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Carolina (English) No 358
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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 358, Friday, January 14, 2000.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST THREE WEEKS (December 22 - January 12)
Havel Talks about Globalization in New Year's Speech
"My dear fellow citizens, at midnight we entered the year of
a great change of ages. People traditionally consider such a time as
a challenge for more fundamental contemplation of themselves, about the
world, about the meaning of all things," began President Vaclav Havel's
annual New Year's address. The main theme of his speech was
globalization. Havel said our planet is becoming "unified and
electronically connected place of information, communication, finance
and trade, in which circulate not only news, but also billions of
dollars, cultural values and pseudo-values, good and bad goods, good and
bad approaches to life." Havel called on people to change their values,
to be more humble and considerate: "We should understand much more
strongly that we are not only the members of our family, employees or
owners of a company, residents of our village or city, members of our
profession, members of our group or party and members of our nation, but
that we are residents of this Earth." Havel in the end wished the Czech
people "a great return of hope - hope in our personal lives, the life of
our land and the life of the entire human community."
Prime Minister Milos Zeman said Havel's speech was too general:
"Beside great words we also need small, but useful specific acts."
Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus, Havel's arch-enemy, said
Havel's New Year's speeches were all the same. Freedom Union Chairman
Karel Kuehnl said the speech demonstrated "the words of statesman, whose
perspective exceeds the Czech borders." Daniela Vrbova/Jakub Jirovec
Protests in Half of Czech Prisons
Prisoners in half the jails of the Czech Republic rebelled against
inhumane conditions and new prison laws. The rebellion started January
10 in Vinarice in the Kladno area, where a majority of prisoners
announced a hunger strike. Protests in other Czech prisons began after
a report on the Vinarice rebellion aired on Czech Television and on TV
NOVA.
The main reason for the protests is the new law, which says
prisoners will have to pay rent for their incarceration. The law also
limits the number of packages prisoners can receive from their families
and friends to two per year. The prisoners are also demanding better
conditions in jail - one statistic shows that the Czech Police on
average spend more per day to feed one of their dogs than is spent on
average to feed a prisoner.
Director of the Czech Prison Service Kamila Menclova said her
office is working on improving conditions in the prisons, but she will
not accept changes in new law, which accords to European Union
standards. Nikoleta Alivojvodic/Jakub Jirovec
Zeman and Kavan Apologize to Former Minister Zieleniec
Foreign Minister Jan Kavan apologized January 6 that Prime Minister
Milos Zeman, on the basis of information from Kavan, accused former
Foreign Minister Jozef Zieleniec of bribing journalists. Zeman
apologized January 7.
In June Zeman said Kavan had told him about contracts between
Zieleniec and media agencies to make Zieleniec look good in the media.
Kavan said an investigation in his office found nothing, but he still
believes what he told Zeman. Zeman said he also still believes the
accusation to be true, but Zieleniec accepted the apologies and neither
Zeman nor Kavan intend to resign. Andrea Slovakova/Jakub Jirovec
Vladimir Zelezny No Longer Majority Owner of CET 21
The January 3 general meeting of CET 21, the holder of TV NOVA's
broadcasting license, confirmed January the company's capital increase
as approved by the Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting. TV
NOVA General Director Vladimir Zelezny lost his majority share of CET
21, with his share in the firm decreasing from 60 per cent to 11.78 per
cent. New owners of CET 21 include Edikon and MEF Media, each with 24
per cent. Zelezny has been at war with the American company CME, which
financed TV NOVA from 1992 until last year, and if Zelezny loses to CME
in court, his share of CET 21 will no longer restore control of TV NOVA
to CME.
Dalibor Balsinek, spokesman for CME's Czech company CNTS, said the
council "has identified with the fraudulent behavior of Mr. Zelezny."
The weekly Tyden wrote that the council's decision increases the chances
of CME owner Ronald Lauder in his 15-billion-crown suit against the
Czech Republic for inadequate protection of his investment.
Michaela Kleckova/Jakub Jirovec
NEWS IN BRIEF
* A three-member delegation of the Social Democrats led by Prime
Minister Milos Zeman met with a three-member delegation of the Civic
Democratic Party (ODS) led by Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus
January 7 to discuss the Opposition Contract, signed by the two parties
to allow the minority Social Democrat Government to exist while granting
ODS prime posts in the state and in state-run firms. Social Democrat
Vice Chairman Stanislav Gross said after the meeting that he has been
offered the post of interior minister, while ODS has hinted it will
support the Government's new budget proposal (see below) after changes
in the Cabinet.
* Regional delegates of the Thank You, Now Leave! initiative January
8 confirmed the transformation of the petition into a civic association.
The Sofres-Factum agency announced that a political party coming out of
the association would receive the votes of 25 per cent of poll
respondents.
* President Vaclav Havel January 3 began a two- to three-week stay in
a health spa at Karlova Studanka in the Jeseniky Mountains. His stay is
intended to improve his respiratory condition, help him lose weight and
get in better overall physical condition so he can undergo a hernia
operation.
* A 23-member group of Czech firefighters and soldiers has been
helping cleanup efforts in the French region of Marne. The group, which
was scheduled to stay in France for one week, will probably stay for
a month; the French have greatly appreciated their assistance and the
group could be sent to work in other regions.
Andrea Slovakova, Nikoleta Alivojvodic and Daniela Vrbova/Jakub Jirovec
FROM SLOVAKIA
State Awards for New Year
Slovak President Rudolf Schuster presented the Pribin Cross, the
highest Slovak state honor, to 10 individuals January 4. Those honored
posthoumously included Alexander Dubcek, Pavel Peter Gojdic, a bishop
and martyr in the 50's, and dissident, philosopher and writer Milan
Simecka. Jan Skala/Michael Bluhm
ECONOMY
Government Approves Third Budget Proposal
The third proposal of the state budget for the year 2000 calls for
a lower deficit (35.2 billion crowns) than the two previous proposals
(42 billion crowns) but the Social Democrats' minority Government has
not yet secured the needed support in the Chamber of Deputies. The Czech
Republic has been operating under a provisional budget since January 1.
Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Chairman Vaclav Klaus did not state
whether his party would support the budget proposal. He did warn that
a third rejection would mean the end of the present minority Government.
The Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union will not vote for the
budget. These parties say ODS wants to preserve the Opposition Contract
it has with the Social Democrats (the agreement allowing the minority
Government to rule while ODS receives prime positions in the state and
state-run companies) and will support the proposal. Only the Communists
are certain to support the proposal, but their votes will not be enough
to pass it.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pavel Mertlik said
Finance Ministry estimates place the 1999 budget deficit at 30.4 billion
crowns, almost exactly the deficit approved by the Chamber of Deputies
last year. Mertlik said he considers the result proof of the
Government's ability to handle public finances.
Michaela Kleckova/Ondrej Maly
Lowest Inflation Rate of Decade
According to the Czech Statistics Office, the average inflation
rate for 1999 was 2.1 per cent. This is the lowest number not only since
1993, when the Czech Republic came into existence, but also since 1991,
when price liberalization took effect in the former Czechoslovakia. The
low rate was slightly offset by the rise in unemployment. The positive
inflation result were mainly thanks to the fall of food prices and the
least deregulation of any post-communist country. Both these factors
significantly decreased the impact of the rise in prices in other
spheres such as housing (9 per cent), education (almost 5 per cent) and
transportation (4 per cent, mainly because of the rise in fuel prices in
November). Iva Potrebova/Ondrej Maly
Unemployment Hits Record High
The unemployment rate in the Czech Republic rose in December by
0.4 per cent to 9.4 per cent, a record for the Czech Republic. In the
first winter month, about 487,000 people were out of work. According to
experts, the rise was caused by work contracts expiring at the end of
the year and the end of some seasonal work. The regions with the highest
unemployment rates are Ostrava and northwestern Bohemia, where the rate
has almost reached 20 per cent. The lowest unemployment rate is, as
usual, in Prague. Iva Potrebova/Ondrej Maly
Prices of Energy Rise, Fuel Prices Falling
Energy prices are rising an average of 15 per cent for households
(1kWh of electricity from 2.20 crowns to about 2.60 crowns), as well as
natural gas prices. Communications, too, will be more expensive
- a postcard stamp will cost 5 crowns, a letter stamp 5.40 crowns. Czech
Telecom (the new name for SPT Telecom) will reduce international rates
by an average of 14 per cent. Mobile phone rates will be probably
decreased by the new GSM network operator Czech Mobile (Cesky mobil),
which entered the market January 8 (with Eurotel and RadioMobil-Paegas
operators already providing GSM services).
The rise in the household costs will affect mainly cities, where
public transportation prices are also on the rise.
Czech Refinery (Ceska rafinerska), the country's largest fuel
producer, decreased the price of oil by almost one crown and the price
of gasoline by 57-58 hellers (one crown consists of 100 hellers). The
new prices have already affected prices at some gas stations, after
prices rose throughout 1999.
Dita Eckhardtova and Iva Potrebova/Ondrej Maly
New Year Should Be More Prosperous for Czech Republic
After two years of recession, economists are predicting growth,
according to the daily Lidove noviny. They expect the Czech Republic's
GDP to rise by 1.4 per cent to 2 per cent. The currency should remain
sound and stable, while foreign investments should rise. Inflation will
rise from the 1999 level of 2 per cent last year to 5 per cent. Real
wages will rise about 2 per cent to 3 per cent, but not for
public-sector employees.
Union negotiations with the employers, which have previously almost
always ended with wage increases, have become more complicated - the
managers of successful companies are demanding a wage freeze. If prices
rise by 5 per cent, state pension payouts will probably also increase at
the end of the year. The unemployment rate should reach 11 per cent,
according to Government estimates. Prime Minister Milos Zeman's
Government wil try to help the economy mainly through the Housing and
Transportation Fund, to be filled with tens of billions of crowns from
the expected privatization of Czech Telecom, Czech Railways and other
companies. Dita Eckhardtova/Ondrej Maly
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid January 13)
----------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 36.030 Kc
country currency CZK
----------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 22.968
Great Britain 1 GBP 57.502
Denmark 1 DKK 4.844
Japan 100 JPY 33.026
Canada 1 CAD 23.947
IMF 1 XDR 47.911
Hungary 100 HUF 14.143
Norway 1 NOK 4.375
New Zealand 1 NZD 18.093
Poland 1 PLN 8.573
Greece 100 GRD 10.890
Slovakia 100 SKK 85.183
Slovenia 100 SIT 18.031
Sweden 1 SEK 4.154
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.377
USA 1 USD 34.879
Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
----------------------------------------
Belgium 100 BEF 89.316
Finland 1 FIM 6.060
France 1 FRF 5.493
Germany 1 DEM 18.422
Ireland 1 IEP 45.749
Italy 1000 ITL 18.608
Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.316
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.350
Portugal 100 PTE 17.972
Austria 1 ATS 2.618
Spain 100 ESP 21.654
CULTURE
Miroslav Ivanov Died
Miroslav Ivanov, leading author of non-fiction literature, died
December 23 at the age of 70 after a long illness. He studied at the
College of Humanities (Filozoficka fakulta) of Charles University and
worked there as an assistant professor in the departement of Czech and
Slovak literature for eight years. From 1960-67 Ivanov worked as an
editor at the magazine Call of the Revolution (Hlas revoluce) and then
as a writer. He wrote more than 30 books and assisted with some 50
television programs.
His works focused on the contentious and murky periods of Czech
history. He tried to make his chosen themes accessible and
comprehensible for a wide public. Some of his most famous books were The
Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich (Atentat na Reinharda Heydricha),
A Confidential Report on Karel Hynek Macha (Duverna zprava o Karlu Hynku
Machovi) and Judicial Murder - the Death of Milada Horakova (Justicni
vrazda aneb Smrt Milady Horakove).
Not only did he write non-fiction literature but he also helped
found the Club of Authors of Literature of Fact (KALF) and the annual
Egon Erwin Kisch Award for the best works of non-fiction literature.
Simon Dominik/Veronika Hankusova
Vladimir Dvorak Died
Vladimir Dvorak, actor, song lyricist and entertainer died December
28 at the age of 74 after a long illness. His career began radio, but in
the 50's he left for television, where he remained until the end of his
life.
His speciality was entertainment - he worked as a dramaturg at the
Central Office of Entertainment Shows for 22 years, managing the office
for eight years and recently was a consultant there. Dvorak wrote many
scripts, including more than 10 New Year's Eve shows, and he wrote
lyrics for a number of popular songs. He was best known as co-host, with
Jirina Bohdalova, of Televariete. Simon Dominik/Veronika Hankusova
CULTURE IN BRIEF
* Uzbekistan-born American pianist Yefim Bronfman began the
performance of his cycle of three concerts entitled A Tribute to
Beethoven January 10 in the Dvorak Hall of Prague's Rudolfinum with the
Prague Chamber Philharmonic under the direction of Jiri Belohlavek.
Bronfman performed the second concert January 12 and the final concert
is slated for January 15.
SPORTS
Sparta Replaces Pilsen on Top of Hockey League Standings
The past six rounds of the hockey extraleague brought about
a change at the top of the standings, with Sparta taking first place
away from Pilsen (Plzen), which has since fallen into fourth place.
Vsetin, now in second place one point behind Sparta, received
a Christmas gift of 7 million crowns from the Vsetin City Hall to cover
the club's stadium costs and help it out of its financial crisis.
Results of the 29th round: Pardubice - Sparta 3:4, Trinec - Havirov
2:2, Budejovice - Litvinov 7:2, Vitkovice - Znojmo 3:5, Kladno - Plzen
1:1, Zlin - Vsetin 2:3, Slavia - K.Vary 2:0.
Results of the 30th round: Sparta - Budejovice 6:1, Vsetin - Trinec
3:1, Havirov - Pardubice 7:4, Znojmo - Zlin 4:2, Plzen - Litvinov 2:4.
Kladno - Slavia postponed until Januray 18 because of flu, Vitkovice
- K.Vary 3:3.
Results of the 31st round: Vitkovice - Kladno 3:0, Zlin - K.Vary
6:0, Trinec - Znojmo 5:1, Pardubice - Vsetin 2:5, Budejovice - Havirov
4:2, Litvinov - Sparta 1:3, Slavia - Plzen 1:0.
Results of the 32nd round: Havirov - Litvinov 4:1, Vsetin
- Budejovice 3:3, Znojmo - Pardubice 3:2, K.Vary - Trinec 6:3, Slavia
- Vitkovice 1:3, Kladno - Zlin 3:5. Sparta - Plzen postponed until
February 29 because of Sparta playing in the EHL.
Results of the 33rd round: Vitkovice - Plzen 1:3, Pardubice
- Karlovy Vary 6:3, Litvinov - Vsetin 3:3, Trinec - Kladno 7:2, Sparta
- Havirov 4:3, Ceske Budejovice - Znojmo 4:4, Slavia - Zlin 2:5.
Results of the 34th round: Vsetin - Sparta 3:2, Slavia - Trinec
3:2, Karlovy Vary - Ceske Budejovice 3:6, Znojmo - Litvinov 4:1, Plzen
- Havirov 2:2, Kladno - Pardubice 2:2, Vitkovice - Zlin 1:1.
Standings: 1. Sparta 46 points, 2. Vsetin 45, 3. Zlin 43, 4. Plzen
43, 5. Budejovice 37, 6. Trinec 35, 7. Litvinov 35, 8. Znojmo 31, 9.
Havirov 29, 10. Slavia 29, 11. Pardubice 26, 12. K. Vary 26, 13.
Vitkovice 24, 14. Kladno 21.
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* The Czech junior national hockey team (for players under 20) won
the World Championships in Sweden.
* Slavia Hockey player Vladimir Ruzicka announced his retirement
January 4. The Litvinov native played for five seasons in 233 games in
the NHL for Edmonton, Boston and Ottawa, recording 82 goals. Ruzicka was
also a member of the Czech team which won the gold medal in the Nagano
Olympics in 1998.
* Czech decathlete Tomas Dvorak, the 27-year-old who won the World
Championships and set a world record this year, was named European
Athlete of the year.
* Czech soccer coach Josef Chovanec was voted the sixth-best coach in
the world in a poll of sports journalists from more than 50 countries
taken by the Uruguayan magazine El Pais.
Darina Johanidesova and Jaroslav Sauer/Michael Bluhm
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