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Carolina (English) No 329
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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 329, Friday, April 23, 1999.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (April 14 - April 21)
Government and Parliament Comply with NATO Wishes
Both chambers of the Czech Parliament confirmed during an
extraordinary session April 21 the Government's decision to grant the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) wishes. Ministers April 18
voted to allow NATO bombers and NATO ground forces to cross Czech
territory or stay in the Czech Republic. The Government's decision must
be confirmed by deputies and senators, according to the Czech
Constitution.
From the five proposed military and civilian airports, Alliance
chose the two civil airports, because their runways are longer than 3
km/1.8 miles. Prague's Ruzyne Airport and Ostrava's Mosnov Airport can
be used by 24 planes.
President Vaclav Havel said he is delighted by the Government's
response to NATO's requests. He said he considers the decision a clear
fulfillment of the Czech Republic's responsibility as a NATO member.
Michaela Prokopova/Jakub Jirovec
Opposition to NATO Attacks Increases in Czech Republic
According to the newest STEM Agency's public opinion poll for Czech
Television and Czech Radio, the number of respondents who disagree with
NATO attacks on Yugoslavia rose in the past two weeks. The number of
opponents rose from 40 per cent of respondents to 48 per cent of
respondents, while the number of supporters decreased from 40 per cent
to 34 per cent. Eighteen per cent of the respondents do not have a clear
opinion.
"The conflict is lasting too long. People imagined that it would
end very quickly, now we can see their impatience," said Vera Haberlova
of STEM for the daily MF DNES. Haberlova also said that the citizens'
opinion was influenced by the unintentional bombing of a refugee convoy,
which happened the same day the poll was taken.
Three-quarters of respondents would refuse to accommodate Kosovo
refugees in their homes. Two-thirds of respondents said the Czech
Republic is providing enough humanitarian aid for Kosovo Albanians.
Different opinions appear across the political spectrum. Only
people who voted for the Freedom Union (Unie svobody, US) unanimously
support the attacks.
Linda Kholova/Jakub Jirovec
Zeman Visits Russia and Three Central Asian Republics
Prime Minister Milos Zeman left April 15 for an eastward journey.
He was the first NATO member-country head of state to visit Russia after
the Kosovo crisis broke out and after three days he went to Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
The main topic of Zeman's negotiations with Russian Premier
Jevgenij Primakov was the Russian debt towards the Czech republic. The
debt of 4 billion USD should be repaid in oil and natural gas. Russia
will also help with Kazakh debt to the Czech Republic, which should be
repaid with 2.6 billion cubic metres of gas and oil.
In Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, Zeman opened an exhibit
called The Czech Republic - Your Business Partner. He also talked with
Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov about the Kosovo crisis and trade
between the Czech Republic and Uzbekistan.
Radan Dolejs/Jakub Jirovec
European Parliament Demands Cancellation of Benes Decrees
The European Parliament called on the Czech Republic to cancel the
decrees of President Edvard Benes (Czechoslovak president between
1935-38 and 1945-48). The demand is part of a resolution concerning the
Report on the Czech Republic, which was approved April 19. The
resolution, which was allegedly pushed by the European Peoples Party,
also criticizes the citizenship law, the protection of Romany minority
and rising unemployment.
Czech representatives refer to the circumstances of the
resolution's approval: from 626 deputies voted 94 for the resolution,
90 were against and 4 abstained. "It was unfortunate - the voting about
the resolutions took place in the evening, when a lot of deputies were
absent," said an unnamed Parliament representative to daily Lidove
noviny. President's Vaclav Havel's spokesman Ladislav Spacek said that
it is impossible to remove the decrees from the Czech law system.
The decrees of former President Benes from autumn 1945 enabled the
expulsion of Sudeten Germans from Czechoslovakia. Some Czech historians
and journalists think the decrees are now invalid because they were
cancelled by later constitutions.
Zuzana Janeckova/Jakub Jirovec
CNTS Fires Zelezny, Starts Fight over TV NOVA
Vladimir Zelezny was fired April 19 from the position of general
director of the Czech Independent Television Company (CNTS), the service
company responsible for providing broadcasting for the county's dominant
television network, TV NOVA. The American company Central European Media
Enterprises (CME) owns 99 per cent of CNTS. CNTS's general meeting
recalled Zelezny because without notifying his business partners Zelezny
tried to transfer all rights for buying television programs to a company
he controls. Few Czech media, however, pointed out the connection
between the firing and the announcement three weeks ago that the Swedish
television conglomerate SBS was buying out CME, for which only NOVA
makes a profit.
Zelezny still remains the majority owner (60 per cent) of the
company CET 21, which holds NOVA's broadcasting license. In other words,
he controls the station's license, but has been fired from the company
that at present arranges TV NOVA's broadcasting. A fight for control of
the most-watched station in the Czech Republic broke out, as Zelezny
refused to give up. According to regular weekly ratings, NOVA's audience
share comes to more than 50 per cent among the adult population, one of
the highest in Europe.
Both parties claim they do not want to interrupt broadcasting.
Zelezny said the conflict might intensify and NOVA's operation could be
jeopardized. In that event Zelezny said he would establish a station of
his own, without CNTS. He announced that he is prepared to broadcast
from another location and that he allegedly already received financial
backing to make it possible. NOVA managers asked employees whether they
would be willing to leave CNTS and sign a contract with CET 21.
Although both parties say they are willing to reach an agreement,
they continue making accusations and a court battle is a possibility.
CME President Fred Klinkhammer said Zelezny violated the law by taking
advantage of his position and he wants to present evidence to the
police. On the other hand, Zelezny accused CME of financially damaging
his profitable network and blocking domestic Czech television
production. Zelezny said CNTS last year showed a profit of 900 million
crowns.
Jan Mates/Sofia Karakeva
Criminal Defendant Kidnapped from Prague Courtroom
Two men managed April 16 to kidnap a criminal trial defendant
directly from a Prague courtroom. Prague's City Court was dealing with
the case of Nedzedin Zeka's extradition to Germany on suspicions of drug
dealing.
In the middle of the hearing two men with guns managed within a few
minutes to disarm court bailiffs guarding the defendant and left the
building with Zek. Police managed to catch one of the kidnappers.
The kidnappers took advantage of the building's poor security
measures. There is no metal detector at the Court's entrance, unlike
most Czech courts, and the courtroom layout is not conducive to tight
security. Unarmed guards sit next to the accused, facing the judge and
cannot see what is going on in the gallery behind them.
Judges, politicians and policemen expressed disappointment with the
kidnapping. Justice Minister Otakar Motejl met with the chairmen of
regional and superior courts. Because there is no money in his budget
for security equipment he decided that from May 1 the positioning of
defendants and bailiffs in the courtroom will be changed.
Marketa Lajdova/Sofia Karakeva
Fence to Appear in Maticna Street
A 180-centimeter-high/nearly six-foot ceramic-brick fence is going
to be built in Maticna Street in Usti nad Labem. The fence will separate
the houses of white residents from public housing where Romanies
(Gypsies) live. The agreement was signed by the mayor of the Usti
district of Nestemice, Pavel Tosovsky, and the chairman of the Romany
Rainbow (Romska duha) Association, Tibor Badi. Playgrounds and new
sidewalks will also be built on the site.
The Romanies are divided into two camps. Those from Romany Rainbow
agree with the fence and will find be employed at the building site,
while other Romanies protest. Government Representative for Human Rights
Petr Uhl sharply protested as well. The white residents of Maticna
Street and Usti nad Labem Mayor Ladislav Hruska sent a letter to the
Government demanded Uhl's firing. The letter says Uhl is interested only
in the rights of the residents of the public housing and is ignoring the
right of the white majority.
Klara Nedvedova/Katerina Kolarova
Hundreds of Skinheads March through Rakovnik
Approximately 200 members of the National Alliance (Narodni
aliance) and the Patriotic Front (Vlastenecka fronta) and their
followers marched through Rakovnik March 17. Because both associations
are considered skinhead organizations, the meeting was accompanied by
strengthened security measures. Police took action against a man
carrying a flag with a Celtic cross.
During the march the skinheads criticized NATO attacks on
Yugoslavia and also criticized gays, Jews, President Havel and his wife.
The demonstration ended with the rending and burning of Havel's
portrait.
Ondrej Fer/Katerina Kolarova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Vladimir Meciar Remains HZDS Chairman
Former Slovak Premier Vladimir Meciar was re-elected chairman of
the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) at the extraordinary party
congress in Dubnica nad Vahom April 17. He declared that if the former
chief of the Slovak Information Service (SIS) Ivan Lexa and the former
Interior Minister Gustav Krajci had not been prosecuted and stripped of
their immunity, he would never have run for the presidency (see Carolina
328).
The election of a party presidium with 56 new party officials
indicated new trends toward change inside the party. Nominees for the
top party positions included Sergej Kozlik (economy), Gustav Krajci
(interior, regional policy), Vojtech Tkac (social policy). Rudolf Ziak,
the head of the former counterintelligence service of the SIS, is
responsible for foreign policy matters. The original Movement may be
transformed into a party, called perhaps the Social Democrats or the
People's Party, by the end of the year.
At the party congress Meciar criticized the chaotic policies of the
Government parties and their attitude toward HZDS. According to the
daily Pravda, Meciar asked the party to be prepared for an early
election that he expects by the end of 2000.
Augustin Marian Huska tried to analyze the cause of the HZDS
failure in the last election. The HZDS congress labelled main
shortcomings of the party during the election campaign as follows: media
policy, neglecting young voters, underestimating foreign influences and
a prevailing self-satisfaction in party circles.
Jana Kadlecova/Milan Smid
ECONOMY
Another IMF Report on the State of Czech Economy
The latest report on the state of Czech economy was prepared after
the 10-day International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission consisting of
consultations with the Finance Ministry, Czech National Bank (Ceska
narodni banka, CNB) and other Czech institutions closed April 16. Deputy
head of the IMF's Europe 1 division Jacques Artus said to the daily
Hospodarske noviny April 19: "The Czech Republic's immediate priority is
to halt the recession and to launch the revitalization of economy."
Economic experts approved loosening the strict monetary policy.
According to their expectations, this year's economic growth will be, at
best, zero, meaning that the budget deficit will exceed the 31 billion
crowns approved by Parliament. Artus said there is no chance for
sustainable revitalization of the economy without eliminating its
long-term structural problems. There is a necessity to reform the tax
system, strengthening the VAT's role, reform healthcare and the pension
system. A light at the end of the tunnel of the Czech economy's
development might be the revitalization program, although a condition
for its success is the proper selection of companies for the program and
its prompt introduction.
The IMF mission did not voice any objection to CNB policy.
Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova
Government's Revitalization Plan to Begin
The Government, after March 3 deciding to create the Revitalization
Agency and complete a industrial revitalization and restructuring
program, accepted April 14 the definitive form of the plan (see Carolina
326, 328).
The agency, which should be created within four weeks after the
Government passes a resolution on the agency's status and activities,
will have three managerial bodies: a board of directors (representing
significant agency shareholders), a supervisory board (state
representatives to be elected by the legislature) and an investment
committee (representing banks involved). Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr,
who provided an early, rejected draft for the program, is a likely
candidate for the position of chairman of the supervisory board, which
will monitor the agency's activities and will receive quarterly reports
from the board of directors.
Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova
CNB 1998 Results End with Loss of 50.7 Billion Crowns
According to t data published in daily Hospodarske noviny April
15, the Czech National Bank (Ceska narodni banka, CNB) ended up with
a loss of 50.7 billion crowns for 1998. Head of the internal finance
management section of CNB Marian Mayer said to Hospodarske noviny: "The
bank's decisions concerning monetary issues cannot be subordinated to
economic results, therefore profit cannot be an indicator of actual
managerial performance." The CNB's primary task is maintaining the
stability of the Czech currency.
Pavlina Hodkova, Denisa Vitkova
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid April 23)
------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 37.885
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 23.042
Great Britain 1 GBP 57.213
Denmark 1 DKK 5.097
Japan 100 JPY 29.632
Canada 1 CAD 23.952
IMF 1 XDR 48.172
Hungary 100 HUF 15.122
Norway 1 NOK 4.586
New Zealand 1 NZD 19.444
Poland 1 PLN 8.858
Greece 100 GRD 11.604
Slovakia 100 SKK 84.358
Slovenia 100 SIT 19.780
Sweden 1 SEK 4.255
Switzerland 1 CHF 23.651
USA 1 USD 35.628
Exchange Rates of countries particpating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 19.370
Belgium 100 BEF 93.914
Finland 1 FIM 6.372
France 1 FRF 5.776
Ireland 1 IEP 48.104
Italy 1000 ITL 19.566
Luxemburg 100 LUF 93.914
Netherlands 1 NLG 17.191
Portugal 100 PTE 18.897
Austria 1 ATS 2.753
Spain 100 ESP 22.769
CULTURE
Ninth Writers Festival Offers Various Programs
The ninth Prague Writers Festival began April 12 with a discussion
of the Nobel Prize and ended with an international evening April 16. The
event has developed after humble beginnings and has become an important
part of Czech culture. Besides readings and discussion there were also
two performances and competition for young writers.
Each day was dedicated to one nation (Sweden, Germany, Hungary,
Australia and Italy), which was represented by its writers, and ended
with an international evening. Few Czech writers took part. Besides the
cooperation of sculptor Olbram Zoubek, only Michal Viewegh presented his
new short story The Nose. Highlights included visits by playwrights
Harold Pinter, Slawomir Mrozek and Petr Olov Enquist. Another visitor
was also Janette Turner Hospital, and during the discussion of
Australian culture she talked about what to do when lost in the bush.
She recommended sitting down calmly and shaking a dry martini. Naturally
someone will appear and complain that a martini cannot be shaken this
way.
Performances were given with British humor and self-irony by James
Naughton, professor of literature at Oxford University.
Pavel Sladky/Jan Martinek
For Three Days and Three Nights Prague Reading Alexandr Solzhenitsyn
In Prague's St. Salvador Church from 3 p.m. April 18 a continuous
reading of the works of Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, Russian author of the
Gulag Archipelago and One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. The
happening took up where last year's nonstop reading of Lawrence
Ferlinghetti's works left off.
Anyone could choose an extract and read it to the public. Deputy
Prime Minister Pavel Mertlik, Prague Mayor Jan Kasl and priest-poet
Svatopluk Karasek read Solzhenitsyn's works.
This year's literary presentation was part of the multicultural
Artforum 99, which also includes Jazz Days. The choice of the writer was
connected with the 10th anniversary of the fall of communism in Europe
and with an exhibit of Samizdat literature. This reading was also linked
with the last day of the Prague Writers Festival, where German author
D.M. Thomas read parts of his new Solzhenitsyn biography.
Pavel Sladky/Sofia Karakeva
Return of the Idiot Dominates Finale Competition
Now in its 12th year, the Pilsen (Plzen) film festival evaluated
last year's Czech films. As expected, Sasa Gedeon's Return of the Idiot
(Navrat idiota) received the main prize, the Golden Kingfisher, as well
as the Don Quixote Award, given by the International Association of Film
Clubs. The film celebrities commission, headed by Slovak director Juraj
Jakubisko this year, decided on the Golden Kingfisher award. The new
film Cozy Beds (Pelisky) received the audience award and the film What
You Catch in the Rye (Co chytnes v zite) film was awarded the special
prize of the International Association of Film Clubs.
Petra Machova/Zuzana Janeckova
Vladimir Macura Dies
Czech literature lost another writer, literary theoretician and
translator Vladimir Macura, April 17.
Macura's semiotic work and his interpretation of Czech history and
symbols in his books The Czech Dream (Cesky sen), Signs of Creation
(Znameni zrodu) and The Age of Happiness (Stastny vek) makes Macura
irreplaceable in Czech literature.
Pavel Sladky/Zuzana Janeckova
SPORTS
Vsetin Wins Hockey Extraleague for Fifth Consecutive Year
The Staropramen Extraleague has not had a different champion since
Vsetin moved up into the league in 1994. However, this year's road to
the title was, Vsetin players said, the most difficult. Vsetin had to
defeat Vitkovice in the quarterfinals (losing one of four games), battle
with Sparta in a five-game semifinal series (the first five-game series
in Vsetin playoff history) and then defeat Zlin in three hard games in
the finals.
After two wins over Zlin at home (3-1 and 4-3), Vsetin played the
third game in Zlin. Vsetin turned the score around from 0-1 to 2-1
during 50 seconds of the 25th minute thanks to Tomas Srsen and Michal
Bros. In the 35th minute Martin Prochazka, the most productive player of
the playoffs, added Vsetin's third goal, and although Petr Cajanek tied
the score, Jan Tomajko of Vsetin decided the game in the 52nd minute.
Vsetin won the deciding game 4-2 and swept the final series 3-0.
The final standings of the Staropramen Extraleague season 1998-99:
1. Vsetin, 2. Zlin, 3. Trinec, 4. Sparta Praha, 5. Ceske Budejovice, 6.
Plzen, 7. Pardubice, 8. Vitkovice, 9. Litvinov, 10. Slavia Praha, 11.
Karlovy Vary, 12. Opava, 13. Kladno, 14. Jihlava. Jihlava is relegated
to the first league and will be replaced by Znojmo.
Shortly after the end of the playoffs, the Extraleague saw some
interesting changes. The Opava team will move near Havirov and will have
a new coach - Richard Farda, who had led Slavia until this season.
Sparta Praha prepared the most powerful pair of goaltenders for the next
season. It signed a new contract with former national team keeper Petr
Briza, who had played in the German league's Landshut. Briza will join
another national team keeper, Milan Hnilicka, who was the best
goalkeeper of this year's playoffs.
Petr Novy, Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
Soccer: Olomouc Fires Coach, but Gets Only One Point without Him
A paradox: The biggest surprise of the soccer league's 23rd round
did not originate on the field, but with the Sigma Olomouc's management.
Management fired coach Milan Boksa because of the team's performances in
the league and in the Cup. During Olomouc's game in Brno, assistant
coach Leos Kalvoda stood in for Boksa, but Dan Matuska (coach of the
third league's Jihlava) will be Sigma's new coach. Sigma was not able to
score and its game finished a scoreless tie.
The games of Prague's Sparta and Slavia, played April 19, both
finished 1-1. Sparta only managed to score in extra time in Blsany and
saved a point there. Slavia, which could have reduced Sparta's advantage
in the standings, made one big mistake on defense and also recorded only
one point at home against Plzen.
Results of the 23rd round: Opava - Drnovice 4-0, Pribram - Jablonec
1-1, Liberec - Karvina 3-1, Teplice - Hradec Kralove 4-0, Blsany
- Sparta Praha 1-1, Slavia Praha - Plzen 1-1, Ostrava - Zizkov 2-1.
Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 47, 2. Teplice 39, 3. Slavia Praha 39,
4. Olomouc 36, 5. Drnovice 35, 6. Blsany 33, 7. Ostrava 31, 8. Brno 31,
9. Opava 30, 10. Liberec 30, 11. Hradec Kralove 29, 12. Jablonec 28,
13. Zizkov 25, 14. Dukla 23, 15. Plzen 21, 16. Karvina 19.
Vladimir Vorechovsky/Mirek Langer
Jagr Wins His Third Art Ross Trophy and Ends Gretzky's Career
Jaromir Jagr of the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Art Ross Trophy as
the most productive player in the NHL for the third time in his career.
He played 81 games and recorded 127 points on 44 goals and 83 assists.
Teemu Selanne, a Finnish member of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, finished
21 points behind.
Jagr recorded his last point of this season in New York against the
Rangers, in the last game of Wayne Gretzky's s career. Jagr decided the
game on an overtime goal for a 2-1 victory. "Jaromir apologized to me
and he said he did not want to do it. I understand him. I used to say it
to older and more experienced players, which I respected," Gretzky said.
The USA Today daily wrote that Gretzky, the greatest hockey player ever,
handed the torch over to the top current forward Jagr. However, if Jagr
wants to overtake Gretzky in the lifetime points category at Jagr's
current productivity, he will have to play until he is 43.
Goalkeeper Roman Turek from Dallas, together with his teammate Ed
Belfour, allowed the least goals in the NHL. Former Pardubice forward
Milan Hejduk was the most productive rookie in the NHL - in his first
season in Colorado he recorded 48 points on 14 goals and 34 assists.
Eight Czech players will take part in the NHL playoffs' first round
game between Pittsburgh and New Jersey. Jagr, Martin Straka, Jiri Slegr,
Robert Lang and Jan Hrdina will play for the Penguins, while Petr
Sykora, Patrik Elias and Robert Holik for the Devils.
Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
Preparation for Hockey World Championships Concludes, Dopita out
The Czech ice hockey national team is finishing its preparation for
the World Championships, which will take place in Norway May 1-16.
Vsetin forward Jiri Dopita disappointed coaches Ivan Hlinka and
Josef Augusta by announcing he would not go to Norway because of knee
injury. Only three players from extraleague champion Vsetin are on the
squad: Roman Cechmanek, Pavel Patera and Martin Prochazka. Four players
from NHL teams not in the playoffs have joined the national team: Radek
Dvorak and Jaroslav Spacek from the Florida Panthers, Pavel Kubina from
the Tampa Bay Lightning and Martin Rucinsky from the Montreal Canadiens.
Four players from the NHL playoffs first round "Czech series" (see
above) - Jagr, Straka, Elias and Sykora - are prepared to join the team
and two of them will be free after the first round.
The Czech team closed out its preparation matches with two games
against Russia. Results: Czech Republic - Russia 5-0 (in Marianske Lazne
April 21) and 3-2 (in Pilsen April 22).
Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
Czech Women's Tennis Returns to Fed Cup Elite without Novotna
The Czech women's tennis team defeated Belarus 4-1 in Minsk April
17-18 in the KB Fed Cup second division and earned membership in the
elite group for next year. The singles match decided the tie, as doubles
partners Kvetoslava Hrdlickova and Denisa Chladkova won all their games.
They had a difficult task, playing against the top-20 singles player
Natasha Zvereva and talented Olga Barabanschikova. The team was weakened
by Jana Novotna's absence, about which Hrdlickova said: "We proved we
could advance even without her. However, nobody will keep her from
returning to the team. Everything just depends on Jana and her
decision."
Josef Koukolicek/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* Sparta Praha and Slavia Praha will meet in the semifinal of the
Czech Soccer Cup. Both won their quarterfinal matches. The second
finalist will be determined by the match between Drnovice and Liberec.
Results of the quarterfinals: Sparta Praha - Brno 1-0, Opava - Liberec
0-1, Drnovice - Olomouc 1-0, Slavia Praha - Ostrava 2-2 (3-0 on penalty
shots).
* Olymp Praha won the women's volleyball league. In the final
best-of-five series of the playoffs, it defeated reigning champion Lapos
Frenstat 3-1.
* Fatra Zlin will meet Jihostroj Ceske Budejovice in the men's
volleyball league final. While Ceske Budejovice advanced waited, Zlin
had to play five hard games against Corps Usti nad Labem in the
semifinal series.
Jirka Wazik/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
Czech spring usually comes for a week at the end of February and
then abandons its position. This happened again this year. Last week,
nighttime temperatures in Prague were below freezing and temperatures
during the day were around 8 degrees Celsius/46 degrees Fahrenheit. Rain
drops kept falling on our heads and snow appeared in the mountains
again. People were in a bad mood and young couples left the parks.
Today, when we woke up, the sky was blue and it will stay blue for
the rest of the day. The flowers are smiling, the trees are in bloom and
young couples are in the parks again. Drunks can sleep outside, swimmers
can swim in the Vltava River, streets are full of ice cream vendors.
Spring would appear to have arrived for good.
Jakub Jirovec/Jakub Jirovec
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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