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Carolina (English) No 341
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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 341, Friday, July 30, 1999
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (JULY 14 - JULY 28)
After One Year, First Personnel Change in Social Democrat Cabinet
Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Mertlik July 21 replaced Ivo Svoboda as
finance minister, after Svoboda was charged with Damaging creditors in
connection with his role in the bankruptcy of the Liberta baby-carriage
manufacturer (see Carolina 325).
Mertlik is the Social Democrat Government's youngest member. Born
in 1961, he was a member of the Communist Party from 1981-1990 and
a university professor of economics. He became a member of the Social
Democrats in 1995.
Prime Minister Milos Zeman July 16 proclaimed he was not satisfied
with the work of Deputy Prime Minister Egon Lansky (because of errors in
preparing the Czech Republic for European Union membership), Deputy
Prime Minister Jaroslav Basta (because of his failure to begin Operation
Clean Hands, the Social Democrats' key election promise of a fight
against corruption) and Regional Development Minister Jaromir Cisar
(because of delays in creating a housing policy). Zeman called his
criticism a "serious warning" for the Cabinet members.
UN General Secretary Kofi Annan Visits Prague
UN General Secretary Kofi Annan, in the Czech Republic July 16-18
with his wife Nane, said the war in Kosovo could help bring about UN
reform. "Because of the crisis in Kosovo, states realized it is
necessary to reform the Security Council, because military intervention
occurred without its prior approval," said Annan.
During his first visit to the Czech Republic, Annan met with
President Vaclav Havel, Prime Minister Milos Zeman, Foreign Minister Jan
Kavan, Defense Minister Vladimir Vetchy, Chamber of Deputies Chairman
Vaclav Klaus, Senate Chairwoman Libuse Benesova and special UN envoy to
the former Yugoslavia Jiri Dienstbier.
Impulse 99
The intellectual initiative Impulse (Impuls) 99 said in its
declaration, released July 23, that it wants to ensure the Czech
Republic's integration into European structures, to develop a civil
society here, to renew moral values, to overcome indifference,
provincialism, and intolerance, to support solidarity and
responsibility, to nurture interpersonal relationships, to encourage
lawfulness and to care for the education of society.
The speakers of the initiative will be former presidential advisor
Jiri Pehe, theologian Tomas Halik and journalist Jana Smidova. The
declaration was signed by 200 individuals, including political analyst
Jacques Rupnik, writer Ludvik Vaculik, writer and actor Zdenek Sverak,
Cardinal Miroslav Vlk, Bishop Vaclav Maly and union leader and Senator
Richard Falbr.
Poll Shows Communists as Second-Strongest Party
The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) would receive the
votes 17.8 per cent of respondents in a poll taken in the first week of
July by the Center for Empirical Research (STEM).
The Communists have the third-largest contingent in the Chamber of
Deputies, having received 11,03 per cent of the popular vote last
summer). The poll was the first since 1992 in which the Communists
finished ahead of the Social Democrats (preferred by 16.8 per cent of
the poll's respondents) and showed the best result for the party since
November 1989. The leader in the poll was the Civic Democratic Party
(ODS) with 23.4 per cent, while fourth and fifth places were taken,
respectively, by the Freedom Union (US) with 12.7 per cent and the
Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) with 10.4 per cent. About 1,600 people
were polled.
Other polls also confirm the rising popularity of the Communists,
although they still show the Communists trailing the ruling Social
Democrats. Analysts attribute the Communists' improving showing to
disappointment with the Social Democrat Government (latest polls show
27 per cent of respondents satisfied with the Government), while
President Vaclav Havel has credited the Communists' popularity to the
Opposition Contract, signed by ODS and the Social Democrats after last
summer's general elections.
Communist Vice Chairman Vaclav Exner said the party's preferences
were also influenced by its stance during the Kosovo crisis. "In the
question of NATO aggression our stance concurred with that of the
majority of Czech citizens, and for that was appreciated," Exner said.
"We aren't overestimating thew success (in the polls). Polls aren't
elections."
News in Brief
* The Government July 22 to uphold its plan to stop uranium mining
in the Czech Republic by 2003. Environment Minister Milos Kuzvart
supported adhering to the plan, while Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr
advocated the continuation of mining. Key issues were that Czech uranium
is many times more expensive than foreign uranium, potential
environmental damage from further mining and the ensuing unemployment
after the mines close.
FROM SLOVAKIA
Kofi Annan Visits Slovakia
Kofi Annan made the first visit of a UN general secretary to
Slovakia July 14 with a two-day stay in Bratislava. Annan said he had
two goals in going to Slovakia - to renew the prestige of the UN after
NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia and to express the improvement of
Slovakia's international standing after the departure of former Premier
Vladimir Meciar.
Annan met with President Rudolf Schuster, Premier Mikulas Dzurinda,
National Assembly Chairman Jozef Migas and Foreign Minister Eduard
Kukan, who was recently named special envoy to Kosovo. Annan denied
speculation that his visit was connected to the possible naming of
Slovakia as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
President Signs Minority Language Act
President Rudolf Schuster July 20 signed the Use of Minority
Languages Act, which the National Assembly had passed 10 days earlier.
The final version of the law does not include any of the riders
proposed by the Hungarian Coalition Party, which wanted minority
languages to be accepted in administrative regions where minorities
comprise more than 10 per cent of the population (the law provides for
the use of minority languages in communities where minorities comprise
20 per cent of the population) and the possibility to hold high-school
entrance exams and ceremonies in minority languages.
The law was the last political condition of the EU, and was
welcomed by OSCE High Commissar Max van der Stoel.
Norway Introduces Visas for Slovaks
After Great Britain, Ireland and Finland, Norway became he fourth
European country to introduce a visa requirement for Slovak citizens
wishing to enter the country. The requirement, introduced in response to
fears of a flood of Romany (Gypsy) immigrants, should last until
November 6.
ECONOMY
Consolidation Bank to Take Control of Czech Financial and Czech
Collection Agency
The Cabinet July 14 decided to merge three key state institutions
involved in the transformation to a market economy. As of January 1, the
Consolidation Bank (Konsolidacni banka) should acquire the bad assets of
Czech Financial (Ceska finacni) and the Czech Collection Agency (Ceska
inkasni).
The bank would then control all the so-called "hidden costs" of
transformation, which are now estimated at 250 billion crowns. The bank
would attempt to sell what it can of the bad debts to foreign investors.
Debts that cannot be sold and the losses from debts sold would go into
the state budget.
Another part of the plan would be the transfer of development
programs from the bank to the Czech-Moravian Guarantee and Development
Bank (Ceskomoravska zarucni a rozvojova banka), which would be the lone
institution administering development programs in the country. Experts
consider the entire Government plan a continuation of the concept put in
place by former Prime Minister Josef Tosovsky.
Questions Hang over Skoda Pilsen
Prime Minister Milos Zeman July 19 promised ailing engineering
giant Skoda Pilsen (Plzen) that the Government would help Skoda through
its continuing financial difficulties. Skoda showed losses of 3.7
billion crowns in 1997 and predicts losses of at least 3.5 billion
crowns this year - Skoda's past losses now stand at 5 billion crowns.
The Cabinet's goal will be to find a long-term strategic partner
who will ensure jobs, continue production and maintain research and
development. The company's general meeting August 20 will vote on
decreasing Skoda's basic capital from 9.5 billion crowns to about 950
million crowns by decreasing the nominal value of Skoda's shares.
Economy in Brief
* An administrator for the Revitalization Agency, which will
oversee the Government's industrial revitalization program, will be
chosen from seven unnamed applicants, all renowned and experienced
firms, said agency Board Vice Chairman Jaromir Mrkva July 27.
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid July 29)
--------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 36.805 Kc
country currency CZK
----------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 22.344
Great Britain 1 GBP 55.066
Denmark 1 DKK 4.944
Japan 100 JPY 29.898
Canada 1 CAD 22.901
IMF 1 XDR 46.999
Hungary 100 HUF 14.557
Norway 1 NOK 4.407
New Zealand 1 NZD 18.133
Poland 1 PLN 9.043
Greece 100 GRD 11.333
Slovakia 100 SKK 82.339
Slovenia 100 SIT 18.786
Sweden 1 SEK 4.176
Switzerland 1 CHF 23.035
USA 1 USD 34.658
Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro (converted from
the euro rate)
Germany 1 DEM 18.818
Belgium 100 BEF 91.237
Finland 1 FIM 6.190
Frane 1 FRF 5.611
Ireland 1 IEP 46.733
Italy 1000 ITL 19.008
Luxemburg 100 LUF 91.237
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.701
Portugal 100 PTE 18.358
Austria 1 ATS 2.675
Spain 100 ESP 22.120
CULTURE
Journey to the South in Prague's Municipal House
Journey to the South, an exhibit in Prague's Municipal House
(Obecni dum) open until October 10, is a unique display of Czech
painters and architects inspired by Italy, southern France and Spain in
the last two centuries.
On the oil paintings of Josef Manes, Antonin Barvitio, Benes
Knupfer and Josef Navratil, one can see a fascination with southern
Europe, as well as in the watercolors of Antonin Balsanek and Osvald
Polivka. Artists' diaries of their travels there and some antique
artifacts are also displayed, including some pieces from the former
collection of Baron Frantisek Kollerm, who was one of the visitors to
Pompei.
SPORTS
NHL Clubs Buy Dozen Czech Extraleague Players
One year after a gold medal in the Nagano Olympics and months after
the Czech Republic won the World Championships, after Jaromir Jagr and
Dominik Hasek triumphed in the NHL Awards Ceremony and after young Czech
players Brendl and Patrik Stefan were among top four in the NHL draft,
Canadian and American clubs acknowledged the quality of Czech hockey and
chose more than 10 Czech Extraleague players.
The expansion Atlanta Thrashers will probably test a Czech line:
Vladimir Vujtek and Martin Prochazka with first overall draft pick
Stefan. Vujtek and Prochazka played together on Pavel Patera's
national-team line. Patera is also leaving the Czech league for the
Dallas Stars, the reigning NHL champion.
Sparta Praha was disappointed with the loss of three players:
besides Vujtek, who recently signed a contract with Sparta after coming
from Vitkovice, Sparta also lost forward Jan Hlavac and goaltender Milan
Hnilicka (a trade of Hnilicka had been discussed after Sparta got Petr
Briza from Germany's Landshut). Hlavac and Hnilicka will play for the
New York Rangers.
Three other national-team members will try to make NHL rosters:
Defensemen Frantisek Kaberle (Los Angeles) and Libor Prochazka (St.
Louis) and forward David Moravec (Buffalo). Besides these three, five
other extraleague players signed contracts with NHL teams: Jindrich,
Mika, Rachunek, Sulc and Skoula.
Defenseman Milos Holan should also return to the NHL, he is talking
with Atlanta. He stopped playing in the NHL because of leukemia, but
after treatment began playing again for Vitkovice. On the contrary,
Robert Reichel will probably play for Litvinov, because he cannot agree
on a new contract with Phoenix. NHL clubs were also interested in
Frantisek Kucera and David Vyborny of Sparta and Jiri Dopita of Vsetin,
but they will remain in the extraleague.
Soccer League Starts This Weekend
The new season of the Gambrinus Soccer League will open with the
Prague intracity derby between Sparta Praha and Viktoria Zizkov July 30.
The season will end in mid-May, when the Czech national team will
participate in the European Championships. Some of the teams will be
very busy: Sparta will participate in the Champions League, Teplice will
try to qualify for that, but their opponent in the qualification,
Germany's Borussia Dortmund, is a superb team.
Only three teams will probably be able to compete for the title:
Sparta Praha, Slavia Praha and Teplice. Sparta, with a new owner, lost
sweeper Votava, but got Slovakia's Labant from Slavia and two good
players from Ostrava. Slavia then made the most expensive trade of the
summer break, buying the Dosek twins from Plzen for 30 million crowns.
Teplice should be strenghtened by Euro 1996 silver medalist Martin
Frydek, who is returning from Germany.
Olomouc, Ostrava, Blsany and Brno are the strongest candidates for
the UEFA Cup. Olomouc will play without Pavel Hapal, who returned to
Tenerife. Ostrava has big problems with its finances, with the players
considering a strike. Blsany bought Frantisek Koubek from Hradec
Kralove, who was one of the top scorers in last season's spring session.
Some seven teams should battle for their future in the league.
Hradec Kralove's roster became quite poor after letting some players go.
Slovan Liberec kept Argentinian striker Lazzaro Liuni, after the best
foreign player in the league could not find engagement abroad. Viktoria
Zizkov signed a contract with Radovan Hromadko, who played in the UEFA
Cup quarterfinal with Maccabi Haifa last year. Two big stars came to
Dukla Pribram: goalkeeper Zdenek Janos and Daniel Smejkal.
Opava, Jablonec and Petra Drnovice also made some trades to attempt
to avoid the league basement.
The two team promoted from the second league, Ceske Budejovice and
Bohemians Praha, have players good enough to stay in the league.
Summer transfers include:
Tomas Votava from Sparta to Munich 1860 (Germany),
Rene Bolf and Libor Sionko from Ostrava to Sparta,
Vladimir Labant from Slavia to Sparta,
Martin Frydek from Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) to Teplice,
Lukas Dosek and Tomas Dosek from Plzen to Slavia,
Frantisek Koubek from Hradec Kralove to Blsany,
Radovan Hromadko from Maccabi Haifa (Israel) to Zizkov,
Daniel Smejkal from Bayer Uerdingen (Germany) to Pribram.
Radek Onderka from Uerdingen to Opava
Some Czech players were also traded in Europe. Vladimir Smicer
joined Liverpool FC from France's Racing Lens for 4 million pounds,
the highest amount ever paid for a Czech player.
Other top Czech players traded in Europe:
Jan Suchoparek from Racing Strassbourg (France) to TeBe Berlin,
Pavel Kuka from FC Nuremberg (Germany) to VfB Stuttgart (Germany),
Jan Koller from SC Lokeren (Belgium) to RSC Anderlecht Brussel.
Javelin Thrower Zelezny Wins Golden League's Meet in Paris
Jan Zelezny, who resurrected his career after a shoulder injury,
won the javelin competition at the Golden League meet in Paris with
a throw of 89.06 meters. Runner Ludmila Formanova (eighth in the 800m)
and high-jumper Zuzana Hlavonova-Kovacikova (ninth) also participated in
Paris.
It was Zelezny's second French victory, after the meet in Nice,
where Formanova finished seventh in the 1,000m run and Hlavonova second
in the high jump.
Zelezny missed the Golden League's first meet in Oslo because of
illness (his first start was in Nice); in Oslo Czech athletes finished
fourth twice in the high jump (Tomas Janku and Hlavonova), while
Formanova added a sixth in the 800m.
Capalini Wins World Championships Silver, but Misses Olympics
Qualification
Libor Capalini recorded a success in the modern pentathlon World
Championships in Budapest. finishing second overall to Hungary's Balogh.
He missed the first chance to qualify for the Sydney Olympic Games,
because only the winner qualified. Capalini will have other chances to
qualify in World Cup events and at next year's World Championships.
Sports in Brief
* The Stanley Cup arrived in the Czech Republic for the first time
July 26. According to a new policy, each member of the winning team gets
the cup for a day, so the cup came to the Czech Republic to visit goalie
Roman Turek.
* Lubos Racansky won the gold medal in the European Shooting
Championships in Bordeaux, France in the moving-target competition. He
added another gold with his colleagues from the Czech team in the same
discipline. Pistol shooter Pavel Safranek won a bronze medal.
* Czech triathlets won three medals in the European Championships
in Funchal, Portugal. Jan Rehula and Martin Krnavek finished second and
third among the men behind Switzerland's Hug, while the women's team
finished third.
* The women's national softball team improved its reputation after
its failure in the Olympic qualifications - it won a silver medal in the
European Championships in Antwerp. It managed to beat Italy for the
first time since the czech Republic was created, but in the final it
lost to Italy 1-6.
* Michaela Vernerova will probably have to return the bronze medal
she won in the European Judo Championships in Bratislava because of
a positive doping test.
* Two Czech cyclists on the Lampre team took part in the Tour de
France. Jan Svorada finished fourth in one stage. Pavel Padrnos finished
18th in the time trial around Metz. However, they finished only nine
stages and both withdrew in the 10th stage in the Alps.
* Skiers Katerina Neumannova and Pavel Elsnic won the elite
categories in the MTB Czech Republic Cross-Country Championships in
Most. Elsnic finished fourth, behind Kondis of Slovakia and two juniors.
* Czech pilot Petr Biskup won the overall Advanced category at the
World Championships in aerial acrobatics in Mnichovo Hradiste.
* Two chess grandmasters, Russian-born Spanish national Alexei
Shirov and Hungarian Judith Polgar, competed in Prague's Archa Theater
for the Eurotel Trophy. Polgar managed one tie in six games and lost
1/2 to 5 1/2 points.
WEATHER
This summer's weather is very summery.
This issue of Carolina was written by Pavlina Hodkova, Mirek Langer,
Linda Kholova and Lida Truneckova, and was translated by Langer, Zuzana
Janeckova and Michael Bluhm.
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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