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Carolina (English) No 326
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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 326, Thursday, April 1, 1999.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (March 24 - March 31)
Czech Politicians Skeptical about Attack on Yugoslavia
A few days after the Czech Republic became a member of NATO March
12, the operation in Yugoslavia began. The political leaders of the
Czech Republic March 24 sent Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic
a telegram, in which they called on him to return to the negotiating
table. Czech President Vaclav Havel, Senate Chairwoman Libuse Benesova
(Civic Democratic Party, ODS), Parliament Chairman Vaclav Klaus (ODS)
and Prime Minister Milos Zeman (Social Democrat, CSSD) signed the
telegram.
Havel and Senate Vice Chairman Petr Pithart (Christian Democrats)
spoke in favor of the air raids. "After the Serbian side refused to sign
the peace treaty there was no other way out," said Havel to the Czech
daily Lidove noviny. Havel also gave assurances that the Czech Republic
will fulfill its obligations as a NATO member.
Although the Government in its statement (see Carolina 325) said
NATO had decided for the operation before the Czech Republic was a NATO
member, Foreign Minister Jan Kavan agreed on the night March 19-20 with
the attacks after consulting Zeman.
Zeman said he believes the attacks on Yugoslavia strengthen
Milosevic's position. Zeman wants to maintain good relations with
Yugoslavia and to uphold the Czech Republic's NATO obligations, but
refuses to play the role of a "primitive troglodyte who believes
everything can be solved with bombs." Kavan said he hopes for
a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. "Full responsibility falls on
his (Milosevic's) head," said Kavan to the Czech daily Lidove noviny.
Deep disappointment with the use of force was expressed by Klaus,
who said not all the possibilities of reaching a peace settlement were
used.
UN special envoy for human rights in the former Yugoslavia Jiri
Dienstbier, the first Czechoslovak foreign minister after the fall of
communism, said he considers the bombing in Yugoslavia a mistake similar
to the one made in Vietnam. "I am afraid that the bombing will not solve
anything. The last remnants of democratic authority in Yugoslavia will
be crushed and the Yugoslavian army will clean out Kosovo. And great
cruelty might occur," Dienstbier said to the Czech daily MF DNES March
25.
The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) categorically
condemned the operation. "I consider it a gross breach of international
conventions, foremost in relation to the UN Security Council," said KSCM
Chairman Miroslav Grebenicek to the Czech daily Lidove noviny.
The opinions of ODS and CSSD members raised consternation among
experts. Sociologist Ivan Gabal criticizes particularly Klaus, whom he
told to choose between NATO General Secretary Javier Solana and
Milosevic. "Our political leaders should simply realize that we are no
longer a member of the Warsaw Pact, but a country that entered NATO,"
said Gabala to the Czech daily MF DNES. Jan Urban, editor-in-chief of
Transitions, a magazine about the former communist countries, said
Czechs should be ashamed by the cowardly reaction of their Government
and Klaus. Urban worked as a journalist in the war in Bosnia and
published a book about it in Czech.
Marketa Lajdova and Ondrej Fer/Sofia Karakeva
Czech Polls Show Opposition to NATO Operation
Two public opinion polls were taken on the Yugoslavian crisis March
25. Both showed the opinions of the Czech public are ambiguous but tend
toward the negative.
The Factum agency's poll found that almost half (48 per cent) of
the Czech respondents are against the military operation. About 36 per
cent agreed with the air raids. The rest did not have a clear opinion.
Jan Herzmann, director of the Factum agency, said he believes the high
percentage of negative opinions is due to the fact that the Yugoslavian
operation does not have the support of the UN Security Council and
reflects worries about Russia's reaction.
The STEM agency also found negative reactions to the attack.
According to its poll, almost one-quarter of respondents are undecided.
About 35 per cent were in favor of the NATO operation, against it were
40 per cent. Responses to the question whether the Czech Republic should
do more than send a field hospital were mostly positive. Almost 62 per
cent fear that the Kosovo could lead to a military conflict affecting
the Czech Republic, most of them older than 55 and without higher
education.
Tomas Polacek/Sofia Karakeva
Protests in Czech Republic against NATO Attack
Demonstrations and petitions against the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization's (NATO) attack on Yugoslavia emerged also in the Czech
Republic, most organized by the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
(KSCM).
Demonstrators March 27 on Prague's Wenceslas Square demanded a halt
to the bombing of Yugoslavia, the dissolution of NATO and the
resignation of President Vaclav Havel. The demonstration was attended by
all members of the Communist Party's (KSCM) Central Committee, its
Parliament deputies, senators and supporters, estimated at 3,000 to
4,000 by organizers. Some demonstrators later set up at the American
Embassy and laid siege with eggs. They broke one window, but police did
not intervene. Other KSCM demonstrations took place in Ostrava and Brno.
During the weekend Liberec Communists organized a petition against NATO
and collected several hundred signatures.
About 100 Serbians March 25 organized a protest march through
Prague and signed a petition against NATO in front of the American
Embassy.
Another petition was organized by the neo-fascist Republicans. They
say they found 10 persons ready to be a living shield in Yugoslavia.
Jan Mates/Jakub Jirovec
One Albanian Killed during Prague Demonstration
A 39-year-old Albanian from Kosovo was shot during a demonstration
against violence in Kosovo on Prague's Peace Square (Namesti Miru) March
29. The killer, also a Kosovo Albanian, was immediately arrested by the
police. According to policemen, the motive was not political but
a dispute between two families from the same town.
The demonstration was organized by the Tolerance civic association,
Czech Television's Man in Distress Foundation, the Helsinki Civic
Assembly and the Czech Helsinki Committee. About 200 people, mostly
Kosovo Albanians, joined the meeting. Participants attacked a man
holding a banner with "My heart beats for Serbians" and a man holding
a picture of a bomb with a cross through it.
Jan Mates/Jakub Jirovec
NEWS IN BRIEF
* The Czech Government sent 60,000 USD to the account of the Red
Cross and UN High Commission for Refugees. The money was given to help
refugees from Kosovo in Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro. "For now
it's only a first step. The Government is ready and is continuously
following the situation and we will react adequately," said Deputy Prime
Minister Egon Lansky to the daily Hospodarske noviny March 31.
* The expert commission for relations between the state and the
church, the Culture Ministry's second advisory body on this issue,
should start its work soon. Culture Minister Pavel Dostal met March 28
with the head of the Czech Catholic church, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, the
head of Evangelical church and Chairman of the Ecumenical Council of
Churches Pavel Smetana, and Tomas Kraus, secretary of the Federation of
Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic. According to spokesman of the
Catholic Bishops Conference Daniel Herman, they agreed on the statute of
the commission and its standing in relation to the existing
Government-appointed commission (for details see Carolina 322).
* About 300 young people gathered in downtown Prague March 27 to
protest against tests performed on animals, against the abuse of animals
in circuses and against the breeding of pigs and cattle in
conveyor-belt farms. Those attending the peaceful demonstration
distributed leaflets denouncing the consumption lifestyle.
* The historic Carolinum buildings, seat of Charles University in
Prague, were opened to the public on the weekend of March 27-28. The
Open Door Days were used by 3,000 visitors, who had the opportunity not
only to see rooms usually closed to the public but also to visit the
exhibition on the history of the university since its founding April 7,
1348.
Petr Kupec, Veronica Macias, Lenka Nejezchlebova/Jakub Jirovec
FROM SLOVAKIA
Assemblymen Uphold Deficit Budget
The Slovak National Assembly passed March 26 the new budget bill
after four days of debate. Despite an attempt by the opposition parties
to return the bill to the Cabinet for further work, the Assembly adopted
only minor amendments to the bill and required the Government to adopt
some additional economic and social measures established by the Party of
the Democratic Left (SDL) as a precondition for supporting the budget
bill.
The 1999 state revenues shall be 179.9 billion Slovak crowns while
expenses are projected to be 194.4 billion Slovak crowns. Slovak Premier
Mikulas Dzurinda said he was sure that the deficit budget, for all the
risk factors involved, is the first step on to road toward order in
public finances and the macroeconomic stability of the country.
Alena Smrzova/Milan Smid
Massacre in Dunajska Streda Connected to Minister Ducky's Murder?
Police investigation revealed that the biggest homicide in the
Slovak history was committed by contract killers for a price of 1
million USD, said Slovak Interior Minister Ladislav Pittner to the Czech
daily Slovo. Three masked men killed 10 mobsters in the Fontana
restuarant in Dunajska Streda March 25, and according to one police
theory the massacre was committed by foreigners, probably Ukrainians,
connected to the underworld in Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Pittner also said "two groups of Ukrainian mafia are active in
Slovakia," and one of them allegedly participated in the January 11
murder of Jan Ducky, former economy minister in Premier Vladimir
Meciar's Cabinet (see Carolina 315).
Sasa Jokic/Milan Smid
ECONOMY
Economic Council Gives Support to Mertlik's Revitalization Plan
The Government Economic Council, the Cabinet's official economic
advisory organ, supported a program to revitalize industrial firms drawn
up by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy Pavel Mertlik, and, with
proposals for its amendment, recommended the government adopt it. The
government discussed two revitalization proposals March 29 - Mertlik's
and a proposal presented by Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr. The Social
Democrat's (CSSD) Parliamentary Club had approved Gregr's plan, but the
Economic Council returned it for revision.
The Government made its decision March 31. The revitalization plan,
a combination of both proposals, should be finished within 14 days by
a commission formed of Mertlik, Gregr, Minister for Local Development
Jaromir Cisar, Justice Minister Otakar Motejl and Finance Minister Ivo,
who will chair the commission.
Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova
Drevic Appeal - Salvation of the Czech Economy or Empty Words?
Representatives of banks, companies, schools and the press
presented a document called the Drevic Appeal, which contains a complex
proposal of measures to resuscitate the Czech economy, and will lobby
for public and state support. The appeal, published March 25, aims to
draw attention to the ecomomy's problems and to show possible solutions.
Appeal initiators consider the obstacles to economic growth to be:
incompetent owners and law-breaking owners, the slowness of state
authorities and justice, the weak position of creditors, delays in
privatization, the weak capital market and the unsustainable pension
system. Economists react to the document positively, but they are
somewhat skeptical about its realization. Some analysts are afraid the
proposal might remain only on paper.
Prime Minister Milos Zeman, according to the March 25 edition of
daily Hospodarske noviny, said he is skeptical of the appeal, if only
because of the fact that it was in part prepared by people who share
some of the blame for the economic crisis.
Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid April 1)
------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 38.390
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 22.574
Great Britain 1 GBP 57.720
Denmark 1 DKK 5.164
Japan 100 JPY 29.998
Canada 1 CAD 23.172
IMF 1 XDR 48.513
Hungary 100 HUF 15.070
Norway 1 NOK 4.600
New Zealand 1 NZD 19.105
Poland 1 PLN 8.954
Greece 100 GRD 11.782
Slovakia 100 SKK 85.397
Slovenia 100 SIT 20.145
Sweden 1 SEK 4.319
Switzerland 1 CHF 24.045
USA 1 USD 35.800
Exchange Rates of countries particpating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 19.628
Belgium 100 BEF 95.166
Finland 1 FIM 6.457
France 1 FRF 5.853
Ireland 1 IEP 48.745
Italy 1000 ITL 19.827
Luxemburg 100 LUF 95.166
Netherlands 1 NLG 17.421
Portugal 100 PTE 19.149
Austria 1 ATS 2.790
Spain 100 ESP 23.073
CULTURE
Frantisek Nemec and Iva Janzurova Receive Thalia Prizes
On International Theater Day March 24, the Actor's Association
awarded its Thalia prizes to the best Czech theater performers of 1998.
The awards ceremony, hosted by Boris Rosner, took place in the historic
National Theater. The prizes were presented by last year's Thalia
laureates. First lady Dagmar Havlova presented the prize for lifetime
achievement to Jirina Jiraskova.
The staging Isadora received two Thalias in the ballet, pantomime
and contemporary dance category for female and male performance.
National Theater actors Frantisek Nemec and Iva Janzurova were awarded
for their dramatic work. Eva Drizgova-Jirusova, from the National
Theater of Ostrava, was the winner in the female opera performance
category, Vladimir Chmelo took home the Thalia for male opera
performance of the year. The Thalia for musicals belongs to Petra
Jungmannova for her performance in Babylon in Ostrava. Ladislav Zupanic
of the Karlin Musical Theater won the Thalia for male operetta and
musical performance, Theater pod Palmovkou's Jiri Langmajer won the
special Thalia for actors under 33 for his role as Caligula.
The Thalia ceremony was not marked only by good manners but the
atmosphere was elevated thanks to the good humor of Czech actors. Ivo
Zidek presented the Thalia prize to Milada Subrtova, recalling how many
times he had declared his love to her in Dvorak's Rusalka.
A special Thalia prize was given to Tomas Topfer and Eliska
Balzerova for resurrecting the Na Fidlovacce Theater.
Pavel Sladky/Zuzana Janeckova
SPORTS
Soccer Team Finishes First Half of Euro 2000 Qualification Undefeated
After two games last week, the Czech national soccer team is close
to the Euro 2000 finals. It has not lost a point in the qualification
round and after five wins, it leads the standings of the ninth group.
Lithuania started the game in Teplice March 27 without evident fear
of the group leader, Ivanauskas' scoring chance was stopped by defender
Repka, who took a yellow card. The Czechs fortunately managed to score
soon after Patrik Berger's free kick and Michal Hornak's header in the
10th minute. The rest of the first half and the beginning of the second,
however, disappointed the crowd. Everyday charges through the packed
center of the defense and individual play at the expense of teamwork was
not good enough for Lithuania's courageous play.
Any possible drama was cut short in the 72th minute, when
substitute Jan Koller passed to Pavel Nedved, who was fouled in the box
by defender Skarbalius. Berger scored on the penalty kick, deciding the
match. The rest of the game was played to the applause of the crowd.
A much harder test (although a game they did not need to win)
awaited the Czechs March 31 in Glasgow. The Czechs' expected toughest
opponent in the fight to advance, Scotland, pressed the guests to their
goal and goalkeeper Srnicek had to make some good saves. As soon as the
Scottish pressure subsided, Nedved played a free kick off the head of
Matt Elliot into the Scottish net. Nine minutes later, Berger assisted
Vladimir Smicer for the Czechs' second goal. After the break, insurance
goals could have come from chances by Lokvenc and Berger, but after
a long throw-in, Eoin Jess scored in the 68th minute. Poor shooting
prevented Scotland from tying the match, leaving the Czechs with a 2-1
victory, their first in Scotland after four losses by teams from the
former Czechoslovakia.
Jirka Wazik, Vladimir Vorechovsky, Mirek Langer/Mirek Langer
Hockey Extraleague: Vsetin, Sparta, Zlin and Trinec to Semifinals
In the semifinals of the top hockey league in the Czech Republic,
Trinec will meet Zlin, which advanced with a sweep over Pardubice. In
the second series, Sparta will meet four-time reigning champion Vsetin.
Vsetin complicated its advance in the third game of its
first-round series against Vitkovice, losing on the road 2-4. In the
next game it managed to win 3-1 and advanced. Vsetin star Martin
Prochazka scored 3 goals and 2 assists in the series.
The games between Plzen and Trinec were the most dramatic. After
two matches in Trinec, the series moved to western Bohemia tied at 1-1.
Plzen then won 3-2 and took a 2-1 lead in the series. In the fourth game
Plzen was disappointed by the performance of its star, goalkeeper Dusan
Salficky, who was replaced after allowing three goals. Trinec won 6-3
and tied the series at 2-2. The last game was played in Trinec, which
took advantage of its home crowd and with a 4-1 win advanced to the
semifinals.
Also the tournament began for the last place in the next year's
extraleague, in which the last-place team of this year's extraleague,
Jihlava, meets Znojmo, the winner of the First DZ League. Jihlava lost
both games on its own ice, 1-6 and 2-3 in overtime. Znojmo now needs to
win two more games in the best-of-seven series.
Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer
Sparta Praha Plays in Hockey Extraleague's Playoffs for Last Time
An unprecedented change awaits hockey's Sparta Praha before next
season. According to a declaration from club co-owner Antonin Charouz,
announced to journalists April 1, Sparta will participate in the new
league organized by the management of the NHL. That will end its
participation in the Czech extraleague, meaning Sparta's games in the
ongoing extraleague playoffs should be its last there for a long time.
The first information about the plan for NHL European expansion was
published in the daily MF DNES March 5-6. Charouz denied the report and
labeled the author of the article, Ivan Hamsik, a liar.
Eight European cities will host teams in the European NHL. Teams
from Canada and the United States will travel to Europe for longer
stays, during which they will meet the European elite several times. "We
see only one chance to play a worthy role in such prestigious
competition - by purchasing the best Czech players. Sparta's co-owners
from Los Angeles have enough money to buy even Vsetin," Charouz said, in
reference to the four-time defending extraleague champions. According to
unofficial information, the Prague team should change its name to the
Prague Tigers.
Vladimir Vorechovsky, Jirka Wazik/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* In its fifth qualification game for the Sydney Olympics in 2000,
the Czech national under-21 soccer team defeated Scotland 1-0 on Libor
Sionko's goal. The team has not allowed a goal since the beginning of
the qualification round and leads the ninth group's standings, six
points ahead of Lithuania.
* Hockey player Robert Reichel, the captain of the Czechs' World
Championships winner in Vienna, was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes by the
New York Islanders. He will not be able to help the Czech national team
during the World Championships in Norway.
* Tennis player Ivan Lendl, 39, the best male player in Czech
history, announced his intention to return to the ATP Tour. He wants to
prevent Pete Sampras from breaking his record for the number of the
weeks spent atop the ATP rankings. Lendl, who ended his career five
years ago, said he believes he will play as well as he ever did.
* The figure skating World Championships in Helsinki finished without
marked success for the Czech Republic. Katerina Berankova and Otto
Dlabola finished 12th in the pairs competition, the best Czech result.
Josef Koukolicek/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
A heatwave hit the Czech Republic last week. Some people had to be
taken to hospital because of the so-called spring syndrome. The
thermometer rose to an incredible temperature of about 20 degrees
Celsius/68 degrees Fahrenheit. Mainly elderly people could not cope with
the temperatures shocks. The political party Retirees for Life Security
drew attention to itself by arranging a demonstration, where the return
of past good winter times was demanded. "We had better living standards
under communism. We never had to deal with change," sighed deeply one of
the pensioners.
The owners of swimming pools made a profit on the change of
weather. Particulary outdoor pools were crowded with people over the
weekend. "It is absolutely great," said one swimming instructor.
I doubt that he will be satisfied forever. There should be
a radical change in the weather next week. No one knows what can be
expected. Tradition holds that the April weather is just unpredictable.
Katerina Kolarova/Katerina Kolarova
P.S.
Dear Readers, perhaps you realised that some of our articles are little
bit confusing. We are deeply sorry. The reason is that we decided to
enter the competition for The Baby of the Year 2000, which was announced
by the daily Blesk and TV NOVA. The winner has to give birth to a baby
right after the midnight January 1, 2000. According to specialists, sex
experts and astrologers, the ideal date of conception is now!!!!!!
Carolina staff is working very hard to win. We are very sorry, we
promise this will not happen again.
To be clear:
- there was really nice weather in Prague last weekend, but no one
demonstrated or went swimming (we think),
- the baby competition is for real, but we think no one from the staff
has joined the competition
- the news of the ice hockey club Sparta Praha joining the NHL was
prepared specially for this issue, as was the brief about Ivan Lendl's
return.
We were trying to amuse you with some April Fool's humor. We'd like
to thank you for your understanding and sense of humor.
Katerina Kolarova and Tomas Kohout/Katerina Kolarova
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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