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Carolina (English) No 323
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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 323, Friday, March 12, 1999.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (March 3 - March 10)
Zeman and Schroder Erase Past and Mark New Beginning
The first visit of Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman to Germany
marked a new beginning in the relation of both countries.
Zeman met with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder March 8. After
a long discussion, Schroder announced that he will no longer consider
the case of Sudeten Germans displaced after World War II as to their
property claims against the Czech Republic. "The agreement not to burden
our relation with the past means that the past is closed and that we
will direct ourselves toward the future," said Schroder. Regarding this
subject, Zeman in the name of the Czech government distanced the state
from the Benes Decrees, which concern the displacement of Sudeten
Germans. "In maintaining the continuity of the Czech legal system, the
validity of certain legal measures accepted after 1945 has expired,"
Zeman said.
Both statements are regarded as historic and promise more progress
in improving relations between the countries. Schroder is to come to
Prague September 30.
Alena Smrzova/Sofia Karakeva
Havel in France Discusses Kosovo Conflict and EU Future
Czech President Vaclav Havel met French President Jacques Chirac
and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and addressed the French Senate
during his three-day visit to France March 2-4. He also traveled to
Dijon to meet Czech students in the local lyceum, where he recalled
famous Czechs like former President Edvard Benes or thespian Jiri
Voskovec, who spent their school days there. Aside from his official
schedule Havel also commemorated the death of Princess Diana, who was
killed in a car accident in Paris 18 months ago.
In his address to the upper chamber of the French Parliament Havel
said that European institutions should come closer to the common people.
According to Havel, this problem could be solved by adopting a clear and
simple European Constitution and by introducing a second chamber to the
European Parliament - an Assembly of Nations. This particular suggestion
brought a mixed response from the Czech Republic. Vaclav Klaus, the
chairman of the Chamber of Deputies and head of the Civic Democratic
Party (ODS), criticized Havel for not consulting such important
proposals with the Government beforehand. Foreign Minister Jan Kavan,
who was informed about Havel's schedule in France, described the appeal
as inspiring.
When evaluating his trip, Havel complimented the French role in
negotiations on Kosovo autonomy at the Rambouillet Chateau. Havel said
it is a positive phenomenon that Europe is taking the initiative in
solving its own problems. Havel said he thinks the next talks should
take place in the Kosovo region with the attendance of representatives
of the neighboring countries of Albania and Macedonia.
Ondrej Fer/Milan Smid
Round-Table Discussion in Lany
In the Lany Chateau March 6 President Vaclav Havel hosted
a round-table discussion with the chairmen of four parliamentary
parties: Milos Zeman (Czech Social Democratic Party, CSSD), Jan Kasal
(Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party, KDU-CSL), Jan
Ruml (Freedom Union, US) and Daniel Kroupa (Civic Democratic Alliance,
ODA). Havel did not invite the third-strongest parliamentary party, the
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM). Vaclav Klaus, chairman of
the opposition Civic Democratic Party (ODS), refused to attend the
meeting. The main topic of the discussion was the present economic
situation in the Czech Republic and the coming integration into
Euroatlantic structures, which will require amendments to the Czech
Constitution.
The meeting resulted in a rather general declaration on the
necessity to solve present problems, without specifying any steps. Party
chairmen do not share the same opinion of the Report on the State of
Czech Society (see Carolina 321, 322) and about Havel not inviting
a Communist Party representative. While Prime Minister Milos Zeman said
he regretted the absence, the other chairmen did not miss the Communist
Party's presence at all.
Zuzana Galova/Milan Smid
Minister's Adviser Resigns after Being Charged in Liberta Case
Barbora Snopkova, the close official and personal adviser of
Finance Minister Ivo Svoboda, gave up her post in the ministry March 4
after being charged in connection with bankruptcy of the
baby-carriage-maker Liberta in Melnik. Svoboda said Snopkova does not
want this affair to be connected with him or with the ministry. However,
Snopkova will remain as chief treasurer of the ruling Social Democrats
(CSSD).
Snopkova is charged with failing to submit all the documents of the
company during bankruptcy proceedings. She denies the charge, claiming
that all documents were at the disposal of the bankruptcy trustee.
Police are investigating the dubious sale of the profitable part of
Liberta to the Zora-Euro company, owned by people close to Svoboda and
Snopkova. The investigation was confirmed to the daily Lidove noviny by
a police investigator March 5.
Svoboda's statements published in Lidove noviny March 6 stirred
speculation about the political background of the affair, because he
hinted that the affair should serve to discredit him, a party vice
chairman, and the party before the April party congress. Svoboda said
the affair reminded him the atmosphere of the Stalinist 50's, when
communists used similar methods of discreditation. However, other party
representatives say they do not believe the affair is politically
motivated.
Svoboda and Snopkova were on the board of directors of Liberta from
1996. The firm had been a successful producer of baby carriages, but the
company started having financial problems in April 1997. The management
divided the company, selling the healthy divisions to Zora-Euro and
placing the other, unprofitable divisions into receivership. Snopkova
was originally charged with the liquidation of the company.
Jan Mates/Lenka Nejezchlebova
NEWS IN BRIEF
* March 7 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of
Czechoslovakia's first president, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk. President
Vaclav Havel and Prime Minister Milos Zeman commemorated the occasion by
visiting Masaryk's grave in Lany. There were also festivities in
Masaryk's birthplace of Hodonin.
* Unknown soldiers March 5 attacked the Czech SFOR mission's camp
with a grenade. The explosion damaged the lower floor of the building
that serves as the headquarters of the Czech unit. No one was injured,
and it is believed that the attack is connected with increasing tension
in the area brought about by the March 5 recall of Serbian President in
Bosnia Nikola Poplasen.
* The complete version of the Government's Report on the State of
Czech Society can be found in Czech (see Carolina 322) at the address
www.vlada.cz.
* Tomas Jezek, member of the Presidium of the Securities Commission,
March 5 filed a suit against Minister Jaroslav Basta, because of
Basta's claims about a criminal complaint to be filed against Jezek. The
complaint was to be filed in connection with the privatization of
chocolate-maker Cokoladovny (see Carolina 317). Jezek March 6 said to
daily Lidove noviny: "The claims of Mr. Basta heavily damaged my good
name and also have consequences in limiting me in my function in the
presidium." Basta said he did not understand the point of the suit and
did not know why he would have to apologize.
* Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty March 8 began a 30-minute daily
broadcast for Kosovo in Albanian. Thomas Dine, president of the radio
station, said that in the conflict between Serbs and Albanians it was
necessary to provide objective information to both sides about the world
and events in the region.
* It has been 50 years since the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
A series of concerts and demonstrations are now taking place to protest
against the occupation.
Marketa Lajdova, Pavlina Hodkova, Jan Mates/Lenka Nejezchlebova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Magda Vasaryova Begins Presidential Campaign
As the first of the three main candidates for the Slovak president,
actress Magda Vasaryova, the last Czechoslovak ambassador to Austria,
kicked off her campaign in her birthplace, Banska Stiavnica. The founder
of the Slovak Association for Foreign Policy is running as an
independent. The campaign, assisted by young volunteers, is based on
personal meetings with voters.
The first direct presidential elections are to take place in the
middle of May and will bring to an end the period without a head of
state, which began with the expiration of President Michal Kovac's term
of office March 3, 1998.
Vasaryova said she wants to become a the protector of the rights of
all people in Slovakia, change the atmosphere in the divided Slovak
society, renew the country's lost trustworthiness and, in particular,
quickly improve its reputation. This should contribute to Slovakia's
stabilization, necessary to attract foreign investors. Vasaryova said
she wants to strengthen civil rights and regional autonomy, emphasize
education and culture, incorporate the handicapped into society and more
involve women in the current activity of Slovakia.
In the polls Vasaryova is running second behind the governing
coalition's official candidate, Kosice Mayor Rudolf Schuster; Kovac is
third.
Marketa Kaclova/Denisa Vitkova
Jan Slota Openly Confesses Extremism
Probably not even official immunity will stop the prosecution of
opposition Slovak National Party (SNS) Chairman and Zilina Mayor Jan
Slota for the extremist statements he made at at rally Nove Mesto,
Kysuce March 5.
Slota, according to the press reports under the influence of
alcohol, publicly insulted American Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright, the Hungarian minority in Slovakia and the Romany (Gypsy)
minority, which he described as gypsies who steal, rob and plunder.
The Civic-Democratic Youth (ODM) March 8 filed a criminal
complaint for suspicion of committing the crimes of racial insult and
inciting racial hatred and violence.
Top Slovak political representatives, including the SNS Vice
Chairwoman Anna Malikova, distanced themselves from Slota's statements.
Katerina Kolarova/Denisa Vitkova
ECONOMY
Independent Commission's Report Does Not Support Completing Temelin
Last week, an independent international expert commission finished
a report evaluating the completion of the Temelin nuclear power plant.
The report says it would be profitable to finish the plant only if
economic indicators change and show a renewal of economic growth and an
increase in the use of electricity. The report also says that today's
decision-making should not be influenced by the consideration of past
expenses for Temelin. Ecologists consider the report an important
victory.
The Government, which ordered the report, will discuss Temelin
March 17. Environment Minister Milos Kuzvart and Trade Minister Miroslav
Gregr will then probably decide what steps the Government will take.
Some ministers have already declared their opinion about Temelin. The
only clear voice against is Kuzvart, who wishes Temelin to be completed
not as a nuclear plant. His colleagues, led by Gregr, want its
completion or are undecided.
Pavel Sladky/Jakub Jirovec
ECONOMY IN BRIEF
* The Czechoslovak Trade Bank (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka) was the
most succesful Czech bank in 1998 with a profit of 2.8 billion crowns.
Management decided, however, to recommend not to pay dividends because
of uncertainity regarding the bank's privatization and the economic
recession.
* Engineering firm Skoda Plzen announced it will axe some 1,500
employees because of the company's dire state. Skoda spokesman David
Soukup said to daily Hospodarske noviny that the layoffs are necessary
for the recovery of the firm. Skoda's 1997 losses were 4.2 billion
crowns, 1998 losses were 2.5 billion crowns.
Pavlina Hodkova/Jakub Jirovec
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid March 12)
------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 37.875 CZK
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 22.051
Great Britain 1 GBP 56.449
Denmark 1 DKK 5.096
Japan 100 JPY 28.805
Canada 1 CAD 22.794
IMF 1 XDR 47.132
Hungary 100 HUF 14.971
Norway 1 NOK 4.455
New Zealand 1 NZD 18.567
Poland 1 PLN 8.802
Greece 100 GRD 11.783
Slovakia 100 SKK 85.006
Slovenia 100 SIT 20.041
Sweden 1 SEK 4.279
Switzerland 1 CHF 23.713
USA 1 USD 34.740
Exchange Rates of countries particpating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 19.365
Belgium 100 BEF 93.890
Finland 1 FIM 6.370
France 1 FRF 5.774
Ireland 1 IEP 48.091
Italy 1000 ITL 19.561
Luxemburg 100 LUF 93.890
Netherlands 1 NLG 17.187
Portugal 100 PTE 18.892
Austria 1 ATS 2.752
Spain 100 ESP 22.763
CULTURE
In Memory of Karel Kryl
Karel Kryl, one of the greatest artists of the Czech postwar
period, died in Munich five years ago. On the occasion of the
anniversary of his death, Head Abbot Anastaz Opasek celebrated a mass in
the Brevnov Monastery, while Kryl's friends and colleagues commemorated
him in the Semafor Theater. Prime Minister Milos Zeman and the Deputy
Prime Minister Egon Lansky met with Kryl's wife Marlen in the Office of
the Government.
Althought Kryl gained recognition through his songs, he was also
a writer and painter. After the Soviet invasion of 1968 Kryl clashed
with the communist regime and immigrated to Germany. He returned after
the 1989 revolution and lived alternately in Prague and Munich. The
post-1989 events, especially the split of Czechoslovakia, greatly
disillusioned Kryl. He died of heart failure March 3, 1994.
Expressing fear and hopelessness, his song Little Brother, Close
the Gates (Bratricku, zavirej vratka), became a symbol of the post-1968
normalization era. The song did not lose its symbolic value after 1989.
Petra Machova/Zuzana Janeckova
Czech Pop Group Lucie Triumphs in Musical Academy Awards
The pop group Lucie was awarded three statuettes at the Academy of
Pop Music '98 competition in Prague's Veletrzni Palac March 6. Lucie won
the prize as best group of the year, as well as for best album, More
Than a Small Amount of Love.
The pop group Sexy Dancers won two statuettes. Dan Barta received
the male singer of the year award, while Lucie Bila won the female
singer of the year prize.
The 150 members of the Musical Academy voted on the awards. For the
first time, foreign celebrities performed at the awards ceremony.
Italian singer Andrea Bocelli presented a song from his new album, while
American singer Cher lip-synched and REM sang two of their songs live at
the end.
Linda Kholova/Zuzana Janeckova
New Czech Fairy Tale Lucky as Hell Opens in Cinemas
A new Czech fairy tale had its premiere in the cinema March 4.
Director Zdenek Troska was inspired by the Czech fairy tale character
Czech Jack (Cesky Honza) created by writer Jan Drda. Jack, played by
Miroslav Simunek, avoids military service by escaping from the village
where he is a serf and his beloved Markytka, played by Michaela Kuklova,
lives. During his journey he gained magical things from two devils
- a knapsack full of brave soldiers and a cloak that made him invisible
and a tablecloth that produced its own delicious food. The tricks
brought Jack not only happiness but also the envy of others. The story
has a happy end, as Jack and Markytka are married.
Other characters in the movie include the good godmother, an evil
dragon and a princess.
According to the daily Lidove noviny, Troska did not create a great
difference between good and evil, just like in his previous fairy tale
The Princess from the Mill (Princezna ze mlejna). There is an absence of
evil characters, and evil is not punished like it used to be in classic
fairy tales. The film is designed to please viewers, perhaps because of
the supporting role for popular Czech singer Daniel Hulka.
Klara Nedvedova/Katerina Kolarova
SPORTS
Czech Athletes Successful in Indoor Track and Field World Championships
After poor performances in the outdoor World Championships in
Budapest last year, the Czech national track and field team successfully
rehabilitated itself by winning four medals in the indoor World
Championships in Maebashi, Japan March 5-7.
Ludmila Formanova had the most remarkable result, in the 800m run.
In the finish of the finale, she overcame favored Maria Mutola from
Mozambique and won the title. She recorded the second-best time ever
- 1:56.9 seconds, breaking the national record of her coach, Jarmila
Kratochvilova (outdoor 1983 world champion in the 400m and 800m runs).
Zuzana Kovacikova-Hlavonova lost the gold after the successful
attempt of Bulgaria's Khristina Kalcheva at 199 centimeters. Hlavonova
finished three centimeters behind and won the silver medal. The Czech
Republic then added two bronzes in disciplines that have been medal
mines for some time. Sarka Kasparkova jumped 14.87 meters in the
triple-jump, a new Czech record and a repeat of her position from the
World Championships in Paris two years ago. Roman Sebrle defended his
third place in the septathlon in another Czech record (6,319 points)
just beating 1997 decathlon world champion Tomas Dvorak.
The team of 10 athletes had eight representatives in the finals and
finished in 10th place in the country standings.
Petr Wilfer/Mirek Langer
Svancara's Goal Wakes Slavia's from Dreams of Title
Slavia Praha, after losing two points against Ostrava, had to win
in Brno in the Gambrinus Soccer League's 18th round. The Boby Brno team,
full of talented young players, stole the win from Slavia thanks to Petr
Svancara's goal. Slavia is now a full 11 points behind first-place
Sparta Praha.
Sparta met third-place Drnovice, which arrived in Prague still
without injured sweeper Miroslav Kadlec. Sparta opened the game with an
offensive storm and scored thanks to Josef Obajdin.
Viktoria Zizkov continues its scoreless streak in the spring
session and maybe envies Hradec Kralove forward Frantisek Koubek, who
scored a hat trick against Karvina and in his last two games has hit the
net five times. Ostrava tied its game against Teplice, Ostrava's 12th
draw this season, the most in any European league.
Results of the 18th round: Brno - Slavia Praha 1-0, Sparta Praha -
Drnovice 1-0, Zizkov - Liberec 0-3, Hradec Kralove - Karvina 3-0,
Olomouc - Plzen 1-1, Pribram - Blsany 2-0, Ostrava - Teplice 0-0,
Jablonec - Opava 1-0.
Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 40 points, 2. Teplice 33, 3. Drnovice
31, 4. Slavia Praha 29, 5. Blsany 29, 6. Olomouc 28, 7. Ostrava 24, 8.
Brno 23, 9. Opava 23, 10. Hradec Kralove 22, 11. Zizkov 21, 12. Liberec
20, 13. Jablonec 18, 14. Pribram 17, 15. Plzen 16, 16. Karvina 12.
Josef Koukolicek/Mirek Langer
Zlin's Record Run of Home Wins Ends
Three rounds before the end of the regular season of the hockey
Staropramen Extraleague, the games of the teams playing for the playoffs
are the most interesting. Litvinov lost valuable points in
a head-to-head duel of playoff contenders against Slavia Praha, losing
3-6 in the 48th round.
The 49th round brought some very rough games. Vsetin smashed Zlin,
defeating it for the first time this season. It broke the Zlin's home
winning streak after 24 games. The postwar record for consecutive home
wins belongs to the NHL's Montreal Canadiens, who won 25 games in a row.
The biggest debates were caused by two brutal checks by Litvinov's
Robert Kysela and Petr Kratky on Vitkovice's Vladimir Vujtek. After
Kysela cross-checked Vujtek for the first time, Vujtek hit the boards
head-first and cut his face. In the 32nd minute, after medical
treatment, he was hit again: Kratky knocked him down with an elbow.
Vujtek lay unconscious on the ice and his life was saved only by the
quick help of a masseuse, who opened Vujtek's clenched mouth with
a hockey stick and pulled out Vujtek's swallowed tongue.
Results of the 48th round: Pardubice - Sparta Praha 3-2, Slavia
Praha - Litvinov 6-3, Vitkovice - Plzen 2-3, Vsetin - Opava 4-1, Kladno
- Trinec 3-6, Karlovy Vary - Ceske Budejovice 2-5, Jihlava - Zlin 2-1.
Results of the 49th round: Trinec - Pardubice 3-2, Zlin - Vsetin
2-7, Litvinov - Vitkovice 4-2, Sparta Praha - Jihlava 7-0, Plzen - Ceske
Budejovice 2-2, Opava - Slavia Praha 1-3, Kladno - Karlovy Vary 5-3.
Standings: 1. Vsetin 72 points, 2. Zlin 65, 3. Trinec 61, 4. Sparta
Praha 59, 5. Plzen 59, 6. Ceske Budejovice 55, 7. Vitkovice 48, 8.
Pardubice 48, 9. Litvinov 46, 10. Slavia Praha 44, 11. Opava 37, 12.
Kladno 36, 13. Karlovy Vary 34, 14. Jihlava 22.
Robin Rohrich/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* Cross-country skier Katerina Neumannova regained her form: she
finished third in the 10km classic World Cup event in Lahti March 6,
then she finished third in the combined relay (with Hanusova, Koukal and
Bauer). Her best result was recorded with Katerina Hanusova, in the
curious 6x2km relay sprint, where they finished first.
Petr Wilfer/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
We enjoyed all types of weather this week. Those who like their
winter cold welcomed the slight freeze and snow flurries, while lovers
of spring hoped the nice, sunny weather will stay for the rest of the
week. The high temperatures were not popular among water engineers, who
are getting nervous because of flood warnings for the Labe, Orlice,
Morava and Odra rivers. But nobody likes the frequent showers or heavy
rains. In my opinion, writer Vladislav Vancura's line can be paraphrased
to suit the situation exactly: "This way of concluding winter seems to
me to be somewhat unfortunate."
Pavlina Hodkova/Katerina Kolarova
Czech version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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