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Carolina (English) No 314
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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@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz
tel: (+4202) 22112252, fax: (+4202) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 314, Friday, January 8, 1999
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST THREE WEEKS (from December 16 - January 6)
Havel Expresses Caution and Trust in New Year's Address
In his traditional New Year's address, President Vaclav Havel
emphasized the things he finds disquieting in the contemporary Czech
Republic. His speech, recorded before Christmas (Havel spent the
holidays with his wife in Spain), aired January 1 on Czech Television
and Czech Radio. Havel warned about "a great number of walls" again
dividing Czech society. These walls show themselves through disrespect
for human rights and through racism and xenophobia. Havel also talked
about strange walls in politics and indirectly criticized the practices
and rhetoric of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS): "once more we have
here barricades, mobilization, closed ranks, disciplined movements and
various traitors."
The president also thanked all citizens creating values that
improve life in the country and its culture. He also expressed his
thanks to Czech expatriates, who are spiritually and emotionally
connected with the Czech lands and help the country in a number of ways.
In the end of his speech Havel said he believes in Czech society and its
ability to deal with its problems successfully, which will help the
country in becoming a member of NATO.
The New Year's address received mixed reactions from politicians
across the political spectrum. The Social Democrats and Christian
Democrats agreed with Havel's points and said they found the speech
inspiring. Politicians from ODS were more critical, ODS Chairman Vaclav
Klaus said, "Let's do the maximum to move forward and let's do it in the
form of dialogue and not monologue." Marketa Lajdova/Jakub Jirovec
Dutch Television Claims Corruption Influenced SPT Telecom Privatization
Czech politicians and officials are suspected of taking bribes from
the Dutch KPN telecommunications company during the 1995 privatization
of SPT Telecom, the monopoly telecommunications provider in the Czech
Republic, according to a report on the Dutch television station KRO.
KRO January 3 broadcast claims that TelSource, the Dutch-German
consortium in which KPN has a majority, paid bribes to gain
a 27-per-cent share in SPT Telecom. SPT Telecom small shareholders'
representative Martin Mosinger claims the bribes came to about 270
million crowns.
The Dutch government, the majority owner of KPN, said it wants to
work with the Czech government in investigating the affair. The Czech
government's Committee for the Protection of Czech Economic Interests
was previously assigned the SPT Telecom privatization for investigation.
The Czech police are also investigating.
Klara Nedvedova, Linda Kholova/Michael Bluhm
Czech Politicians Express Understanding for Attack on Iraq
An absolute majority of Czech politicians, led by President Vaclav
Havel, declared understanding for the reasons that led the USA and
Britain to attack Iraq in December. On the other hand, they expressed
disappointment with the failure of diplomacy.
The Foreign Ministry said it emphasizes the importance of
diplomatic solutions, but also believes in the responsibility of the
Iraqi government for the escalation of the crisis. Meeting Parliament
deputies, Foreign Minister Jan Kavan said that since the attack has no
United Nations mandate, the action has no legal backing.
The only ones to express disagreement with the bombing were the
Communists. According to party Chairman Miroslav Grebenicek, the attack
does not correspond to the policy of the UN Security Council and has no
regard for the thousands of civilian lives in danger.
A protest demonstration by some 70 Muslim students took place in
front of the American Embassy in Prague. Petr Wilfer/Zuzana Janeckova
Petr Uhl Plans to Take down Lety Slaughterhouse
Government representative for human rights Petr Uhl said he intends
to replace the Lety pig slaughterhouse which stands on the site of
a former Romany (Gypsy) concentration camp from World War II.
According to Uhl, the finances will be partly covered by donations
and partly by the state. A park with a holocaust monument should be
erected on the site. Today, there is a small monument in the cemetery,
which used to be part of the concentration camp. Uhl's intention is
supported by Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Rychetsky. The Romany
Independent Intiative said it considers fundraising a way for the
government to shirk its responsibility. Jan Mates/Zuzana Janeckova
NEWS IN BRIEF
* To gain Czech citizenship, Czech-American Jirina Fuchsova held
a hunger strike at the end of December in front of the Office of the
Government. For a long time Fuchsova has been organizing in Los Angeles
petitions for establishing dual citizienship for Czechs. Fuchsova camped
in front of the Government Office December 28-29, and after a telephone
conversation with Interior Minister Vaclav Grulich she expressed her
thanks to the authorities and ended her protest. She is leaving the
Czech Republic January 27, and said if she does not get citizienship by
then she is ready to continue her protests.
* Former Senate Chairman Petr Pithart (independent for the Christian
Democrats), recently succeeded by Libuse Benesova (Civic Democratic
Party, ODS), was elected one of the Senate's vice chairmen December 26
at the first session since the November elections. Other vice chairmen
are Premysl Sobotka (ODS), Jaroslav Musial and Ivan Havlicek (both
Social Democrats, CSSD). Freedom Union (US) Chairman Jan Ruml also was
a candidate.
* President Vaclav Havel December 31 recalled his Chief of Staff Ivan
Medek. The president named former Czech Television general director Ivo
Mathe to replace Medek. The same day, Pavel Tigrid left his post as
Havel's advisor for Czech-German relations. Tigrid said he wants to
concentrate fully on being co-chairman of the presidium of Coordination
Council of the Czech-German Forum.
* Parliament deputy and former Interior Minister Cyril Svoboda
announced January 4 that he will run for the post of the chairman of the
Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) at the party congress in May. His opponent
will be party Vice Chairman Jan Kasal, who has been leading the party
since former Chairman Josef Lux resigned because of leukemia in
September. Another possible candidate, Miroslav Kalousek, announced he
will not run and gave his supports to Kasal.
Jan Mates/Lenka Nejezchlebova
International Student Week in Ilmenau
The role of the media in economy and politics and perceptions of
other cultures will be discussed by students from all around the world
at a youth gathering in Ilmenau, Germany. The fourth year of the
conference will be held May 8-16 by the Technical University of Ilmenau
under the motto Celebrating Diversity. There will be lectures, debates
and artistic activity.
It is possible to get further information and an aplication form on
the Internet (http://www.rz.tu-ilmenau.de/-iswi/iswi99). The deadline
for applications is February 15. The school's address is Technical
University of Ilmenau, P.O.Box 100565, 98684 Ilmenau, Germany.
Jakub Jirovec/Jakub Jirovec
FROM SLOVAKIA
Local Election Results Mixed
The government parties and the opposition declared victory in
Slovak local elections December 19-20. The most seats were gained by
independent candidates, who will become mayors in 816 townships.
Former Premier Vladimir Meciar's Movement for a Democratic
Slovakian (HZDS) did not win a single mayoral post in any County seats,
but on the whole they will take over 602 town halls, which is 156 more
than in the previous election four years ago. This was also the best
election result of any party. The decline of the movement, which fell
into the opposition after last year's general election, did not
continue.
The ruling Slovak Democratic Coalition (SDK) started as five
different parties. The Party of Democratic Left (SDL') did the best and
gained 401 mandates, about 100 less than in the last election. The other
government coalition parties also showed a decline, but they did garner
six of eight mayoral posts in county seats and also an important victory
in Bratislava, where former Premier Jozef Moravcik became the mayor by
beating HZDS/Slovak National Party (SNS) candidate Julius Binder.
Chairman of the Party of Civic Understanding (SOP) and Kosice Mayor
Rudolf Schuster defended his position easily in the second-biggest
Slovak city. Jan Slota, chairman of the nationalist SNS, also defended
his post as mayor of Zilina and would not rule out a run for the
presidency. SNS surprisingly won the mayoral race in Nitra, thanks to
its chairman emeritus Jozef Prokes. Another interesting result was that
mayors in many county seats are independent candidates.
Fifty-four per cent of voters took part in the election, which is
about 2 per cent more than in 1994. The highest turnout was recorded in
smaller districts and in eastern Slovakia, where almost three-quarters
of the voters came out. In bigger districts the turnout was about 30 per
cent - 40 per cent. Jan Moravek/Jan Martinek
ECONOMY
1998 Deficit More Than 26 Billion Crowns
According to preliminary statistics, the 1998 state fiscal year
will show a deficit of more than 26 billion crowns. The original budget
was balanced and called for revenues and expenditures of 536.6 billion
crowns. Revenues wound up at 537.5 billion crowns and expenditures at
563.8 billion crowns.
The deficit was partially caused by the losses of Consolidation
Bank
(10.4 billion crowns), uncollected taxes (13 billion crowns), an
unexpected increase in state pensions (6 billion crowns) and a guarantee
for the Czech Savings Bank (4.1 billion crowns).
Pavlina Hodkova/Michael Bluhm
Czech National Bank Again Reduces Interest Rates
In the second half of 1998 the Czech National Bank lowered interest
rates eight times - for the last time and by a surprising margin
December 22. The 14-day repo rate was reduced from 10.5 per cent to 9.5
per cent, the discount rate from 10 per cent to 7.5 per cent and the
Lombard rate from 15 per cent to 12.5 per cent. The central bank wants
to foster growth with the cuts, though economists say it will take six
months for results to be visible.
The reductions will make it easier for firms to borrow money for
investment, though bank depositors will receive lower returns.
Pavlina Hodkova/Michael Bluhm
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid January 7)
------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 34.860 CZK
Exchange Rate of the euro
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 17.824
Belgium 100 BEF 86.416
Luxemburg 100 LUF 86.416
Spain 100 ESP 20.951
France 1 FRF 5.314
Ireland 1 IEP 44.263
Italy 1000 ITL 18.004
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.819
Austria 1 ATS 2.533
Portugal 100 PTE 17.388
Finland 1 FIM 5.863
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
---------
Australia 1 AUD 18.468
Great Britain 1 GBP 49.129
Denmark 1 DKK 4.684
Japan 100 JPY 26.520
Canada 1 CAD 19.614
IMF 1 XDR 41.988
Hungary 100 HUF 13.910
Norway 1 NOK 3.987
New Zealand 1 NZD 15.857
Poland 1 PLN 8.698
Greece 100 GRD 10.789
Slovakia 100 SKK 81.496
Slovenia 100 SIT 18.552
Sweden 1 SEK 3.736
Switzerland 1 CHF 21.608
USA 1 USD 29.647
CULTURE
Sixtieth Anniversary of Karel Capek's Death
Writer, playwright, journalist, poet and author of books for
children Karel Capek died 60 years ago - December 25, 1938. Capek,
a humanist who went beyond the horizon of literature, succumbed to the
flu followed by inflammation of the kidneys and lungs at age 49.
Some 200 mostly elderly admirers of Capek's immortal works visited
the graves of Capek and his wife Olga Scheinpfugova at the Vysehrad
Cemetery Christmas Day. The bulk of them were members of the Karel Capek
Society, which celebrated 50 years of existence last year. During the
ceremony, society Chairman Josef Protiva quoted some of Capek's works.
Apart from other thoughts, Protiva mentioned one from 1938: "The nation
can feel immortal only when it has a conscious moral mission."
Writers' Community Chairman Antonin Jelinek quoted another idea,
also applicable today: "We are tempted to say that there are not great
or small circumstances, only great or small people. Not just a region or
a county or a small town but even a village should be proud of itself
and its work. The rise of democracy is possible only in the form of
civic autonomy. There is no better example of the absence of politics
from our life than in the decline of self-rule." Another quote came from
1928 - the writer wished the young republic besides good will, honor and
respect also "a press which does not lie and a Parliament, which would
be the flower of the nation." Tomas Polacek/Katerina Kolarova
SPORTS
World Criticizes Light Punishment for Korda's Doping at Wimbledon
The doping test Petr Korda took after his lost Wimbledon
quarterfinal was positive for nandrolon, according to the
representatives of the anti-doping program of the International Tennis
Federation. This information was published more than half a year after
the end of Wimbledon and was connected with the ITF Appeals Committee's
decision. It acknowledged Korda did not take the drug knowingly yet took
from him the points and money won in Wimbledon, but it did not ban him
from playing.
The German press criticized the decision and the ITF. The critics
took aim primarily at the lightness of the punishment, because they do
not admire the player's written declaration as evidence of innocence.
The daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung stamped the case as the biggest
doping affair in tennis. Wimbledon winner Richard Krajicek of the
Netherlands joined the critics.
Korda, however, insists his conscience is clear. He said the
investigation of the case was a great burden on his psyche and his
performances. "It will be very difficult to deal with it. I know that
a lot of people do not believe me now and will never believe me. It is
like Cain's sign, which I will never shake off," he said.
Josef Koukolicek and Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
After deadline: The ITF announced it will file a protest against the
decision of the Appeals Committee and will ask for one-year ban.
Phenomenal Goalkeeper Dominik Hasek Named Athlete of Year
The announcement of the 40th Athlete of the Year poll results
December 19 in Prague's Zofin Palace was carried by the wave of the
national hockey team's success in the Nagano Olympics. Goalkeeper
Dominik Hasek's win was one of the most conclusive in recent years. He
repeated his triumph from 1994. Cross country skier Katerina Neumannova
finished second and another hockey player, Jaromir Jagr, took the
imaginary bronze medal. Her Wimbledon win was enough only for fourth
place for Jana Novotna, while Australian Open champion Petr Korda wound
up worse - in eighth place.
In the teams category, the winner was still more clear then among
the individuals. Behind the Nagano Olympics winners, the World
Championships national hockey team and the national soccer team placed.
The hockey team, winner of the "Tournament of the Century," also
finished in first place in the Sport Star poll, organized by Czech
Television, in which some 360,000 people voted.
Josef Koukolicek/Mirek Langer
Soccer Player of the Year Is Pavel Nedved
After being announced the winner of the Czech Golden Ball, Pavel
Nedved took also the title of the Player of the Year. In the poll, which
included the votes of coaches, functionaries and journalists, Nedved
defeated Vladimir Smicer and Radek Sloncik. Nedved is a midfielder for
Lazio Rome, where he signed a contract until 2004. Last year's winner
and national team captain Jiri Nemec finished fifth.
National team coach Jozef Chovanec was elected coach of the year.
Viktoria Plzen forward Tomas Dosek won among the three young candidates
for the Talent of the Year title. Jaroslav Silhavy from Viktoria Zizkov,
who broke the record for the number of matches played in the first
soccer league, was elected the Personality of the Year.
Soccer is no longer a sport only for men, as the winner of the
Female Player of the Year was announced also: Sparta Praha's Pavlina
Scasna finished first in this category. She is the daughter of the
Sparta men's team coach Zdenek Scasny. Josef Koukolicek/Mirek Langer
Baltica Cup: Czech Team Finishes Second
The Czech national hockey team finished second in the third event
of the Euro Hockey Tour, the Baltica Cup in Moscow. Sweden took first
place and Finland third, ahead of Russia and Canada. Sweden also leads
the standings of the Tour, the Czech team is third.
The Czech team participated in Moscow without Vsetin players, which
prepared themselves for the Spengler Cup, and without some injured
players, but it played its best this season. It defeated Finland 3-0 in
the first match, and against Russia was losing 1-3 at the end of the
second period but scored four goals in six minutes, as the match
finished with a 5-3 Czech win.
The Swedish win over the Czech team then determined the winner of
the tournament. The "Tre Kronor" were better in the first period and
took a two-goal lead. Then the Czechs came back, reducing the Swedish
advantage with Caloun's goal. Despite some chances at the end of the
match, the Swedish defense held on for the 2-1 win.
The last match was only a formality for the Czech team, which
defeated Canada 6-3. Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
Worst Result in History of Junior Hockey World Championships
The Czech junior team finished seventh (its worst finish ever) in
the hockey Junior World Championships in Brandon and Winnipeg in Canada.
Results: Group: Czech Republic - Slovakia 2-3, CR - United States 6-3,
CR - Canada 0-2, CR - Finland 3-4. Relegation group: CR - Belarus 10-2,
CR - Switzerland 5-4. The Czechs' first opponent, Slovakia, finished in
third place, its best finish ever. Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
Hockey Extraleague: Sparta, with New Coach Richter, Smashes Opava
After the Christmas break, the Staropramen Hockey Extraleague
continued without Trinec and Slavia, which had games either played early
or postponed due to players taking part in the junior World
Championships in Canada. Pavel Richter succeeded in his premiere on the
Sparta Praha bench, where he replaced Julius Supler. Sparta scored 10
goals in Opava's net. In the next game in Zlin it earned one point for
a tie, Zlin's 13th draw this season.
Kladno continued playing well, defeating Budejovice and Plzen,
until Litvinov ended Kladno's six-games streak withou a loss. Goalkeeper
Zdenek Orct recorded his fifth shutout this season in the match and he
decided the result by saving 50 Kladno shots.
Results of the 29th round: Vitkovice - Pardubice 4-3, Opava - Zlin
2-2, Litvinov - Sparta 1-5, Ceske Budejovice - Kladno 1-3, Vsetin -
Karlovy Vary 5-1, Plzen - Trinec 2-2 (preplayed), Slavia - Jihlava
delayed till January 12.
Results of the 30th round: Karlovy Vary - Zlin 6-8, Jihlava -
Vitkovice 2-6, Kladno - Plzen 4-1, Pardubice - Ceske Budejovice 4-1,
Sparta - Opava 10-1, Vsetin - Slavia 5-1, Trinec - Litvinov 2-2.
Results of the 31st round: Vitkovice - Vsetin 1-2, Zlin - Sparta
2-2, Litvinov - Kladno 1-0, Ceske Budejovice 2-2, Plzen - Pardubice
5-2, Slavia - Karlovy Vary 4-4, Opava - Trinec delayed till January 12.
Standings after the 31st round: 1. Vsetin 45 points, 2. Zlin 43,
3. Trinec 41, 4. Sparta 35, 5. Plzen 35, 6. Ceske Budejovice 33, 7.
Karlovy Vary 30, 8. Litvinov 28, 9. Slavia 27, 10. Vitkovice 27, 11.
Pardubice 26, 12. Opava 23, 13. Kladno 23, 14. Jihlava 14.
Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
European Hockey League: Sparta Loses in Mannheim, Must Win in Prague
Sparta Praha, the last Czech representative in the European Hockey
League, lost in the first quarterfinal match on Mannheim's ice 4-6. It
has to win the rematch in Prague January 12 to force at least an
overtime playoff.
Power plays were the deciding factor in the game: Mannheim scored
five power-play goals, Sparta none. Three times Sparta was able to tie
the score, but then Mannheim took a two-goal advantage. Martinec scored
two goals, Vyborny and Miroslav Hlinka each had one.
Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* Only one win meant fourth place among five teams for Slovnaft
Vsetin in the prestigious Spengler Cup hockey tournament in Davos,
Switzerland. Results: Vsetin - Davos 2-4, Vsetin - Feldkirch (Austria)
5-4, Vsetin - Canada 4-5 on penalty shots, Vsetin - Farjestad (Sweden)
2-5.
* Czech ski jumpers Jakub Suchacek, Michal Dolezal, Jakub Janda and
Jakub Hlava performed poorely in the traditional Four Hills Tour (the
former Intersportturnee). Only Suchacek managed to advance to all four
events: He finished 14th in Oberstdorf, 19th in Ga-Pa, 21st in Innsbruck
and 22nd in Bischofshofen. In the overall standings, he finished 16th.
* The 21st year of the Granada-Dakar Rally started on New Year's Day.
After the fifth stage January 5, the Tatra with Karel Loprais took the
lead in the truck category. The reigning champion, Loprais has won the
race four times. In the same truck category, Tomas Tomecek was fifth.
* Ladislav Maier from Rapid Vienna won the Frantisek Planicka Award
as best soccer goalkeeper of the year, defeating Tomas Postulka (Sparta
Praha) and Zdenek Janos (Jablonec).
* In the 13th New Year's Eve intracity derby between Sparta and
Slavia former players, the Slavia old-timers won 7-4.
* Petr Svoboda, who scored the only goal in the Czechs's gold-medal
victory at the Nagano Olympics, was traded by the Philadelphia Flyers to
the team with the NHL's worst record, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
* The fifth game of the Kovopetrol Plzen men's handball team in the
Champions League finished with a debacle, as Plzen lost 22-38 to Celje
Pivovarna Lasko (Slovenia) and remains last in the group's standings,
without a point.
* Long-jumper Jarmila Nygrynova-Strejckova, one of the most famous
Czech track and field athletes, a double European indoor champion and
Czech record holder, died after a long illness January 5 at the age of
45. Josef Koukolicek and Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
The weather during Christmas had something for everyone: somewhere
there was snow, somewhere dry land, one only needed to choose where to
be. Very gray weather introduced us to the new year, but our heavens now
struggle to ensure us that the saying "As on New Year's Eve, thus for
the rest of year," is not valid. There is nice spring weather outside,
the sun shines and a 51-year-old temperature record was broken January
5, when the meteorologist in the Prague's Clementinum recorded 13.8
degrees Celsius/about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are preparing to
come to the Czech Republic, do not pack skis, it is not below freezing
in the mountains. Marketa Lajdova/Mirek Langer
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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