but due to stolen money. The court sentenced Neff to 8.5 years
in prison and Klazar to 6.5 years.
Tomas Polacek/Sofia Karakeva
Karmov Case Goes to Higher Authority
The Prague City Court October 2 ended the weeklong trial of Alim
Karmov, accused of embezzling 40 million crowns from the Futurum Aurum
Investment Fund. Karmov used the fund's money as collateral for a loan
of 38 million crowns from the Skala Banking House for his other company,
the First Financial and Construction Concern. Because he did not pay
back the loan, the bank took the money from the account of the Futurum
Fund.
Karmov, a Russian, has been in police custody since March 1996,
when he admitted his activities. The court sentenced him to 5 years,
although he had faced up to 12 years. The court came to the conclusion
that Karmov did not embezzle the money, but wrongly invested it.
The victims of the case have almost no chance to get their money
back. The police failed to prove that the accused had no intention of
returning shareholders' money. They can take Karmov to a civil court,
but the chances of getting money back are minimal, because Karmov does
not have a crown to his name. The court's decision was appealed by both
sides.
Pavel Novotny/Sofia Karakeva
Ministr Kavan Loses Libel Case
According to the September 24 verdict of Prague City Court, Foreign
Minister Jan Kavan shall pay 50,000 crowns in punitive damages to
British journalist Benjamin Kuras, because he called Kuras an egregious
liar in an interview for the daily Lidove noviny in 1996. Kavan objected
to Kuras' claims published in the weekly Respekt's story under the
headline Perjury (Kriva prisaha), which pertained to the affair from the
80's when a shipment of dissident literature published abroad and sent
by Kavan to Czechoslovakia was intercepted at the border. Kavan later,
at hearings of the British Complaint Commission, questioned the honesty
and integrity of a British journalist who made a TV documentary about
the case.
However, the court verdict rejected Kuras' claim for a public
apology due to the vague wording of the apology.
Kavan has no chance to appeal, and he said he does not want to
question the verdict.
Jan Mates/Milan Smid
Prague Mayor Jan Koukal Not Scared of His Opponent
Former Environment Minister Martin Bursik, the candidate of the
four-party coalition (the Christian Democrats, the Freedom Union, the
Civic Democratic Alliance and the Democratic Union) in the upcoming
Senate election, will duel with Prague Mayor Jan Koukal of the Civic
Democratic Party (ODS).
"Of the two candidates (the other was independent Prague City
Councilman and former ODS member Michael Hvizdala), whom I consider
politicians - populists, the more cultivated one won," said Koukal about
Bursik's candidacy. Koukal added that Czech politics does not need
populism but acts. Bursik's said the "mayor of the capital should under
all circumstances keep his cool, even though he is on his way out."
Jan Martinek/Jan Martinek
New Owner for Daily Lidove Noviny
The Swiss corporation Ringier-Springer sold its majority share in
the daily newspaper Lidove noviny to the German company Pressinvest
September 29. Pressinvest is the publisher of two regional dailies
- Rovnost and Svoboda - in the Czech Republic, and is a shareholder in
the most popular Czech daily MF DNES.
The new owner of Lidove noviny, a daily known mainly for its
commentaries and constant, marked decline in readership, ruled out
a possible merger with MF DNES.
Veronica Macias/Katerina Kolarova
The Merger of TV with the Internet - the Near Future
Internet Television (IT) was presented during the Invex Computer
Fair of information and communication technology from October 5-9. IT is
a new medium using the advantages of the Internet and television. Even
though it is still a very new phenomenon, its becoming a common
broadcasting channel is said to be a question of a very few years. The
advantage of IT is that there will not be any difficult signal required,
broadcasting would be available anywhere.
Internet channel TV24 broadcast experimentally during the Invex 24
hours a day at the address http://www.tv24.com.
Besides this phenomenon, there were other news items from the
computer world at Invex. Microsoft presented the Czech version of their
new operation system Windows 98, and Novell presented a new network
operation system, Netware 5.
Jan Martinek/Jan Martinek
NEWS IN BRIEF
* September 30 marked the 60th anniversary of the Munich Agreement,
awaking new discussions in the Czech media. Many Czech politicians
debated whether Czechs should have defended themselves. The daily Lidove
noviny published the letter in which Winston Churchill advised
Czechoslovak President Edvard Benes not to accept the agreement, but to
make "necessary military arrangements." Churchill believed that if Benes
refused the document, there might be a change in the German government.
* Karel Kuhnl was September 29 elected chairman of the Freedom
Union's parliamentary deputies, replacing Vladimir Mlynar.
* The government announced its agreement with the broadcasting of
Radio Free Europe (RFE) into Iraq from the Czech Republic, but not from
the densely populated Prague 6 neighborhood.
Zuzana Janeckova/Zuzana Janeckova
Biggest Sazka Win
The most popular Czech lottery - Sazka - paid out the biggest
jackpot in its history. A middle-aged businessman won 37 million crowns,
of which he will not lose a single crown to taxes. The size of the pot
caused a rash of lottery ticket purchases, with places selling tickets
often crowded during the last week.
The biggest jackpot to this point had been 32.5 million crowns, and
there was also a single winner.
Marketa Kaclova/Zuzana Janeckova
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
* President Vaclav Havel joined the celebrations of German unity in
Hannover October 2-3. In his speech he said he considers unity "good for
the whole world" and emphasized the role of former Chancellor Helmut
Kohl in European integration. Havel also met new Chancellor Gerhard
Schroder, who assured him about the continuity of German foreign policy.
* Prime Minister Milos Zeman officially visited Brussels for the
first time as leader of the Czech government September 30, when he met
European Commission Chairman Jacques Santer. After a shared lunch Santer
said there are no problems in negotiations for the Czech's Republic's
admission to the EU. "No clouds on the horizon," said Santer. But it is
a public secret that Zeman was criticized for new Czech lottery law.
Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Rychetsky said the government will try to
amend this law as soon as possible.
* Austrian President Thomas Klestil September 23 visited the Czech
Republic, meeting Czech President Vaclav Havel and Prime Minister Milos
Zeman. Klestil said there are no problems between the Czech Republic and
Austria. But there still are some different opinions; for example, about
the Temelin nuclear power plant or Sudeten Germans. Klestil said he
thinks the Czech government should make a political decision in the
matter of the expulsion of Sudeten Germans.
Jakub Jirovec/Jakub Jirovec
FROM SLOVAKIA
Slovak Political Landscape Changes
General elections September 25-26 brought to an end the reign of
the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS). Despite remaining the
strongest party with 27 per cent of the vote, HZDS has probably lost
a majority in the legislature because its coalition partner Slovak
National Party (SNS) controls only 9 per cent the vote and its other
partner, the Association of Slovak Workers, did not receive the 5 per
cent of the vote necessary to earn representation in the National
Assembly.
The actual winner of election was the opposition, led by the Slovak
Democratic Coalition (SDK), comprised of five political parties, which
received 0.7 per cent less than HZDS, together with the Hungarian
Coalition Party (SMK 9.1 per cent), the post-Communist Party of the
Democratic Left (SDL' 14.7 per cent), and the Civic Understanding Party
(SOP, 8 per cent) of Kosice Mayor Rudolf Schuster. These parties
together will occupy 93 of the 150 seats in the National Assembly,
meaning they will have a constitutional majority of three seats.
HZDS will still, according to the Constitution, have the first
chance to form a government. Although the SDL' had resolutely ruled out
discussions with HZDS, they changed their stance and talks are
continuing. The Slovak National Bank also announced the elimination of
the currency basket October 1, and within a few hours the Slovak crown
had declined by 15 per cent.
Premier Vladimir Meciar of HZDS, the man many hold responsible for
Slovakia's international isolation, announced his surprising departure
from all political functions. In a tearful farewell broadcast live on
the HZDS-controlled Slovak Television, Meciar sang a refrain from a folk
song: "With the Lord God I go from you, I did not harm, I did not arm
any of you."
Lenka Ludvikova/Michael Bluhm
ECONOMY
Czech Banking Crisis
The global financial crisis has come to affect Czech banks as well,
as the value of their shares collapsed by more than 20 per cent, forcing
the Prague Stock Market to stop trading with shares of the Commerce Bank
(Komercni banka) this week. During the last 12 months banks' share
prices have fallen by about 60 per cent. The loss of interest in the
banks stems mainly from their poor economic results. The Commerce Bank
in the first half of the year reported a record loss of 9.5 billion
crowns, while the Czech Savings Bank (Ceska sporitelna) was hit hard by
the meltdown of the Russian economy.
International rating agency Standard & Poor's expressed fears based
on the difficulty in selling properties used to secure bad loans, which
has made it difficult to lower chronically high interest rates. The
agency moved Commerce Bank, the Czech Savings Bank and the Czechoslovkak
Trade Bank (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka) into its CreidtWatch
category, meaning a rating decline is probably imminent.
The banks' clients do not have to worry about their savings. "That
has nothing to do with it and we have not noticed any disturbances in
our branches," said Commerce Bank Deputy General Director Vladimir Sulc.
The banks reduced their interest rates by an average of half
a point, in reaction to the condition of the deposits market, which is
influenced by the reduction of the repo rates of the Czech National
Bank.
Radan Dolejs/Radan Dolejs
Chemapol Initiates Bankruptcy Proceedings Itself
Chemapol a.s., the former flagship of the largest Czech chemical
industry holding Chemapol Group (CHG), placed itself in bankruptcy due
to the longterm losses and huge debts. The proposal for bankruptcy
proceedings was submitted by the board of directors of the company
September 25. "After negotiations with several banks concerning the
revitalization of the company brought no result, Chemapol management
sees no other way out," said Jan Kerbach, director of the strategy
division of CHG in an interview for the radio program Radiozurnal.
Kerbach refused to specify the amount of the debts.
According to the daily Hospodarske noviny, several Czech banks,
namely the Czechoslovak Trade Bank (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka), and
many Chemapol contractors and subcontractors are Chemapol creditors.
Kerbach said Chemapol's debts are less than its receivables, and that
everything depends on the quality of the receivables. The operating loss
for 1997 was 136 million crowns.
Chemapol's bankruptcy was no surprise to some experts, because the
CHG holding had begun to transfer some business activities out of the
listing Chemapol to the newly established, non-indebted company AliaChem
in July.
Marketa Lajdova/Milan Smid
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid October 9)
country currency
---------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 17.777
Belgium 100 BEF 86.846
Great Britain 1 GBP 49.456
Denmark 1 DKK 4.732
ECU 1 XEU 35.361
Finland 1 FIM 5.885
France 1 FRF 5.348
Ireland 1 IEP 44.765
Italy 1000 ITL 18.126
Japan 100 JPY 24.482
Canada 1 CAD 18.940
Luxemburg 100 LUF 86.846
IMF 1 XDR 40.272
Hungary 100 HUF 13.525
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.899
Norway 1 NOK 3.933
New Zealand 1 NZD 14.967
Poland 1 PLN 8.132
Portugal 100 PTE 17.481
Austria 1 ATS 2.547
Greece 100 GRD 10.323
Germany 1 DEM 17.930
Slovakia 100 SKK 79.564
Slovenia 100 SIT 18.648
Spain 100 ESP 21.084
Sweden 1 SEK 3.701
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.271
USA 1 USD 28.657
CULTURE
Bartoska Still in Charge of Karlovy Vary Film Festival
Jiri Bartoska and his team will remain the organizers of the
International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary for another five years, as
decided in negotiations between the new festival foundation, set up by
the City of Karlovy Vary, with the Grandhotel Pupp and Rudolf Bierman's
Film Servis, which was co-founded by Bartoska. The third partner of the
former Karlovy Vary Film Festival Foundation, the Czech state
represented by the Ministry of Culture, decided not to participate in
the new foundation, which new laws require to incorporate by January
(See Carolina 302).
Klara Nedvedova/Milan Smid
Major Zeman to Return
The Czech Television (CT) Council decided to re-broadcast the
normalization TV serial The 30 Cases of Major Zeman together with the
documentary How It Really Was. According to CT spokeswoman Renata
Elhenicka the project is an attempt "with dignity to deal with one of
the greatest ideological manipulations on the TV screen." The series was
about a heroic agent of the secret police and his success in fighting
the undesirable elements of communism (in one episode he takes on a rock
band modeled after the Plastic People of the Universe below).
The decision met with positive and negative reactions. Milos
Slabak, one of the leaders of the Confederation of Political Prisoners,
said "Showing the series is dangerous, CT is breaking the law, according
to which media are not permitted to support movements which suppress
civil rights." He said the documentaries, which are intended to bring
the case into the proper light, should not be shown after the series but
before, so people will perceive the shows differently.
Lenka Nejezchlebova/Lenka Nejezchlebova
Plastic Explosive in Prague's Akropolis
The legendary group The Plastic People of the Universe appeared on
the stage of Prague's Akropolis Palace September 29-30. The hall was
absolutely packed as the Plastic People played all their best-known
hits. The musicians were out to prove they were not just a phenomenon
connected to the dissident past - they were the immediate reason for the
establishment of the Committee for Defense of Unjustly Prosecuted
People.
Lenka Nejezchlebova/Lenka Nejezchlebova
The Time of Debts Is Coming Soon
Irena Pavlaskova's successful 1989 film The Time of Servants has
a sequel - The Time of Debts. Except for two stars from the original,
Karel Roden and Ivana Chylkova, new characters appear, namely the part
of a psychiatrist played by pop singer Lucie Bila. Bila thus got the
opportunity to try a new role after her debut turn in King Ubu.
Pavlaskova does not concentrate only on evil, but follows mainly the
fate of the protagonist and his attempt at rebellion.
Klara Nedvedova/Lenka Nejezchlebova
SPORTS
Tennis Players Defeat South Africa, Stay among Elite
Czech tennis players managed to uphold their presence in the Davis
Cup World Group by defeating South Africa 5-0 during the last September
weekend. The Czech squad was Dosedel, Ulihrach, Novak and Rikl.
Tomas Smid returned to the post of non-playing captain after six
years and with him fighting spirit and devotion to the team came back.
Slava Dosedel performed with inspiration, ending his drought in the
Davis Cup (four matches without win) and smashing Wayne Ferreira, the
opponent's top player, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. After the second, expected win of
Bohdan Ulihrach (he defeated Ondruska 6-1, 6-2, 6-1), the doubles team
of Jiri Novak and David Rikl decided the victory. Ferreira and Norval
lost to them 4-6, 2-6, 2-6.
The Czech Republic, with Sweden and Italy, remains among the only
teams which have never fallen from the elite group since 1981, when new
era of Cup play began. Both final singles matches also brought points to
the Czech Republic as Ulihrach beat Nainkin 6-0, 6-1 and Dosedel
defeated Norval 6-1, 6-1.
Robin Rohrich/Mirek Langer
European Cups: Only Slavia Remains
Only Slavia Prague remained after the rematches in the UEFA Cup
first round. Olomouc and Sparta had to say farewell for this season.
Slavia played against Germany's Schalke 04, which boasts two Czech
national team members, Radoslav Latal and Jiri Nemec. Slavia had to win,
which it did after Dostalek's goal in the 18th minute. Because the final
score of the first match was also 1-0, the decision came down to penalty
shots. All five Slavia's of players scored, while Slavia keeper Cerny
caught Van Hoogdalem's shot. Prague's team will meet Italy's FC Bologna
in the second round.
Olomouc arrived in Marseille with a hopeful 2-2 result from the
first match, but a sad debacle ensued. Olympique Marseille defeated the
Moravian team 4-0 and advanced. Sparta lost its first match in Prague to
San Sebastian 2-4 and so it went to Spain without much hope. It lost
0-1 in the rain.
In the Cup Winners Cup Jablonec hosted Cyprus' Apollon Limassol and
had to erase the Cypriots' 2-1 advantage. After two Prochazka goals
Jablonec led 2-0, but after Limassol managed to score penalty shots
followed. Jablonec goalkeeper Janos stopped two shots, but his opposite
number was one better.
Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
Teplice Keeps Top Spot in Soccer League Standings
In the seventh round of the Gambrinus Soccer League, played in four
days because of the participation of Czech teams in the European cups,
the match between first-place Teplice and second-place Sparta was the
prime attraction. Excellent play, good weather and a sold-out house
resulted in a 1-1 tie.
Slavia defeated Hradec Kralove by one goal, while in the Hana
regional showdown between Drnovice and Olomouc the match finished in
a goalless tie. Last year's FA Cup winner Jablonec continues its
suffering even after its coaching change - Jaroslav Dockal replaced Jiri
Kotrba September 25, but Jablonec lost in Blsany 0-3.
The eighth round was opened by the match between Zizkov and
Ostrava, in which two former national team goalkeepers met, Petr Kouba
for Zizkov and Pavel Srnicek. Both performed well, but each allowed one
goal and the match finished in a tie.
The leaders in the standings won the full three points. Teplice
defeated Hradec thanks to good execution and well exploited chances,
while Drnovice was not stopped by two goals by Opava's Prasek. Sparta,
with some reserves in the lineup, beat Blsany, which played unexpectedly
timidly.
Nor did any other European Cups participants lose: Slavia led in
Plzen after a quick goal, but lost the lead in the added time. Olomouc
tied with Brno and Jablonec used a one-man advantage after Pribram's
Macha was sent off. In this match, Jablonec's goalkeeper Zdenek Janos
recorded his 100th shutout in the league, becoming the 10th goalkeeper
to do so.
Results of the 7th round: Teplice - Sparta 1-1, Slavia - Hradec
Kralove 1-0, Drnovice - Olomouc 0-0, Ostrava - Brno 1-0, Liberec - Plzen
1-0, Opava - Karvina 2-1, Blsany - Jablonec 3-0, Pribram - Zizkov 0-1.
Results of the 8th round: Zizkov - Ostrava 1-1, Plzen - Slavia
1-1, Hradec Kralove - Teplice 0-3, Karvina - Liberec 2-0, Jablonec
- Pribram 3-0, Sparta - Blsany 3-0, Olomouc - Brno 1-1, Drnovice - Opava
3-2. Standings: 1. Teplice 17, 2. Drnovice 17, 3. Sparta 16, 4. Olomouc
15, 5. Zizkov 14, 6. Blsany 13, 7. Opava 13, 8. Ostrava 10, 9. Liberec
10, 10. Slavia 10, 11. Hradec Kralove 8, 12. Plzen 8, 13. Jablonec 7,
14. Karvina 7, 15. Pribram 5, 16. Brno 3.
Tomas Kohout, Josef Koukolicek/Mirek Langer
Vsetin Rules over Hockey Extraleague Again
After 10 rounds of the Staropramen Extraleague, the leading
candidate for the title, Slovnaft Vsetin, returned to the top. Two teams
are just behind them, with the same number of points. In the five rounds
played during the last two weeks, some surprises appeared.
Sparta played a 0-0 tie in Karlovy Vary - the first goalless game
this season. Plzen reaffirmed its ability always to play well against
Vsetin, beating the four-time defending champs 2-1. Zlin's winning
streak was broken in the 8th round in Pardubice. Slavia, with the
league's most productive player Tomas Kucharcik (8 goals, 10 assists),
has not lost at home. Karlovy Vary, Jihlava, Kladno and Opava remain at
the bottom of the standings, just behind one of the pre-season
favorites, Vitkovice. Vitkovice managed to win on its home ice in the
8th round and tried to turn its situation around by trading some players
with Opava. Tomas Jelinek came to Vitkovice, his eighth team in the
league. Two players from the national team are injured - Sparta's Kucera
(broken jaw) and Slavia's Kacir (broken arm). Zdenek Nedved came back
from the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and will play in the extraleague for
Sparta Praha.
Results of the 6th round: Jihlava - Plzen 2-2, Vsetin - Ceske
Budejovice 5-1, Karlovy Vary - Sparta 0-0, Kladno - Opava 0-2, Trinec
- Zlin 3-3, Pardubice - Litvinov 1-4, Slavia - Vitkovice 2-2.
Results of the 7th round: Litvinov - Jihlava 2-0, Plzen - Vsetin
2-1, Opava - Pardubice 1-1, Zlin - Kladno 2-1, Ceske Budejovice - Slavia
2-3, Vitkovice - Karlovy Vary 2-3, Sparta - Trinec 5-2.
Results of the 8th round: Kladno - Sparta 3-2, Slavia - Plzen 3-3,
Pardubice - Zlin 3-2, Karlovy Vary - Trinec 2-3, Vsetin - Litvinov 5-1,
Jihlava - Opava 1-4, Vitkovice - Ceske Budejovice 4-3.
Results of the 9th round: Opava - Vsetin 0-2, Ceske Budejovice
- Karlovy Vary 4-2, Plzen - Vitkovice 5-1, Zlin - Jihlava 7-1, Trinec
- Kladno 7-3, Litvinov - Slavia 3-0, Sparta - Pardubice 7-3.
Results of the 10th round: Vitkovice - Litvinov 4-1, Jihlava
- Sparta 3-3, Karlovy Vary - Kladno 2-2, Plzen - Ceske Budejovice 3-2,
Pardubice - Trinec 4-5, Slavia - Opava 4-0, Vsetin - Zlin 3-3.
Pre-played match of the 15th round: Vitkovice - Kladno 2-2.
Standings: 1. Vsetin 15 points, 2. Zlin 15, 3. Trinec 15, 4. Sparta
13, 5. Plzen 13, 6. Slavia 12, 7. Litvinov 10, 8. Pardubice 10, 9. Ceske
Budejovice 8, 10. Vitkovice 8, 11. Karlovy Vary 8, 12. Kladno 6, 13.
Opava 5, 14. Jihlava 4.
Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* European Hockey League, 2nd round: Ayr Scottish Eagles (Scotland)
- Litvinov 4-3, Jokerit Helsinki - Dukla Jihlava 4-3, Sparta Prague
- Fribourg (Switzerland) 5-1.
* Next four top-league teams left the Czech FA Cup: Karvina, Plzen,
Blsany and Dukla.
* Both Czech players in the Grand Slam Cup in Munich lost their first
matches - Petr Korda to American Andre Agassi and Jana Novotna to
Switzerland's Patty Schnyder.
Mirek Langer, Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
Instead of the weather, we bring you this announcement: with this
issue the eighth Carolina editorial staff, consisting of first-year
journalism students, begins its attempt at earning your favor.
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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