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Carolina (English) No 315
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STUDENTS' E-MAIL NEWS FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Charles University in Prague
Faculty of Social Sciences
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz
tel: (+4202) 22112252, fax: (+4202) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 315, Friday, January 15, 1999.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (January 6 - January 13)
Joschka Fischer in Prague: Germany Still Supports Czech EU Membership
The meeting of Jan Kavan and Joschka Fischer, respectively the
Czech Republic's and Germany's foreign ministers, took place January 6
in an optimistic atmosphere. Also during a meeting with Prime Minister
Milos Zeman, the chief of German diplomacy affirmed that Bonn, which is
chairing the EU for the next 6 months, is interested in accepting new
members. According to Fischer, to reject expansion to the East would put
into doubt the idea of European integration.
Fischer cleared the air over the European policy of the new Bonn
government, which wants firstly to realize EU reform and does not want
to discuss specific dates or deadlines for the accession of new members.
Czech-German relations are, according to both ministers, better than
under the previous government in Bonn and their shared goal is to
overcome any shadows of the past.
Before ending his two-day visit Fischer met with Parliament
Chairman Vaclav Klaus. Fischer flew from the Czech Republic to Hungary.
Michaela Prokopova/Sofia Karakeva
Deputies Discuss State Budget
Parliament January 12 discussed the second reading of the proposed
state budget with a deficit of 31 billion crowns. The second reading is
about the distribution of funds within different chapters, because the
revenues of 574.1 billion crowns and the expenditures of 605.1 billion
crowns were approved during the first reading (see Carolina 311).
Deputies propose 40 million crowns be subtracted from Zeman's Cabinet
and moved from the Office of the Government to the Security Information
Service (BIS). The final vote will be held January 15.
This proposal will most probably be supported by the Communists
(KSCM) and the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), with the Communists asking
for a reduction of military spending (both parties supported the budget
proposal in the first reading). The Freedom Union (US) is against the
proposal, the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) might change its opposition.
ODS deputies will most probably not support the budget proposal but
their absence during the vote will enable its acceptance. Petr Necas
(ODS), chairman of the Defense and Security Committee, indicated that
ODS might change its standpoint in order to defuse KSCM's requests which
might threaten Czech NATO membership.
CSSD has 74 deputies in Parliament, ODS 63, KSCM 24, KDU-CSL 20
and US 19.
Robin Rohrich/Sofia Karakeva
After deadline: The second reading passed January 15.
Visa Requirements for Eastern European Countries Still under Discussion
Prime Minister Milos Zeman's Cabinet again did not approve the
decision to introduce visa requirements for some eastern European
countries January 11. The Foreign Ministry (MZV) and the Interior
Ministry (MV) cannot agree on visa requirements for Romania, Ukraine and
Bulgaria.
The Foreign Ministry believes it is necessary to take this step,
the Interior Ministry is opposed. Almost sure is the establishment of
visa requirements for Belarus and Moldova. The reasons are that Belarus
is not considered a democratic country and Moldova is still not taking
any measures to reduce the number of refugees coming through its
territory. Representatives of the Embassy of Belarus announced they will
establish the same requirement for Czech citizens.
The Czech government wants to tighten border control to prevent
the increasing flood of illegal refugees passing through the Czech
Republic to Western countries. The 44,112 people detained last year set
a record for illegal border crossings. Neighboring countries, mainly
Germany, have expressed displeasure with this fact.
The questions of visa requirement and frontier control are
complicated. It is not only about illegal frontier crossings but also
about illegally employed foreigners, mainly from Ukraine, which lead to
the increased unemployment of Czech citizens. The Trade Ministry has
also raised doubts about the establishment of visa requirements.
Retaliatory measures by affected countries could complicate travel for
Czech citizens.
Petra Machova/Sofia Karakeva
Czech Parliament, not Dutch Authorities, to Investigate SPT Telecom Case
The Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) has proposed setting up
a special parliamentary commission for the investigation of alleged
bribery during the 1995 privatization of SPT Telecom (see Carolina
314). The motion was put on the schedule of the present Chamber of
Deputies' session despite the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) deputies,
including Chairman Vaclav Klaus, voting against it January 12.
CSSD suggested participation of all parliamentary parties in the
commission. According to the Chamber of Deputies rules of order, such
a commission is authorized to cooperate with police investigators and
hear witnesses.
In the meantime, the Dutch government declared that it does not
possess any evidence that would confirm the bribery by Dutch companies,
therefore it becomes a Czech matter to investigate the case, although
the Dutch government is ready to take part any time.
The Dutch company KPN has become, via the Dutch-German consortium
TelSource, the owner of 27 per cent of Czech monopoly telecommunications
provider SPT Telecom, and came under suspicion that it bribed Czech
officials and political parties deciding on the privatization of the
state company. Klaus and Roman Ceska, the former chairman of the
National Property Fund, have categorically denied any such allegations.
Suspicions were revived by a television news report broadcast by the
Dutch TV station KRO.
Petra Machova/Milan Smid
IN BRIEF
* An 18-year-old boy from Tabor was detained January 7 for posessing
7.81 grams of pervitin. He became the first person to be charged under
with the amendment of the Penal Code known as the Anti-Drug Law, which
came into force January 1. The amended Penal Code makes criminal the
possession of "larger than a small amount" of drugs.
* The Freedom Union (US) would be willing to participate in
a government coalition together with the Social Democrats, while the
Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) would not be against a dialogue with the
Civic Democratic Party (ODS). The reversals in the stances of both
parties occurred during the meeting of the leaders of the four-party
coalition (US, KDU-CSL, the Civic Democratic Alliance and the Democratic
Union) January 6.
* Culture Minister Pavel Dostal agreed January 8 with church
representatives on setting up a commission for resolving relations
between churches and the state. The representatives of different
churches, including Jewish leaders, shall submit their candidates by
January 13, the final appointment shall be made by the government. The
Commission shall also negotiate the restitution of the former church
properties.
Katerina Kolarova, Tomas Kohout/Milan Smid
FROM SLOVAKIA
Former Slovak Minister and Successful Businessman Shot Dead
Jan Ducky, former economy minister in Vladimir Meciar's government
and a successful businessman, was shot and killed January 11. His body
was found at the entrance of Ducky's residence in downtown Bratislava.
Ducky, 54, was until recently general manager of the Slovak Gas
Industry (SPP) and leader of the opposition Movement for a Democratic
Slovakia (HZDS). His name is connected with some questionable activity
- unprofitable share buyouts, also with the alleged signing of the
400-million-crown promissory note for the Sezooz Holding company, which
owns a significant part of Chemapol Group.
The motive is still unknown, the police are investigating.
Michaela Prokopova/Sofia Karakeva
Markovic on Slovak TV Screens Again
After a forced absence, popular political satirist Milan Markovic
is returning to Slovak Television (STV).
During his January 9 premiere in Bratislava's Studio S, Prime
Minister Mikulas Dzurinda and actor Milan Lasica were Markovic's hosts.
Former Premier Vladimir Meciar's cabinet did not find the former
Evening with Milan Markovic funny and cancelled it. Markovic started
performing for Czech Television and is not planning to end this
cooperation. His program Slanted (Na sikme plose) will continue on Czech
Television under the name On the Level (Na rovinu).
Michaela Prokopova/Sofia Karakeva
ECONOMY
Chemapol Threatened with Bankruptcy
Czechoslovak Trade Bank (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka, CSOB)
speaker Milan Tomanek confirmed that the bank filed a bankruptcy
petition with the Regional Commercial Court in Prague against the
Chemapol Group. The main reason for the petition was that Chemapol Group
signed an 800-million-crown guarantee for its daughter company Chemapol,
which a court recently placed in bankruptcy.
Chemapol Group managers said they hope ongoing negotiations will
lead to a compromise and not the fall of the mammoth company. The
Investment and Postal Bank (Investicni a postovni banka, IPB) speaker
Jan Rezek said the majority of Chemapol Group shareholders and creditors
support a positive solution to the catastrophic financial situation. The
first step toward improvement could be the official registration
December 31 of Aliachem Group, which is to merge the former Chemapol
Group's best daughter companies (Synthesia, Moravske chemicke zavody,
Technoplast, FSG). Later Aliachem will be joined by Spolana, which is
now close to bankrupt.
Pavlina Hodkova/Jakub Jirovec
Alarming Growth of Czech Unemployment Rate
In December unemployment rose to an all-time high of 7.5 per cent,
an increase of 2.3 per cent from December. The only people here who
lived through such high employment are those seniors who experienced the
Great Depression of the 30's in Czechoslovakia. Experts expect
unemployment to top 8 per cent this month, because December's statistics
do not include people who lost their jobs December 31. The worst
situation is, traditionally, in northern Bohemia: the regions of Most
(15.6 per cent), Louny (15.5 per cent) and Chomutov (14.8 per cent). The
lowest unemployment rate is in East and West Prague districts.
The reasons for the high rate are, according to experts, the Czech
crown being overvalued, the decline of foreign investment, restrictive
measures of the past two years, corporate restructuring and cost
cutbacks.
Pavlina Hodkova/Jakub Jirovec
1998 Inflation 10.7 per cent, Should Continue to Decrease
The 1998 12-month inflation rate was 10.7 per cent, up 6.8 per cent
from 1997. Independent economists predict a continuation of the decline
which began in August (the only exception being September, when
inflation rose by 0.1 per cent). The rapid decline of inflation should
not be considered outlandish success, because it is accompanied by
a decline in growth, rising unemployment and a worsening financial
situation in businesses, banks and households. Experts are not united in
their opinion on the restrictive monetary policy of the Czech National
Bank (CNB). Some of them accuse the central bank of exaggerated
restrictions, some agree with bank's steps, arguing that inflation is
more influenced by foreign countries and the central bank cannot have
much effect. All of them agree that the CNB should ease its currency
policy during the coming six months.
Pavlina Hodkova/Jakub Jirovec
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid January 15)
------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 35.775 CZK
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 19.477
Great Britain 1 GBP 50.629
Denmark 1 DKK 4.806
Japan 100 JPY 26.944
Canada 1 CAD 20.125
IMF 1 XDR 43.301
Hungary 100 HUF 14.085
Norway 1 NOK 4.105
New Zealand 1 NZD 16.570
Poland 1 PLN 8.628
Greece 100 GRD 11.007
Slovakia 100 SKK 83.724
Slovenia 100 SIT 19.034
Sweden 1 SEK 3.922
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.488
USA 1 USD 30.721
Exchange Rates of countries particpating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 18 291
Belgium 100 BEF 88.684
Finland 1 FIM 6.017
France 1 FRF 5.454
Ireland 1 IEP 45.425
Italy 1000 ITL 18.476
Luxemburg 100 LUF 88.684
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.234
Portugal 100 PTE 17.844
Austria 1 ATS 2.600
Spain 100 ESP 21.501
CULTURE
Classical and Jazz Music in Prague's Rudolfinum
Pianist and New Orleans jazz patriarch Ellis Marsalis presented
a concert as the last of the New Year's Czech National Symphony
Orchestra concertos in Prague's Rudolfinum. In the jazz world, the name
Marsalis is well known through Ellis, the music school he runs and his
four sons. His second-oldest son, Wynton, is considered one of the
greatest trumpeters ever, his older brother Branford a famed
saxophonist, Delfeayo plays trombone and produces many of his brothers'
albums and the youngest, Jason, is a drummer who has just moved to New
York.
Marsalis' concert was dedicated to the memory of Duke Ellington,
and Marsalis played some of his pieces. The concert was devoted not only
to jazz, as Marsalis presented some classical pieces from Strauss and
Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exihibition.
Zuzana Galova/Zuzana Janeckova
Hollar Association Presents Members' Work for Birthday Exhibit
Twenty-eight Czech graphic artists celebrated their birthdays with
a collective exhibit in Prague's Hollar Gallery. "Since there are 150
members of the Hollar Association, it is not possible to have a separate
exhibit for each member. Four years ago, we came up with the idea of the
collective exhibits," said Hana Aulicka, the curator of the exhibit.
The exhibit presents the work of Jiri Kolar, world-famous Czech
artist, who is celebrating his 85th birthday, Josef Istler, 85, and
Michal Rittstein, 50.
The work of Slovak artists does not appear in the Hollar Gallery
this year. "We have not lost contact with our Slovak members, but the
relationships are more on a personal level. Exhibits were complicated
mostly by the transportation of artwork across the border," said artist
and Hollar Association Chairman Vladimir Suchanek.
Katerina Kolarova/Zuzana Janeckova
First 1999 Prague Dance Festival with Two Star Performances
Dance lovers enjoyed their first festival, the International Week
of Dance, in Prague January 4-10. The Prague Dance Center conservatory
took advantage of cheaper January rents in the Laterna Magica Theater
(the National Theater's new stage).
Seminars, practical lessons and evening performances of young
authors' choreographies were the main part of the festival's program,
which had two highlights: The Bratislava Theater of Dance - in the Czech
Republic a well-known ensemble - arrived in Prague with its original
working of Romeo and Juliet (choreography Jan Durovcik, music Henrich
Lesko). The world premiere of the Prague Chamber Ballet's performance
Frescoes (choreography Libor Vaculik, music Bohuslav Martinu) then
closed the week.
Mirek Langer/Mirek Langer
CULTURE IN BRIEF
* Cervantes' novel Don Quixote served as the inspiration for the
American musical The Man from La Mancha. Tomas Topfer's Czech version of
The Man from La Mancha, originally for the Vinohrady Theater, had its
premiere in Prague's Na Fidlovacce Theater. Topfer preformed the dual
role of Governor and Innkeeper. Don Quixote was played by Viktor Preiss
and Aldonza by Ivetta Blanarovicova.
* Czech Television presented the first of the 13-part series The
Tried and Justice. Scriptwriter Jiri Krizan, former deputy interior
minister, is the author of the movie Sekal Must Die (Je treba zabit
Sekala). Together with the Slovak director Martin Holly, Krizan expects
great controversy and maybe suits, because some of the episodes describe
cases as yet unresolved.
* For the first time an opera - Dido and Aeneas - was named Staging
of the Year 1998 in the poll taken by the Theater Newspaper (Divadelni
noviny). The opera was designed for the Pilsen's Josef Kajetan Tyl
Theater by Jan Antonin Pitinsky. He won for the fourth time. The
second-place performance was Fernando Crommelynck's The Splendid
Cuckold, staged by the Longstreet Theater.
* Czech cinemas are now showing Oscar-winners for best
foreign-language film from the Netherlands Karakter, directed by Mik van
Diem. The movie takes place in Rotterdam between the wars and shows the
relationship between a maniacally dominant father and his illegitimate
son.
Zuzana Galova/Zuzana Janeckova
SPORTS
Nordic Skiing World Cup: Neumannova Breaks Curse of Nove Mesto
The nordic skiing World Cup moved to Nove Mesto na Morave, where it
continued with six races of the 61st Golden Ski January 9-12.
Katerina Neumannova, second in the overall World Cup standings,
wanted to break the curse of this track, where she has had bad luck in
the past. She managed to succeed in the opening 10km classic race, in
which she finished second. However, the two-time Olympic medal winner
could have won, she led on at the eighth kilometer by 20 seconds, but
the impressive finish of Norway's Bente Martinsen stole the gold from
Neumannova; Svetlana Nageykina from Russia finished third. Other Czech
skiers did not finish in the first 30. The men also raced January 9, the
15km classic race was the domain of Norwegian skiers, who finished
1-2-3 with Bjoern Daehlie first, Erling Jevne second and Espen Bjervig
third.
The women's 4x5km and the men's 4x10km relays were scheduled for
January 10. Czech women (Zuzana Kocumova, Kamila Rajdlova, Neumannova
and Katerina Hanusova) finished fourth, thanks to excellent performances
by the last two skiers, behind Russia, Norway and Italy. The Czech men
(Lukas Bauer, Vaclav Korunka, Petr Michl and Martin Koukal) finished
eighth, as Austria won the race ahead of Italy and Norway.
The Nove Mesto event was closed by freestyle races, both with
surprising winners. The women's 15km race was won by Kristina Smigun
from Estonia, while Austrian skier of Russian origin Michail Botvinov
won the men's 30km race. Neumannova skied worse then before and finished
12th, Petra Letenska's 21st place should be considered a success. Also
two men earned World Cup points, Petr Michl for 16th place and Martin
Koukal for 21st place.
Jirka Wazik/Mirek Langer
Korda's Doping Case Opens Again
The final decision on Czech tennis player Petr Korda's case, where
he tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolon, will rest on an
arbitration court. Korda can take part in tournaments till the court
decides. According to the International Tennis Federation, the
investigation of the case should take some four months. It is probable
Korda will try to defend his Australian Open title next week.
According to ITF President Brian Tobin, the ITF will protest
against the decision of the ITF Independent Appeals Commission, which
took from Korda only 199 points and the 95,000 USD won in Wimbledon
because of the positive test. The ITF will call for a one-year ban, as
the rules stipulate.
It is obvious in the rules of other sports that athletes testing
positive are automatically and immediately punished with a two-year ban.
Jirka Wazik/Mirek Langer
European Hockey League Quarterfinals: Sparta out on Penalty Shots
After an unlucky loss in the first match of the European Hockey
League in Mannheim (see Carolina 314), Sparta had to win the rematch on
its own ice January 12. However, the dominating 10-4 win was not enough
to advance. The competition rules do not determine the winner in such
a situation by the difference between scored and allowed goals, but
rather by overtime.
On bad ice, tired Sparta players played better and Jan Hlavac hit
the bar, but the game had to be decided on penalty shots. After 19
penalty shots without a scoring, as both goalkeepers, Sparta's Milan
Hnilicka and Mannheim's Sven Rampf, showed their best, Gordon Hynes
broke through. Sparta played better, but Mannheim advanced to the
semifinal.
Jirka Wazik/Mirek Langer
Hockey Extraleague: Ceske Budejovice Winless Streak Continues
Ceske Budejovice has not won in six rounds, losing its last two
matches against Vsetin and Slavia. Vitkovice played schizophrenically
during the last two rounds, allowing Slavia to score five goals and then
scoring five goals in Karlovy Vary.
Jihlava won for the first time in six weeks, which disappointed
Plzen. It then took one point against reigning champion Vsetin, which
has not defeated Jihlava in three matches this season.
In the game between two neighbors in the standings, Trinec and
Zlin, the home team Trinec was better, scoring seven goals without
allowing one, thanks to goalkeeper Radovan Biegl. In the next game
Trinec lost to Sparta, which lost captain Roman Horak to a broken wrist
for some time.
Results of the 32nd round: Vsetin - Ceske Budejovice 3-2, Jihlava
- Plzen 3-1, Sparta Praha - Karlovy Vary 5-2, Slavia Praha - Vitkovice
5-1, Kladno - Opava 2-3, Pardubice - Litvinov 4-1, Trinec - Zlin 7-0.
Results of the 33rd round: Opava - Pardubice 1-3, Zlin - Kladno
2-1, Karlovy Vary - Vitkovice 3-5, Sparta Praha - Trinec 4-2, Ceske
Budejovice - Slavia Praha 1-2, Plzen - Vsetin 3-3, Litvinov - Jihlava
6-2.
Postponed matches: Slavia Praha - Jihlava 3-2 (29th round), Opava -
Trinec 5-2 (31st round).
Standings: 1. Vsetin 48 points, 2. Zlin 45, 3. Trinec 43, 4. Sparta
Praha 39, 5. Plzen 36, 6. Ceske Budejovice 33, 7. Slavia Praha 33, 8.
Pardubice 30, 9. Karlovy Vary 30, 10. Litvinov 30, 11. Vitkovice 29, 12.
Opava 27, 13. Kladno 23, 14. Jihlava 16.
Tomas Kohout/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* Czech trucks are doing well in the truck category of the
Granada-Dakar Rally. Karel Loprais in Tatra and Tomas Tomecek in a truck
of the same make lead the race with Russia's Moskovskikh in Kamaz.
Moskovskikh was first, Loprais second and Tomecek third January 14. The
standings could change in the upcoming stages in the deserts of
Mauritania.
* Jiri Pospisil won the national cyclocross championships in Hole
Vrchy near Mlada Boleslav January 10. Petr Dlask finished second and
Radomir Simunek third. Vaclav Jezek won the under-23 title.
* Lucie Hanusova, former member of the Czech nordic skiing national
team, died in the United States' Yellowstone National Park January 11
after an accident on a snowmobile.
Jirka Wazik/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
Winter is not as one-dimensional a season of the year as it might
seem. For example, the weather showed off its whole spectrum during the
last week. People threw their ski hats and scarves away while the
hardiest went out in T-shirts January 7 as the temperature broke
a record with 12.8 degrees Celsius/55 degrees Fahrenheit. However, we
could not rejoice in the spring atmosphere for a long time, over the
weekend the wintry winds gathered strength. Icy roads and sidewalks
surprised drivers and pedestrians on the morning of January 11. Then
snowflakes began to fall and it seems we will continue waiting for
spring among drifts of snow.
Katerina Kolarova/Mirek Langer
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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