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Carolina (English) No 330
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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 330, Friday, April 30, 1999.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (April 21 - April 28)
Czech Soldiers Will Not Fight in Yugoslavia
The Czech Army will enter Yugoslavia only as part of international
peace forces, and definitely not as part of North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) fighting forces. This standpoint of the Czech
Government was presented by Foreign Minister Jan Kavan at the NATO's
50th anniversary summit, which took place April 24 in Washington. The
meeting was also attended by President Vaclav Havel, Defense Minister
Vladimir Vetchy and Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus.
The Czech Government is ready to consider certain support for
a ground operation, such as assisting with the evacuation of Kosovo
Albanians' evacuation or to deliver food and medical supplies to
refugees in the mountains.
Havel promised that Czech soldiers would be at NATO's disposal for
a Yugoslavia ground operation. Later he qualified his words and said
that they will only participate in a peace operation. Havel later
criticized the Government's position. "From the standpoint of the Czech
future, I consider it very embarrassing that, before a ground operation
begins, our Government declares we will not participate," said Havel in
Minneapolis.
The Czech Republic's reputation at the NATO summit was saved thanks
mainly to Havel. One compliment for Havel was the seating plan at the
anniversary dinner. Havel, with Bill Clinton and Javier Solana, sat at
the head of the table.
Marketa Kaclova/Jakub Jirovec
Prime Minister Zeman Suggests Political Solution to Kosovo Crisis
The three main keys to peace in Kosovo are Russian involvement,
Kosovo Liberation Army disarmament and UN Security Council guarantees,
said Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman April 26 to the Parliamentary
Assembly of European Council deputies in Strasbourg.
Zeman also supported the peace plan of German Foreign Minister
Joschka Fischer. "There should be no ideological barriers, because
Russia is probably the only country able to get Milosevic to agree with
international forces in Kosovo," said Zeman in the daily Pravo. Zeman
also said that, during his negotiations in Russia, Premier Yevgeny
Primakov and Foreign Minister Ivanov said they are not against
cooperation with NATO.
Zeman then repeated that the Czech Government is against a ground
operation and refuses to dispatch the Czech army to Kosovo.
Petr Kupec/Jakub Jirovec
Czech Republic Helps Kosovo Refugees
As refugee camps in Albania overflow, the Czech Republic joins the
countries trying to give temporary asylum to refugees. April 28
a special aircraft with the first group of 115 refugees landed at the
Ostrava-Mosnov Airport.
The Interior Ministry is going to send another two airplanes to
Macedonia next week. The Czech Republic expects about 300 Albanians from
Kosovo, foremost from at-risk groups (children, the ill and the
elderly).
The Government promised to provide space for about 700 people,
another 400 places should remain free for refugees who arrive
independently.
The refugees will first enter a camp in Vysni Lhoty in
Frydek-Mistek County for medical inspection. Then they will be moved to
centers throughout the country, though primarily in Moravia.
Kosovo Albanians will not have to apply for asylum until the end of
the year. The Czech Republic will provide accommodation, medical care
and some money. Adults can work, children will have to go to school.
Bank accounts have also been established to receive financial
contributions.
Marketa Lajdova/Jan Martinek
Czech Military Hospital Heading for Albania
The train with the first part of the military field hospital set
out from Kralupy nad Vltavou April 26. The hospital will join the
humanitarian efforts of NATO to help Kosovo refugees.
Twenty-four railway carriages with Tatra military trucks loaded
with containers of medical supplies and hospital equipment are heading
for the Balkans. The journey will go through Slovakia, Hungary and
Croatia to Slovenian port of Koper, then by sea to the Albanian port of
Drac. Sixteen doctors and 100 support personnel should arrive May 5.
Linda Kholova/Jan Martinek
Czechs and Austrians Protest against Temelin
The Czech-Austrian Anti-Nuclear Committee organized a demonstration
against the completion and operation of the Temelin nuclear power
station April 25 near Temelin. The organizers acquainted the
demonstrators with alternatives to nuclear power and unveiled a statue
to atomic energy.
Ecologists from the Rainbow Movement (Hnuti Duha) protested against
Temelin in Prague April 26. Mountain climbers suspended from Nusle
Bridge a banner reading Temelin - a jump in the wrong direction. The
demonstrators also hurled a Temelin effigy from the bridge.
Because the demonstration was unauthorized, police took the
climbers into custody. Jan Beranek from the Rainbow Movement said to the
daily MF DNES, "We do not like to break the law, but there is no other
way in the Temelin case. Temelin is the worst crime."
On Jan Palach Square in Prague April 21 a demonstration supporting
Temelin was held by energy-worker trade organizations. Speeches were
given, supporters carried banners and Temelin opponents were criticized.
Speakers talked of the positives of Temelin's completion, as the crowd
ranged from 300 to 700 people. The location of the demonstration was
kept secret until the last minute, and there were no incidents.
Klara Nedvedova/Katerina Kolarova
President Withdraws Libel Suit
President Vaclav Havel and his wife Dagmar April 22 withdrew their
libel suit against Premysl Svora, author of the book Seven Weeks That
Shook the Castle, and against the dailies Blesk and Lidove noviny, which
published excerpts from the book, and against TV Nova, which reported
about the book.
"The book published about my wife and me was full of scandals and
the media widely reported about the book and cited it," said Havel. The
president also criticized the quality of the Czech tabloids and "the
poverty of so-called reliable journalists". Havel said now the case has
been forgotten not only by public, but also by the presidential couple.
Havel also said that at this moment there are other issues which should
be resolved.
Ondrej Fer/Katerina Kolarova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Presidential Primaries Coming Soon
The first direct presidential primaries in Slovakia will be held
May 15. According to the latest opinion poll conducted by the Institute
for Public Issues (IVO - Institut pre verejne otazky), Kosice Mayor and
founder of the Civic Understanding Party (SOP) Rudolf Schuster is in the
lead with 36.1 per cent of respondent preferences. Former Premier
Vladimir Meciar is next with 24 per cent and
Magda Vasaryova has 18 per
cent.
April 9 was the deadline for declaring candidacy; candidates had to
present either the support of at least 15 National
Assembly members or
submit a petition signed by 15,000 Slovak citizens. Nine candidates were
registered. Three of them were nominated by political parties: Schuster,
65, by the Government coalition parties; Jan Slota, 46, by the Slovak
National Party; and Meciar, 57, by his Movement for
a Democratic
Slovakia (HZDS). The remaining six candidates are:
Vasaryova, 51, former President Michal Kovac, 69, former Slovak
ambassador to Prague Ivan
Mjartan, 41, Juraj Lazarcik, 50, Juraj Svec,
61, and Boris Zala, 54.
If none of them wins a simple majority in the first round, the two
most successful candidates will meet in a second
round May 29.
According to the opinion of IVO expert Michal Ivantysyn, quoted in
the daily Pravda April 27, Schuster and Meciar will advance into the
second round, while Vasaryova could garner a maximum of 20 per cent,
which would
probably not be enough to advance.
Petra Machova/Lenka Nejezchlebova
ECONOMY
Becherovka - Problem of Four Countries
The international winemaker and distillery Pernod Ricard announced
April 26 an end to trademark disputes between the Czech Republic's Jan
Becher - Karlovarska Becherovka (JBKB) and the Swiss-German company
Underberg by Pernod purchasing the firm Johann Becher OHG from
Underberg. According to Hospodarske noviny, Pernod owns 40 per cent of
Salb, the company which privatized the Czech Becherovka.
Underberg owner Emil Underberg bought the rights to make Becherovka
from the last heir to the recipe, Heda Becherova, in the early 1970's.
However, he had not used it for 20 years, just distributing the Czech
product in Germany. Five years ago, when Jan Becher's representative
Koospol cancelled the distribution contract, Underberg began production
in Germany.
Pernod is supposedly considering selling Johann Becher at cost to
the Czech Becher, including all the rights for Becherovka. All
production should be moved to the Czech Republic. The transaction means
this Czech product will return to German stores in September.
Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova
Three Suitors Interested in CSOB Stake
On April 26 members of the management committee for bank
privatization opened the binding price offers for a nearly 67-per-cent
share in the Czechoslovak Trade Bank (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka,
CSOB). Offers came from the world's biggest bank, Deutsche Bank, from
Germany's second-largest bank HypoVereinsbank, and the KBC Bank from
Belgium. According to information in the daily Hospodarske noviny,
Deutsche Bank offered 1.2 billion USD and the other banks 500 million
USD. CSOB spokesman Milan Tomanek confirmed the plan to sign a contract
with the new strategic partner by the end of June. It will be necessary
by then to resolve relations with Slovak shareholders controlling 24 per
cent of the bank's shares.
Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova
Government Begins Privatization of Czech Savings Bank
April 22 Hospodarske noviny and the Financial Times published an
advertisement on the sale of the Czech Savings Bank (Ceska sporitelna,
CS). One day earlier, the National Property Fund (FNM) and Finance
Ministry offered a controlling share in the bank to international
financial institutions; for the time being, that means the 45 per cent
owned by the FNM. However, this summer the bank will issue new shares,
meaning the state share could increase up to 60 per cent.
The Government will choose finalists from investors who present
their preliminary offers by July 31. The suitors will submit binding
offers by the end of October. The Government expects to finish
privatization by December 31. Among investors said to be interested in
the share are Bank Austria Creditanstalt, Societe Generale and
HypoVereinsbank.
Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova
ECONOMICS IN BRIEF
* AliaChem, an important Czech chemical concern, announced
first-quarter profits of 413 million crowns. Aliachem spokesman Miroslav
Jilek said the main reason is the success of Aliachem's subsidiaries.
AliaChem unites the promising companies that belonged to the former
industrial giant Chemapol, now in bankruptcy.
* Last year's losses at the state-owned Consolidation Bank
(Konsolidacni banka) were 14.4 billion crowns, the bank's worst year
ever. Bank General Director Kamil Ziegler said the losses stem primarily
from the insolvency of the bank's clientele.
Pavlina Hodkova/Jakub Jirovec
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Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid April 30)
------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 37.765
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 23.439
Great Britain 1 GBP 57.439
Denmark 1 DKK 5.081
Japan 100 JPY 29.928
Canada 1 CAD 24.167
IMF 1 XDR 48.230
Hungary 100 HUF 15.072
Norway 1 NOK 4.566
New Zealand 1 NZD 19.806
Poland 1 PLN 8.935
Greece 100 GRD 11.559
Slovakia 100 SKK 83.986
Slovenia 100 SIT 19.853
Sweden 1 SEK 4.243
Switzerland 1 CHF 23.486
USA 1 USD 35.594
Exchange Rates of countries particpating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 19.309
Belgium 100 BEF 93.617
Finland 1 FIM 6.352
France 1 FRF 5.757
Ireland 1 IEP 47.952
Italy 1000 ITL 19.504
Luxemburg 100 LUF 93.617
Netherlands 1 NLG 17.137
Portugal 100 PTE 18.837
Austria 1 ATS 2.744
Spain 100 ESP 22.697
CULTURE
New Czech film from Four Directors: Prague through the Eyes of...
The first part, The Cards Are Dealt, was directed by Vladimir
Michalek and co-written by novelist Jachym Topol. About journalists, the
story features well known reporters playing themselves - Jan Machacek
from the Respekt weekly plays a journalist celebrating his winning the
Golden Greyhound prize, while his wife deals tarot cards at home.
Another story, Absolute Love, the non-animation debut for director
Michaela Pavlatova, tells the story of Anna and Petr, who just ended
their respective relationships and are searching for their ideal
partners in nighttime Prague. Karel Roden and Theodora Remundova play
the protagonists.
The humorous tale of an elderly teacher from small-town Slovakia
(Prievidza) who comes to check up on her daughter living in Prague, is
directed by Slovak Martin Sulik.
Finishing the film quartet is Risk, directed by Artemio Benki, who
spends his time between Paris and Prague, and tells the story of
a French couple on a business trip to Prague.
Lenka Nejezchlebova/Zuzana Janeckova
CULTURE IN BRIEF
* Erik Yonka's movie The Dreamed Life of Angels (Vysneny zivot
andelu) opened the Festival of French Cinematography in Prague's
Lucerna. The movie will premiere in Brno April 28.
* English rock seniors Jethro Tull will celebrate 30 years together
with a tour that stops in Brno's Rondo and Prague's Sport Hall.
* The best of last year's Czech books can be seen in the National
Literature Monument (Pamatnik narodniho pisemnictvi). Mojmir Horyna's
book on fine arts Jan Blazej-Santini Ajchel won the competition as the
year's most beautiful publication.
* The grant commission of the Culture Ministry will provide its
largest grant (2.1 million crowns) this year to the Karlovy Vary
Festival Film Service for advertising this year's festival.
Veronica Macias, Lenka Nejezchlebova, Zuzana Galova/Zuzana Janeckova
SPORTS
Hockey National Team Defeats Russia Twice
The Czech national hockey team's preparation for the World
Championships continued with two games against Russia. It won both
matches, in Marianske Lazne April 21 and in Pilsen April 22, but the
main goal of the games was to test the players.
Players from the Extraleague finals participants (Vsetin and Zlin)
did not play in the first game, although forwards Tomas Vlasak and Roman
Simicek joined the team. The game was decided in the second period, in
which the Russian defense made several mistakes, punished by three Czech
goals. Russia's game was marked by rough play and shots from any
positions. Czech goalkeeper Milan Hnilicka, however, did not allow
a goal, even on Oleg Petrov's penalty shot. The Czech Republic won 5-0.
An almost complete Czech team performed in the second game,
including all Czech players from European teams (except for Swedish
league finals participant Frantisek Kaberle) and from NHL teams that did
not pass qualify for the playoffs. The Czechs took control of the game
in the beginning of the third period, when the home team turned the
score around from 1-2 to 3-2.
Petr Wilfer/Mirek Langer
Czech Team Arrives for World Hockey Championships with 13 Forwards
The Czech national hockey team came to Norway with three
goalkeepers, seven defenders and 13 forwards April 27 and played its
last preparation game against Norway (a 6-3 win, two goals from Viktor
Ujcik). According to the manager of the team, Frantisek Cernik, all
goalies and 19 players will be registered. Coaches Ivan Hlinka and Josef
Augusta are keeping one place free for one center from the teams in the
NHL playoffs series between New Jersey and Pittsburgh - either Petr
Sykora from New Jersey or Martin Straka from Pittsburgh.
Goaltenders Milan Hnilicka and Roman Cechmanek (now nursing his
shoulder, which was hit by a puck) should be the basis of the team's
success. Three Olympic champions are among the defenders: Frantisek
Kucera, Jaroslav Spacek and Libor Prochazka. Two stars from five-time
Czech Extraleague champ Vsetin - Pavel Patera and Martin Prochazka - are
accompanied by Montreal Canadiens player Martin Rucinsky and by Jan
Caloun, the most productive player in the Finnish league.
The coaches will not wait for the world's best goalkeeper, Dominik
Hasek, because his Buffalo Sabres defeated the Ottawa Senators in the
NHL playoffs. Hasek's save percentage is 96.3.
The world championships will start May 1, the final is May 16. In
the basic group, the Czech Republic will meet Austria, Japan and the
United States. The two best teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
Petr Wilfer/Mirek Langer
Tento Czech Open Tennis Tournament Continues without Stars
The organizers of Prague's ATP Tour tournament, the Tento Czech
Open on the clay courts of the Stvanice island, lost one favorite after
another. Just before the tournament began, the biggest star expected
- the United States' Andre Agassi - cancelled, and Chile's Marcelo Rios
could not come because of an injury suffered in his Monte Carlo final.
Injured Andrei Medvedev from Ukraine and ill Czech Bohdan Ulihrach (the
top Czech player) did not put a ball in play in Prague, either.
In the tournament's second match, top men's seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov
from Russia, who will move into first place in the ATP Tour rankings May
3, lost in Prague to the tour's 72nd-ranked player, Australia's Richard
Fromberg. No player from the tournament's top four favorites advanced to
the third round. The fans' mood could improve thanks to the side
program, which includes an exhibition between legendary Swede Bjorn Borg
and popular Frenchman Yannick Noah.
Tomas Kohout/Mirek Langer
Czech Soccer Team Loses Preparation Match in Poland
Without Patrik Berger, Vladimir Smicer, Miroslav Baranek, Tomas
Repka, Jan Suchoparek and Richard Dostalek, the Czech team met Poland in
Warsaw April 28. The Czech Republic lost 1-2, as three novices played
their first game for the national team: Libor Sionko from Ostrava, Marek
Nikl from Nuremberg and 18-year-old Jan Polak from Brno. Polak had to
postpone his high-school final exam because of the game.
The team was surprised by Poland's rough play and its first shot,
from Trzeciak, ended in Pavel Srnicek's goal's net. After the break,
Wichniarek profited from a bad Jiri Nemec's pass. Substitute Pavel
Horvath then hit the Polish goal's bar and another substitute Vratislav
Lokvenc leveled after Pavel Kuka's pass. The Czech team however lost
1-2 and came in for a heavy critics from the sport journalists.
Josef Koukolicek, Mirek Langer/Mirek Langer
Viktoria Zizkov Falls among Candidates for Relegation
Due to injuries and disciplinary suspensions, Viktoria Zizkov coach
Petr Ulicny was missing seven regular players for the league match
against Brno. Another two suspended players left Viktoria even fewer
options, and Brno easily earned all three points.
Sparta Praha defeated faint-hearted Dukla Pribram; Horst Siegl, who
leads among individual scorers with 13 goals, assisted on all the
scores. Sigma Olomouc coach Dan Matuska won his first match with his new
club, as it defeated Opava.
Hradec Kralove experienced a debacle. Ambitious Blsany forgot the
fact it plays poorly away from home and scored four goals on Hradec
mistakes.
Results of the 24th round: Zizkov - Brno 0-2, Sparta Praha
- Pribram 3-0, Karvina - Slavia 1-2, Olomouc - Opava 3-1, Hradec Kralove
- Blsany 0-4, Drnovice - Liberec 1-1, Jablonec - Ostrava 2-2, Plzen
- Teplice 0-0.
Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 50, 2. Slavia Praha 42, 3. Teplice 40,
4. Olomouc 39, 5. Blsany 36, 6. Drnovice 36, 7. Brno 34, 8. Ostrava 32,
9. Liberec 31, 10. Opava 30, 11. Jablonec 29, 12. Hradec Kralove 29,
13. Zizkov 25, 14. Pribram 23, 15. Plzen 22, 16. Karvina 19.
Josef Koukolicek/Mirek Langer
Zlin Wins Volleyball Extraleague
The men of Fatra Zlin won the Kooperativa Extraleague, taking the
best-of-five final series against Jihostroj Ceske Budejovice April 26.
Zlin defeated the reigning champion thanks to three tie-breakers (seris
final: 3-2) and ensured itself a place in the Champions Cup next season.
Zdenek Kalab, 38, was the new champion's best player.
Alena Smrzova/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* Czech national basketball team member Jiri Zidek was part of the
Lithuanian club Zhalgiris Kaunas, which won the European league
tournament. Zidek became the first Czech player to play on a league
champion.
* The Czech under-16 soccer team is participating in the European
Championships, which are taking place in Moravia. It lost to Germany
0-1 and defeated Denmark 1-0 in its first round group. After deadline:
Czech Republic - Greece 2-0, the Czech team advances to the
quarterfinal.
* Pavel Nedved will participate in the European soccer Cup Winners
Cup. His Lazio Rome will play against the Spanish club Real Mallorca.
Alena Smrzova, Josef Koukolicek/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
Chestnut trees in bloom are a genuine sign of spring. Summer-like
temperatures April 25 allowed not just the hardy to dig in to their
summer wardrobes. The sky is blue, with the occasional small cloud.
Birds are singing. Still, the situation is not ideal, nights and
mornings remain a little chilly.
Robin Rohrich/Jakub Jirovec
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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