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Carolina (English) No 301
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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) 22 112 252, fax: (+4202) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 301, Friday, September 11, 1998.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (August 26 - September 9)
Zeman and Klaus Commemorated Second Czech President Edvard Benes
Prime Minister Milos Zeman and Parliament Chairman Vaclav Klaus,
leaders of the two strongest political parties in the country, attended
the September 3 commemoration of the 50th anniversary of second
Czechoslovak President Edvard Benes' death in Sezimovo Usti. According
to the daily Lidove noviny, Zeman described Benes as the one of the
greatest Czech politicians who had to face up to the greater strength of
the world's powerful, and who had no chance to behave other than as he
did.
Klaus complimented Benes as a man whose deeds had a decisive impact
on the destiny of the Czechoslovak state and who hardly has an equal in
modern Czech history. Klaus described him as a master of political
strategy and diplomacy whose tactical concepts did not stand the test of
time and who was cornered by the tide of events into extreme situations
where he twice had to capitulate (Munich 1938, February 1948). Klaus
recalled the fact that Benes' legacy is still the subject of lively
debate and the controversies over the definitive evaluation have
importance in domestic and foreign policy.
Benes (1884-1948) was the Czechoslovak President in 1935-38 and
1945-48. After the Munich agreement in 1938 he resigned and left for the
USA. Later, during the Second World War, he led the Czech exile
government in London. In February 1948 he enabled the Communist takeover
by accepting under great pressure the resignations of the democratically
elected ministers. However, he refused to sign the new Czechoslovak
Constitution, and resigned for a second time June 7, 1948. He was
a leading diplomat in the pre-war League of Nations, where he was
a member of the LN Council in 1923-1927 and chairman of the Security
Council 1927-1938.
ODS Not Preparing to Cancel Opposition Contract with Social Democrats
After an hourlong meeting with Prime Minister Milos Zeman in
Sezimovo Usti September 3, Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Chairman Vaclav
Klaus announced that his party was not preparing to cancel the
Opposition Contract which enabled Zeman's Social Democrats to create
a minority government. Speculation about the end of the agreement began
when ODS mebers began criticizing the Social Democrats' aim to
investigate managers of companies with some state ownership and
threatened to cancel the contract.
Small Parties Sign Coalition
The Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), the Freedom Union (US), the
Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) and the Democratic Union (DEU) September
1 signed an agreement to create an election coalition for the fall
Senate and local elections. According to a joint statement, the main
goal of the coalition is to prevent a constitutional majority in the
Senate for the country's two largest parties - the Social Democrats and
the Civic Democratic Party (ODS).
The Opposition Contract sifned by those two parties after the early
elections (see Carolina 297) means a division of all political power
between the two parties. Christian Democrat Chriarman Josef Lux said
a true parliamentary democracy needs a true opposition, not
a contractual one.
ODA Chairman Daniel Kroupa and DEU Chairman Ratibor Majzlik, whose
parties are not represented in Parliament, said the coalition agreement
might be the first step toward merging the four parties. The coalition
agreement provides for a common ballot and full support for Senate
candidates, a bi-monthly meeting of all four chairmen and the creation
of a common ODA and US Senate club.
President Havel Recuperating in Lany, Preparing for Trip to USA
After more than a month in the hospital, President Vaclav Havel was
released August 28. Havel is reconvalescing at the Lany Chateau under
doctors' care and is preparing for his five-day trip to the USA,
scheduled to begin September 15 (a trip to Great Britain is planned for
the second half of October). Because of his health problems Havel gave
up his annual visit on the first day of school to wish a random group of
students success.
Havel had been in the Central Military Hospital in Prague since
July 23, and July 26 Austrian surgeon Ernst Bodner removed Havel's
colostomy. Havel remained in the hospital longer than expected because
of breathing problems and heart arrythmia.
After deadline: Reuters September 9 announced that Havel is among the
candidates for the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize. The agency wrote that
Havel's candidacy is aided by the 30th anniversary of the invasion of
the former Czechoslovakia by Warsasw Pact armies.
Prime Minister Zeman Wants to Leave Politics within Four Years
Prime Minister Milos Zeman announced September 7, less than two
months after becoming prime minister of the Social Democrats' minority
government, that he intends to leave poltiics within four years. The
54-year-old Zeman said he will leave the politcal stage and take early
retirement.
Zeman said politicians never know the right time to leave:
"Politicians consider themselves irreplaceable. There are no
irreplaceable politicians." The prime minister also said he takes his
exit as a challenge to other party politicians. Members of the
government and the party have been retrained in their comments. Vice
Chairman of the Social Democrats' Parliamentary club Lubomir Zaoralek
said he does not consider Zeman's decision definitive. He said it was
not the first time Zeman has talked about politicians being replaceable.
According to current retirement legislation, Zeman will have the
right to claim retirement benefits from the state in March 2003.
Radio Free Europe Broadcasting from Prague to Iran Delayed
Radio Free Europe did not begin broadcasting to Iran from Prague
September 1 as planned, and the beginning of transmissions will likely
fall near the end of the month. Programming will be handled by 12
journalists in a villa in Prague's Bubenec neighborhood.
RFE Administrative Director Jan Obrman September 1 refused to
comment on the position of the government, which August 26 said it would
change nothing in the decision of the previous government to allow
broadcasting to Iran. The government has, however, expressed fears over
the security risks associated with broadcasting, which the previous
government did not fully appreciate. Czech companies have expressed
fears that the broadcasting will endanger their business interests in
Iran.
In the case of Iraq the government is still waiting for a request
for permission to broadcast. Criticism of the government's waffling has
been fulsome. Former Foreign Minister Josef Zielienec, in a letter to
Prime Minister Milos Zeman, wrote that the government's position might
call into question the basic foreign policy direction of the country.
"Say loudly that you want the station to broadcast from our territory,"
wrote Zielienec.
Petr Uhl Is New Government Deputy for Human Rights
Prime Minister Milos Zeman's government named journalist Petr Uhl
the government deputy for human rights September 9. Former dissident Uhl
co-founded the alternative news agency Eastern European Information
Agency (VIA) in 1988, and between 1990-92 he was director of the Czech
Press Agency (CTK). He is currently a commentator for the daily Pravo.
Ecology Demonstration Local Street Party, This Time without Violence
About 3,000 primarily young people participated in the Local Street
Party demonstration August 29 in Prague, which was directed against
economic globalization and the worsening environment in the capital
city.
Organizers and media commentators agree the event, which took place
under a massive police surveillance, was unexpectedly peaceful. The
windows of McDonald's restaurants survived the demonstration fully
intact, unlike the Global Street Party (see Carolina 290).
Milan Srejber Accused of Misusing Insider Information
According to a Czech Television report September 2, former tennis
player and businessman Milan Srejber was accused of abuse of insider
information. Srejber allegedly made for his Srejber Tennis Investing
company 14 million crowns illegally by making financial machinations
based on publicly unavailable information. Srejber confessed to
sponsoring the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) under false names during the
investigation of the ODS financial scandal.
Strougal's Responsibility for Silence about Chernobyl Investigated
The Department of Documentation and Investigation of Communism
Crimes is reviewing available materials and depositions to determine if
former Czechoslovak Prime Minister Lubomir Strougal did not violate the
law in connection with dissemination of information about the Chernobyl
disaster in 1986. According to department speaker Tomas Hornof, the
criminal responsibility of other government members was reviewed earlier
and rejected.
Government Will Try to Get Lottery Act Right
According to the European Union, the Lottery Act, which came into
effect September 1, restricts the participation of foreign companies in
consumer competitions. Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Rychetsky vowed the
Czech Republic will try to correct the law.
ECONOMY
Nominal Wages Increase in First Six Months, Real Wages Drop
The average Czech wage increased to 11,118 crowns per month after
the first six months of 1998 (904 crowns per month more than in 1997),
but the real wages of the populace declined by 3.6 per cent, according
to information released by the Czech Statistical Office September 1. It
is expected that the decline will most affect the sectors of retail,
transportation and services.
The best-paid workers are in the banking sector, where the average
monthly wage is 20,451 crowns (up by 2,678 crowns monthly). State
employees, teachers and healthcare workers had their nominal wages
decreases by 1.4 per cent (teachers now make an average of 9,151 crowns
per month, down 139 crowns monthly), because they were not paid their
usual bonuses.
Labor Minister Vladimir Spidla agreed Septmeber 3 with leaders of
the state employees' union on a 17-per-cent raise from January. The
compromise (the union wanted a 20-per-cent increase, the government
13), will mean an increase of 9 billion crowns in budget expenses.
After deadline: The government Septmeber 9 approved the 17-per-cent
increase.
Unemployment Continues to Grow
The number of unemployed Czechs is growing more quickly than
experts predicted. Labor offices showed 6.4 per cent of the working
population unemployed at the end of August, meaning 330,024 unemployed
people. The unemployed for the period are in large part made up of new
graduates from all levels of education. The growth of unemployment hit
all regions of the country, while the highest unemployment rate of 14.7
per cent belongs to the northern Bohemia region of Most.
Inflation Rate Declines
For the first time since 1990 the monthly rate of inflation was
less than zero, as the prices of consumer goods in August declined by
0.2 per cent from July. Vegetables, potatoes, fruits and fuels were
cheaper. The cause was not economic growth, but the reality that
consumers have less money and retailers are forced to reduce prices.
The crown continued to gain and September 8 was trading at 17.63
crowns to the deutschmark. The negative inflation, experts say, is
causing a decrease in interest rates, which should lead to a correction
for the crown.
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(Valid from September 10, 1998)
country curerency
---------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 17.791
Belgium 100 BEF 85.526
Great Britain 1 GBP 50.669
Denmark 1 DKK 4.634
ECU 1 XEU 34.714
Finland 1 FIM 5.799
France 1 FRF 5.261
Ireland 1 IEP 44.206
Italy 1000 ITL 17.870
Japan 100 JPY 22.478
Canada 1 CAD 20.055
Luxembrug 100 LUF 85.526
IMF 1 XDR 41.569
Hungary 100 HUF 13.737
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.632
Norway 1 NOK 3.949
New Zealand 1 NZD 15.417
Poland 1 PLN 8.477
Portugal 100 PTE 17.204
Austria 1 ATS 2.507
Greece 100 GRD 10.298
Germany 1 DEM 17.645
Slovakia 100 SKK 86.446
Slovenia 100 SIT 18.700
Spain 100 ESP 20.762
Sweden 1 SEK 3.818
Switzerland 1 CHF 21.534
USA 1 USD 30.558
CULTURE
Josef Lada Exhibition Opens in Prague Castle's Riding School
A retrospective exhibit of classic Czech painter and illustrator
Josef Lada is open to the public from September 2 to November 29 in the
Riding School of the Prague Castle. The exhibit, organized by the
National Gallery in cooperation with the Prague Castle Administration
and the Gallery company, contains 1,393 drawings, 11 posters, 149 books
and journals, prints, calendars, postcards and documents.
The main part of exhibit shows Lada as he is publicly known, as the
author of idyllic scenes from the Czech country, inspired by Hrusice,
where he was born. Lada did not have an academic artistic education and
was further burdened by a physical handicap (he was blind in one eye,
and as such the traditional conception of perspective is missing in his
drawings). However, Lada became a renowned illustrator and a true
national artist. He garnered worldwide appreciation - Pablo Picasso
called Lada the strongest personality in Czech modern art.
A separate section of the exhibit is devoted to illustrations to
Jaroslav Hasek's books, including The Good Soldier Schweik. Lada is less
known as the author of political caricature, which is also presented
here.
In connection with the exhibit, a monograph about Lada was
published.
Respect 98
Prague citizens and visitors had a unique chance to see the Romany
(Gypsy) folklore at the end of this century between September 4-6. The
international festival of Romany culture RESPECT 98, organized by the
Respekt weekly and the Rachot agency, began with a concert in the Prague
Palace Akropolis, presenting the Czech group Kale with Vera Bila, the
folk music J. Suk Bartos and French band Swing Gadje, whose winsome
music opens the darkest corners of sadness in the Romany spirits.
The second concert, on the stage of the Prague Castle's Riding
School, was opened by the French artists. The concert, caught by rains,
was even more exciting than the first one, thanks to the Spanish
flamenco ensemble Grupo Ana la China, Romanian Taraf de Haidouks and
Kocani Orkestar from Macedonia.
The festival was closed by Toni Gatliff's movie Latcho Drom
showing.
Best World Photos Shown in Prague
The World Press Photo exhibit of award-winning journalist
photographs of 1997 is being held between September 4-27 in the Ambit
Gallery in Prague. The Czech press noted the success of Czech
photographer Antonin Kratochvil, who has been living in the United
States since the 70's and won the Portraits category with his series on
American actor Willem Dafoe.
SPORTS
Czech Soccer Players Begin Euro 2000 Qualification with Close Win
Unusual conditions welcomed the Czech team in Toftir in the Faroe
Islands September 6, where it began qualification for the Euro 2000.
A heavy fog hid quite a good game, marked by the defensive tactics of
the home team and a bit of unfair play. The Czech team's first goal in
the 33rd minute was not allowed because Lokvenc was offside. After the
break the Czech pressure grew and was not stopped after Nedved was
ejected in the 85th minute. The Czech players returned the ball into
play immediately and Smicer scored. The home team protested that the
Czechs should give them the ball back after it was kicked out of bounds
to allow treatment for an injured player. The Czechs answered that the
Faroe players did not deserve a gentlemanly gesture, because they
delayed the game and fouled constantly.
Squad: Postulka - Votava - Rada, Suchoparek - Poborsky (81st minute
Latal), Bejbl (81st minute Sloncik), Nemec, Nedved, Cizek (55th minute
Berger) - Smicer, Lokvenc.
Standings in the 9th qualification group: 1. Estonia 4 points/2
matches, 2. Bosnia and Herzegovina 4/2, 3. Czech Republic 3/1, 4.eq
Scotland and Lithuania 1/1, 6. Faroe Islands 0/3.
Jana Novotna And Cyril Suk Save Honor of Czech Tennis in US Open
Only Jana Novotna made it through the second round in the US Open
Championships in New York, and has advanced to the semifinal, where she
will meet world number-one, Slovak national Martina Hingis of
Switzerland. As a doubles team, the two are also in the doubles' final.
Cyril Suk, together with Australia's Stolle, advanced to the men's
doubles' final.
Petr Korda's loss to Germany's Karbacher in the first round was the
biggest Czech disappointment. Also Nemeckova, Richterova, Kleinova and
Novak lost in the first round, while Dosedel, Ulihrach, Damm, Hrdlickova
and Bobkova were bounced in the second.
Czechs Win Four Medals in Canoeing World Championships
Two-time Olympic champion Martin Doktor renewed his membership in
the world canoe elite by winning two individual medals (gold in the 200
meters and silver in the 1,000 meters) in the flat water canoeing World
Championships in Szeged, Hungary. The four-man canoe team of Prochazka,
Krivanek, Fuksa and Kozisek added another unexpected gold in the
200-meter race, Doktor then shared with Netusil, Machac and Jirasky in
winning one last medal - a bronze for in the 1,000 meters.
Hockey National Team Finishes Third in the Czech Insurance Cup
The Czech national team started its new season with two wins over
Slovakia. Moreover, it did not allow Slovakia to score a goal for the
third game in a row. The Czechs scored early goals - three goals in the
first two minutes of both matches. Czech Republic - Slovakia 2-0 (Ujcik,
Hlavac; in Trinec) and 5-0 (Belohlav, Kratena, Kadera, Stepanek,
Kaberle; in Vsetin).
A less succesful outing in the Czech Insurance (Ceska pojistovna)
Cup in Zlin followed. After two ties and an opening loss to Finland, the
Czech team finished third. Results: Czech Republic - Finland 1-2 (Patera
- Ikonen, Ruuttu), Czech Republic - Russia 3-3 (Dopita, Hlavac, Vyborny
- Boutsayev, Afinogenov, Kudashov), Czech Republic - Sweden 0-0.
Standings: 1. Sweden, 2. Finland, 3. Czech Republic, 4. Russia.
Hockey Extraleague Starts with Reigning Champion's Loss
Reigning champion Slovnaft Vsetin's surprising 0-2 loss to
Pardubice inaugurated the new year of the Staropramen Extraleague. Both
goals were scored by young forward Kudrna.
Results: Plzen - Zlin 1-1, Vitkovice - Trinec 3-4, Ceske Budejovice
- Sparta Praha 2-2, Slavia Praha - Kladno 6-2, Litvinov - Opava 3-0,
Jihlava - Karlovy Vary 2-3, Vsetin - Pardubice 0-2.
Zizkov Soccer Players Defeat Slavia after 60 Years
Viktoria Zizkov players found historic success in the fourth round
of the Gambrinus Soccer League, defeating Slavia 2-1, 60 years after
their last victory over Slavia. Slavia continues to play poorly. Sparta
leads the standings after a 4-2 win against Opava. In the northern
Bohemian derby between Jablonec and Liberec, the home field was decisive
for Jablonec.
Results: Jablonec - Liberec 1-0, Brno - Teplice 0-3, Plzen
- Karvina 3-2, Olomouc - Dukla 0-0, Sparta Praha - Opava 4-2, Hradec
Kralove - Drnovice 3-1, Ostrava - Blsany 2-2, Zizkov - Slavia Praha 2-1.
Standings: 1. Sparta 10, 2. Hradec Kralove 7, 3. Olomouc 7, 4.-5.
Blsany a Teplice 7, 6. Drnovice 7, 7. Ostrava 6, 8. Opava 6, 9. Plzen
6, 10. Liberec 5, 11. Zizkov 4, 12. Slavia 4, 13. Karvina 4, 14.
Jablonec 3, 15. Dukla 1, 16. Brno 1.
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* Soccer goalkeeper Petr Kouba, former national team member on the
Euro 1996 runners-up, who vainly tried to make a name abroad (La Coruna,
Kaiserslautern), will play for Viktoria Zizkov till the end of year.
* Czech teams' opponents in the first round of European soccer cups:
UEFA Cup: Slavia Praha - Schalke 04 (Germany), Sparta Praha - Real
Sociedad San Sebastian (Spain), Sigma Olomouc - Olympique Marseille
(France). Cup Winners Cup: FK Jablonec - Apollon Limassol (Cyprus).
* Top world triple-jumper Jonathan Edwards of Great Britain, the
first man who jumped regularly more than 18 meters, will train with
coach Jan Pospisil's team, where javelin-thrower Jan Zelezny trains, as
well.
* Helena Fuchsova finished fifth in the 400-meter run in the Grand
Prix final event in Moscow.
* Eva Celbova and Sona Dosoudilova won the beach volleyball European
Championships in Rhodos, Greece.
* Marek Svec won the silver medal in the wrestling World
Championships in the 97-kilogram category, losing to Russia's
Koguashvili in the final.
* Josef Dressler became the Masters category world champion in
cyclotrial.
* The Prague match between world chess champion Garry Kasparov
(Russia) and grandmaster Jan Timman (Netherlands) is Kasparov's
preparation for the upcoming World Championships final against Belarus'
Shirov. After four games, Kasparov leads 3-1.
WEATHER
We have been faced eith the unwelcome return of fall, although
(supposedly only for a short time) the sun and temperatures of 25
degrees Celsiuis/77 degrees Fahrenheit retuerned.
Dear Readers,
We sincerely apologize for the absence of Carolina 300, which
resulted from an unfortunate coincidence of vacations.
Today's Carolina was prepared by Lida Truneckova, Nora Novakova,
David Vlk, Michal Cerny and Mirek Langer, and was translated by Langer,
Milan Smid and Michael Bluhm.
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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