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Carolina (English) No 320
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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 320, Friday, February 19, 1999.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (February 10 - February 17)
Czech Republic to Enter NATO March 12
During the weekend the American Embassy informed Czech Foreign
Minister Jan Kavan that April 12 he, along with representatives of
Poland and Hungary, will submit ratification documents for the Czech
Republic's accession to NATO. The only step remaining is for presidents
of the candidate countries to sign them. Hungarian President Arpad Goncz
has already signed, Czech President Vaclav Havel and his Polish
counterpart Aleksander Kwasniewski will sign together during a live
television broadcast February 26. Originally the new member countries
were to have been accepted at the April summit in Washington celebrating
the 50th anniversary of NATO's founding. The process was accelerated so
the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary could participate in the
preparation of documents to be approved at the summit.
Czech Army representatives said the military is prepared for the
earlier NATO expansion. Problems might appear with security clearances.
One important part of the checks are psychological examinations, which
experts cannot manage in time, because of the high number of applicants.
Without this exam, however, the National Security Office cannot provide
the clearance to work with classified information. The clearance
question was on the agenda during the Prague visit of Klaus Naumann,
chairman of the NATO Military Committee.
Alena Smrzova/Sofia Karakeva
Snow and Cold Weather Paralyze Czech Republic
Ceaseless snowing caused serious problems over the weekend. The
most afflicted area was the northeast region of the country,
particularly Bruntal and Jesenik counties. Blocked roads cut off from
civilization almost 2,000 people in the regions of Moravsky Beroun and
Rymarov. In many areas the snow reached three meters/nine and a half
feet. Army vehicles were used to remove snow, and by February 14 most
roads were negotiable.
Three people in the Giant Mountains (Krkonose) lost their lives
because of the weekend weather. A married couple, both 48, disregarded
the Mountain Service warning went skiing February 12. In minimum
visibility, with a temperature of -12 degrees Celsius/11 degrees
Fahrenheit and wind speed of 144kmh/90mph they fell off the marked path
and were found dead February 13. Another woman, 25, was heading from
Harrachov to Benecko but could not overcome the conditions.
Alena Mrzova/Sofia Karakeva
Parliament Approves Lottery Amendment
Deputies February 11 approved amendments to the Lottery Act. The
European Union, which protested against the act, was displeased that
foreign companies could not arrange consumer give-aways and similar
promotions in the Czech Republic. Parliament removed this ban under the
condition of an annual maximum of 200,000 crowns in prizes for one
company.
The limit is to protect Czech companies. Most companies that would
like to use this commercial tactic are not enthused with the
200,000-crown limit. Companies claim it is very difficult to arrange
a nationwide giveaway of less than 200,000 crowns. Foreign casino owners
will have to obtain special permits from the Finance Ministry.
Pavel Sladky/Sofia Karakeva
Deputies Approve Information Act
Parliament January 10 approved the Senate bill on free access to
information. It means that from the year 2000 citizens will more easily
be able to monitor the process of public administration. According to
Michael Zantovsky, author of the bill, it is important not only that it
will be possible to request information, but above all that the
information will be provided.
The new law has many opponents, mainly from the Civic Democratic
Party (ODS) and the Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's
Party (KDU-CSL). Critics say they see no advantages for citizens, on the
contrary, they believe that the obligation to provide information will
only burden state offices. They also are not sure of the line between
public information and classified information. Parliament will determine
the bill's fate within 30 days. Considering ODS and KDU-CSL have
a majority in the Senate, it is not assured that the bill will be
passed.
Alena Smrzova/Sofia Karakeva
Deputies Agree with Increase in Sick Pay
The Chamber of Deputies February 10 passed an amendment to health
insurance laws. If the law is passed by the Senate, the daily maximum
sick pay will be 486 crowns instead of the current 186 crowns.
Today, an employee out sick receives from the state a maximum of
135 crowns the first three days and 186 crowns for further days. As one
of the authors of the change, Senator Milan Stech of the ruling Social
Democrats, said maximum monthly sick pay could rise from the current
5,424 crowns to 9,421 crowns. "Simply put, today it pays to be sick up
to a monthly wage of about 8,000 crowns. The change in the law moves the
amount up to 11,000 (about the current average wage in the Czech
Republic)," said Civic Democratic Party deputy Miroslav Ouzky to daily
Lidove noviny.
The novel does not resolve the problem of people with higher wages.
Sick pay should continue to rise to the equivalent of a monthly salary
of 16,000 crowns, but will be the same for everyone earning more.
Linda Kholova/Jakub Jirovec
FROM SLOVAKIA
Slovak Information Service Tried to Complicate Czech NATO Membership
Slovak Information Service (Slovenska informacna sluzba, SIS)
wanted to complicate the Czech Republic's accession into NATO in
previous years. New SIS Director Vladimir Mitra admitted the information
during a closed session of the Slovak National Assembly February 12,
where he presented a classified report about SIS activities under former
Premier Vladimir Meciar. Some information from the report was leaked
three days later.
Under former SIS Director Ivan Lexa, a close friend of Meciar, SIS
supposedly organized racist violence and scandals involving the Czech
Security Information Service (Bezpecnostni informacni sluzba, BIS) in
the Czech Republic.
SIS probably pursued five secret operations planned to destabilize
neighboring countries. The Neutron operation was intended to produce
dissent about NATO membership among Czech citizens. Active Steps, part
of the Dezo operation, supposedly intended to arouse racist and
neo-facist feelings in the Czech Republic. Operation East (Vychod)
concentrated on Slovaks and tried to get them to come back under Russian
influence. The aim of the Omega operation was to produce the impression
that Hungary is the United States' favorite country in the region.
Operation Bridge (Most) tried to incite Austrian mistrust of Germany.
These facts, published in the Czech daily MF DNES, were confirmed by
a Slovak assemblyman.
The Slovak Government will probably discuss a formal apology to the
Czech Republic for these activities.
Mitra's report also shows that SIS committed many crimes in the
past and worked directly with bosses of the Slovak underworld. Two
former SIS agents have been taken into custody and accused of kidnapping
the son of former President Michal Kovac. Lexa is now protected by
parliamentary immunity, which, however, could be removed.
Lenka Nejezchlebova/Jakub Jirovec
ECONOMY
Gregr's Plan for Industrial Revitalization Must Be Redone
The Government's Economic Council will recommend the Government to
redo Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr plan to revitalize industry. The
council will primarily suggest the plan be reworked not by Gregr but by
a new group of the deputy prime ministers for the economic and social
policies, the chairman of the National Property Fund, ministers of
trade, finance, regional development and possibly the governor of the
Czech National Bank.
The Economic Council criticizes the plan for its methods of
financing, the role of company owners, the mechanisms for entering the
program, bank participation, the absence of time restrictions for
assistance and international credibility.
Gregr's plan to revitalize industry projected financial aid for 32
selected corporations, assuming the owners would temporarily give up
their rights and hand over management of the companies to managers
appointed by the state.
Radan Dolejs/Denisa Vitkova
Havel Names New CNB Banking Council Members
Effective February 13, President Vaclav Havel named for a term of
six years the new members of the Czech National Bank's Banking Council.
Jan Vit, Pavel Kysilka, Jiri Pospisil and Ota Kaftan were replaced by
Zdenek Tuma, Oldrich Dedek, Pavel Stepanek and Pavel Racocha. The
president said he chose the new members after research among economists,
analysts and experts on the Czech economic situation.
Linda Kholova/Denisa Vitkova
Chemapol Group Appeals January Bankruptcy Verdict
Radim Masny, co-owner of 47 per cent shares of Chemapol Group,
which February 10 appealed its being placed in bankruptcy (see Carolina
318), said Chemapol Group will submit the results of negotiations with
creditors showing the company has settled its debts.
Shareholders' efforts to continue Chemapol's activities was also
visible in last week's change of management. The new board and the
bankruptcy administrator, said new Chairman Vitezslav Grygar, have been
preparing an alternative development plan for the company and are trying
to maintain the company's market position. Grygar said Chemapol Group
is, in spite of difficulties paying back its loans and its massive
debts, still a functioning corporation.
Lenka Nejezchlebova/Denisa Vitkova
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid February 19)
------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 38.085 CZK
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 21.473
Great Britain 1 GBP 55.338
Denmark 1 DKK 5.121
Japan 100 JPY 28.280
Canada 1 CAD 22.628
IMF 1 XDR 46.686
Hungary 100 HUF 15.106
Norway 1 NOK 4.345
New Zealand 1 NZD 18.243
Poland 1 PLN 8.871
Greece 100 GRD 11.808
Slovakia 100 SKK 88.433
Slovenia 100 SIT 20.130
Sweden 1 SEK 4.257
Switzerland 1 CHF 23.806
USA 1 USD 33.840
Exchange Rates of countries particpating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 19.473
Belgium 100 BEF 94.410
Finland 1 FIM 6.405
France 1 FRF 5.806
Ireland 1 IEP 48.358
Italy 1000 ITL 19.669
Luxemburg 100 LUF 94.410
Netherlands 1 NLG 17.282
Portugal 100 PTE 18.997
Austria 1 ATS 2.768
Spain 100 ESP 22.890
CULTURE
Musical Rusalka Meets with Controversial Response
The musical version of Antonin Dvorak's opera Rusalka was presented
at the February 14 gala premiere in the new musical theater Millenium.
The theater was built as the new site for musical productions at
Prague's Holesovice Market, a former slaughterhouse area. The theater,
with a circular auditorium, was designed by architect Jaromir Pizinger,
the husband of Rusalka leading lady Bara Basikova and the set designer
of the musical.
The original Dvorak compositions were rearranged and completed with
other songs written by Michal Prostejovsky (libretto) and Zdenek John
(score). The Rusalka musical was directed by Jozef Bednarik, well known
for his past operas (Romeo and Juliet, Il Turco in Italy) and musical
(Dracula) productions. Costumes were designed by Oscar-winner (Amadeus)
Theodor Pistek.
In addition to Basikova and Kamil Strihavka, who rose to musical
stardom in the recent, successful production of Jesus Christ Superstar,
other music and pop-music celebrities are performing in the Rusalka
production, including Petr Muk, Pavla Kapitanova, and Yvonne
Prenosilova.
The first reviews in the Czech media praised the dynamic visual
experience, full of motion (choreography Libor Vaculik) and light
effects, but were rather reserved as to the music's performance.
"Rusalka is a feast rather for the eyes than for the ears," wrote the
daily MF DNES.
Lovers of Dvorak's music unconditionally rejected the commercial
exploitation of Rusalka before the premiere, claiming the musical
version denigrates the musical value of the opera.
Linda Kholova/Milan Smid
Milan Knazko in Art Opens Festival of Slovak Theater
Bratislava's Studio S opened Prague's Festival of Slovak Theater,
staging the play Art February 13. Slovak Culture Minister Milan Knazko,
together with actors Milan Lasica and Marian Labuda, played to a full
house in Prague's Theater without Balustrades, in a production of the
play Art directed by Milan Porubjak.
Prague thespians, Prime Minister Milos Zeman and Czech Culture
Minister Pavel Dostal were in the audience.
Dealing with human morals, relationships and the ability to subsume
one's ego, the play is now among the world's most frequently staged.
Yasmina Reza's play met with a positive response in Prague.
Linda Kohlova/Zuzana Janeckova
CULTURE IN BRIEF
* Nominations for the 1998 Czech Lion (Cesky lev) film prizes were
announced in Prague's Blanik Theater February 10. The vote of Czech Film
and Television Academy members gave the largest number of nominations
- 13 altogether - to the movie Sekal Must Die (Je treba zabit Sekala),
which also received the prize of film critics. Sekal Must Die will
compete in category Film of the Year against In the Rye (Co chytnes
v zite) and The Bed (Postel). The Czech Lions will be awarded live
February 27.
* The Czech Actors Association announced the names of 20 theater
actors nominated for the Thalie prize. Among the nominees are former
winners like actress Zdena Herfortova, singer Eva Drizgova and ballet
dancer Jan Kadlec. The awards ceremony will be held in the National
Theater March 27.
* An exhibit of the works of Czech sculptor Ladislav Zivr opened in
the Fine Arts Museum in Prague February 10. Zivr, one of the significant
Czech artists of the 20th century, was influenced by cubism, surrealism
and later by the artistic movement Group 42. His love of nature is
documented by his collection of natural artefacts, including pieces of
rocks and precious stones.
Linda Kholova/Katerina Kolarova
SPORTS
Swedish Hockey Games Not Successful for Czech Republic
After the win over Russia (see Carolina 319), the remaining games
of the Swedish Hockey Games turned out badly for the Czech national
team. A draw with Sweden and losses to Finland and Canada were good
enough for fourth place. Finland won the Games thanks to its win over
Sweden, which took first place in the Euro Hockey Tour. The Czech team
finished third in the Tour.
Czech Republic - Finland 2-3. Against the opponent's tough play,
the Czech team managed to play well only at the end of the game, when it
reduced the Finns' three-goal lead on Viktor Ujcik and Martin
Prochazka's goals.
Czech Republic - Canada 0-1. A thrilling game with great saves by
both goalkeepers was decided by the Canadians' stronger will and
fighting spirit. Ten minutes before the end of the game Canada scored
after a mistake by the Czech defense.
Czech Republic - Sweden 1-1. The best Czech performance occurred in
the last game. Ujcik scored in the ninth minute, but Sweden tied in the
22nd.
All the games were played without using the senseless rule, tested
in the first round of the tournament, prohibiting substitutions when
time was stopped.
Pavel Sladky/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* The Czech national alpine-skiing team finished the World
Championships in Vail with only one finish in the top 20 (Jan Holicky
20th in the combined).
* The World Biathlon Championships in Kontiolahti, Finland, paralyzed
by frost (temperatures below minus 20 degrees Celsius/minus 4 degrees
Fahrenheit caused changes in the schedule and the cancellation of two
races), finished in disappointment for the Czech team. Zdenek Vitek's
23rd place and an 11th place for the women's relay were its best
results.
* Jakub Suchacek won the ski-jumping national championship on both
the K-90 and K-120 hills and got his third medal as part of Liberec's
team. Ladislav Rygl is new Czech champion in nordic combined.
* The Czech table-tennis national team defeated Denmark's men's team
4-1 February 14 and has to win only two points in the rematch to advance
to the European League superdivision. The team has failed to advance in
the last six years.
* The Usti nad Labem men's volleyball team defeated the favored
Italian squad Sisley Treviso 3-0 in the sixth round of the Champions
League February 16, although Usti has no chance to advance from the
group.
* A majority of the soccer league clubs finished their preparation
matches for the spring session of the league season. Groundskeepers are
having problems with preparing the turf; in spite of the winter weather,
the spring session should begin February 21. The last preseason games
mostly featured second-league opponents and were close.
Pavel Sladky/Mirek Langer
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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