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Carolina (English) No 405
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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 ISSN 121-5040
tel: (+4202) 22112252, fax: (+4202) 22112219
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 405, Friday, February 9, 2001.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (January 31 - February 7)
Pilip and Bubenik Return Home after 25 days in Cuban Jail
Ivan Pilip and Jan Bubenik were released from jail in Havana and
arrived at Prague's Ruzyne Airport on the evening of February 6. Former
Finance Minister and current deputy Pilip and 1989 student leader and
businessman Bubenik were arrested January 12 and transferred soon after
to Havana's Villa Marista jail. The two were released after they signed
a confession that they "unwittingly violated Cuban laws by meeting with
dissidents, and apologize to the Cuban people if they were offended by
these acts."
Pilip, Bubenik and their families were received by President Vaclav
Havel at Prague Castle February 7. After a one-hour meeting, Havel
thanked everyone who contributed to the release of both men. Havel said
Senate Chairman Petr Pithart's mission to Cuba (see Caroline 404),
mediated by Slovak diplomats, was the turning point. Havel said the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (an umbrella organization grouping 140 world
legislatures) also played a significant role. "We must see our fates in
connection with the fates of others, our country in connection with the
whole world. We have to accept our share of responsibility for the fate
of human rights and freedoms throughout the world," said Havel after the
meeting. Havel said Pilip and Bubenik deserve admiration and
acknowledgement, not so much for the time they suffered in prison, but
rather for accepting that responsibility and wanting to do whatever was
in their power to express solidarity with the dissidents.
From Prague Castle Veronika Pavlu/Sofia Karakeva
Jaroslav Bures Becomes New Justice Minister
President Vaclav Havel named Jaroslav Bures justice minister
February 2. Bures succeeded Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Rychtecky, who
held the post temporarily since October. At that time former Justice
Minister Otakar Motejl resigned after failing to pass through Parliament
his judicial reforms, particularly revisions to the Criminal Code.
Bures, 46, chaired until the end of 1999 the civil and trade
collegium of the Supreme Court. He left the Supreme Court to chair the
Appeals Court in Prague, which he left to become minister.
Martin Roubal/Sofia Karakeva
Chief of Russian Diplomacy in Prague after Seven Years
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov arrived in Prague February 2
for the first visit by a Russian minister to Prague since 1994. Ivanov
and President Vaclav Havel Ivanov discussed resuscitating relations. The
main subject of Ivanov's meeting with Prime Minister Milos Zeman was the
repayment of Russia's debt to the Czech Republic. Ivanov also met with
his Czech counterpart Jan Kavan and with Chamber of Deputies Chairman
Vaclav Klaus. It is believed that Ivanov's visit should warm relations
and encourage trade, cultural and political dialogue.
Martina Oplatkova/Sofia Karakeva
Danish Demonstrator Found Innocent
The Prague 1 City Court February 1 dismissed charges against Mads
Thordal Traerup, an 18-year-old Danish student accused of assaulting
a public official, a charge carrying a potential sentence of up to 10
years' imprisonment. The judge ruled that police, with conflicting
depositions and insufficient evidence, failed to prove Traerup attacked
police officers during the anti-IMF and World Bank demonstrations last
September. The state prosecutor appealed the decision. A second charged
Dane missed the trial because of health reasons.
Two other trials with demonstrators should have taken place
February 6, but the two Spaniards and one Pole on trial did not appear.
The Pole and one of the Spaniards have not yet received their subpoenas.
The Spanish Embassy vouched for the release from custody of the
Spaniards and that they would appear in court. Other trials with
demonstrators are to follow soon.
On the other hand, the Interior Ministry's Inspection has rejected
most of the almost 400 complaints about the behavior of police officers
and has admitted four misdemeanors and one felony, but has not
identified the perpetrators.
From the Prague 1 City Court Radim Hladik/Adam Fendrych
NEWS IN BRIEF
* The Czech Republic has introduced a visa requirement for Canadian
citizens as of April 1 after talks about cancelling Canada's visa
requirement for Czechs failed to bring a result. Canada initiated the
visa requirement for Czech citizens after Czech Romanies begin applying
en masse for asylum in 1997. Canada refuses to cancel the requirement
even though Romanies have stopped coming to Canada. Czech Foreign
Minister Jan Kavan said the visa process would be as considerate as
possible to Canadian businessmen.
Martina Oplatkova/Veronika Hankusova
* The Ferdinand Peroutka prizes for journalists for 2000 were given
to commentator from the daily Pravo Alexandr Mitrofanov and Czech Radio
(Cesky rozhlas) commentator Petr Novacek February 6. The Ferdinand
Peroutka Association also acknowledged the news coverage done by
rebellious employees in Czech Television.
Lida Truneckova/Veronika Hankusova
* Jiri Kajinek, sentenced to life for a contract double-murder, might
get a new trial. Kajinek escaped in October from the highest-security
Czech prison, Mirov, and was captured December 8. Caretaker Justice
Minister Pavel Rychetsky, before handing over the office to successor
Jaroslav Bures, filed a complaint in Kajinek's case with the Supreme
Court, Rychetsky said February 2. Rychetsky said he did not find the
investigation to have been done 100-per-cent properly.
Martin Roubal/Ondrej Maly
* After deadline: Parliament took another step in the continuing
crisis in public-service broadcaster Czech Television (CT) when the
Chamber of Deputies February 9 elected Jiri Balvin the interim general
director. Balvin, 48, a former CT producer, was chosen from six
candidates (see Carolina 404).
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Zeman Invites Swedes to Invest in Czech Republic
Prime Minister Milos Zeman presented during his two-day official
visit to Sweden February 5-6 the Czech Republic as a stable investment
environment for Northern European countries, with possible investment
opportunities in the industrial sector and in rearming the Czech Air
Force. The main purpose of his visit were talks with top Swedish
politicians about EU expansion (Sweden chairs the European Council) and
substantial economic cooperation.
Zeman discussed in particular the purchase of Swedish JAS 39 Gripen
fighter planes. Together with Czech Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr, Zeman
tried to encourage the Swedish carmaker Volvo to bid in the
privatization of truckmaker Tatra Koprivnice. According to the CTK press
agency, Volvo confirmed its interest February 6.
Martin Roubal/Ondrej Maly
Havel Receives Prize in Paris
President Vaclav Havel February 1 became the first recipient of the
Grand Prize awarded by the World Academy of Cultures, founded by Elie
Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize winner. The Grand Prize, given to Havel for
his writing and political activity, was presented by French Prime
Minister Lionel Jospin. Havel also spoke with French President Jacques
Chirac, among the subjects discussed was the planned 2002 NATO summit in
Prague.
Martina Oplatkova/Ondrej Maly
FROM SLOVAKIA
Russian Foreign Minister Visits Bratislava
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov arrived on a state visit to
Bratislava January 31. Ivanov met with President Rudolf Schuster,
Premier Mikulas Dzurinda and government members and discussed Russia's
continuing interest in economic cooperation with Slovakia. Ivanov
promised that the planned Russian gas pipeline will be completed. Future
cooperation should not be affected by Slovakia's plans to join NATO,
Ivanov said. Ivanov and the first woman in space, Valentina Tereskovova,
opened the Russian Cultural Institute in Bratislava.
Zdenek Sloboda/Sofia Karakeva
ECONOMY
Billions from EU to Support Czech Countryside
European Commissioner for Agriculture, Countryside Development and
Fishing Franz Fischler and Czech Finance Minister Pavel Mertlik February
5 signed an agreement as part of the Sapard program to help support the
Czech countryside with as much as 5.7 billion crowns through 2006.
Two-thirds of this aid should be invested in modernization of the
agriculture and food-processing industry and on the environment and
water protection. The Sapard program will cover up to 75 per cent of the
costs, the rest will be paid by the state.
The commissioner also criticized the Czech ban on importing EU beef
products. He said beef from the EU is safe and the ban does not allow
for a free market in meat. Czech Agriculture Minister Jan Fencl said the
ban is one of the ways the Czech Republic is managing to keep the
country free of mad cow disease (BSE).
Harvard Industrial Holding - No Operations Allowed
The Prague City Court February 5 issued a preliminary injunction
forbidding the board of directors of the Harvard Industrial Holding all
operations with its assets. According to the daily MF DNES, this measure
should prevent valueless coupons from Azerbaijani privatization to be
transferred into the holding. Trading of shares of the holding was also
stopped.
Economic news by Radim Hladik/Stepan Vorlicek
Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid February 9)
--------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 34.610
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 20.261
Great Britain 1 GBP 54.231
Denmark 1 DKK 4.638
Japan 100 JPY 32.109
Canada 1 CAD 24.706
IMF 1 XDR 48.501
Hungary 100 HUF 13.034
Norway 1 NOK 4.233
New Zealand 1 NZD 16.352
Poland 1 PLN 9.157
Slovakia 100 SKK 79.137
Slovenia 100 SIT 16.051
Sweden 1 SEK 3.899
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.564
USA 1 USD 37.338
Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 17.696
Belgium 100 BEF 85.796
Finland 1 FIM 5.821
France 1 FRF 5.276
Ireland 1 IEP 43.946
Italy 1000 ITL 17.875
Luxemburg 100 LUF 85.796
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.705
Portugal 100 PTE 17.263
Austria 1 ATS 2.515
Greece 100 GRD 10.157
Spain 100 ESP 20.801
CULTURE
Slovaks and Czechs Exhibit in America
Slovak Premier Mikulas Dzurinda February 1 launched a month of
Slovak culture in New York.
Czech artists will also display their work there together with
Slovaks. The largest presentation ever of Slovak art includes fine arts
and music, dance and film productions. The month began with the
Slovak-Czech exhibit, which presents Czech artists awarded the
prestigious Jindrich Chalupecky Prize (e.g., Vladimir Kokolia and
Katerina Vincourova) and Slovaks who won their country's TONAL award
(e.g., Patrik Kovacovsky and Dorota Sadovska).
New York will welcome the Astorka Theater from Bratislava and Jan
Durovcik's Dance Theater (Divadlo tance), soprano Lubica Vargicova and
the Moyzes Quartet, which will play pieces by Slovak composers. Feature
films and documentaries will be shown as well, for example Juraj
Jakubisko's movies and the Oscar-winning Store on the Corso (Obchod na
korze), the first Czechoslovak film to win the foreign-language Oscar
and one of the harbingers of the Czechoslovak new wave of the 1960's.
The exhibition will also include Days of Slovak Jewish Culture.
Martina Oplatkova/Stepan Vorlicek
Photographer Zdenko Feyfar Dies
At the age of 87 photographer Zdenko Feyfar died February 3. His
most common motif was nature, especially the Giant Mountains (Krkonose).
Feyfar's photographs of Prague are also well known, as are his
portraits, for example of fellow photographer and close friend Josef
Sudek. Feyfar studied medicine and then at the State School of Grafic
Art, where he later lectured. He also worked as a photographer at the
Barrandov Film Studios and he was a member of the Manes art association.
Exhibit of his work were often organized in foreign countries. According
to photography experts, Feyfar was that rare photographer who resisted
making easy and pleasing pictures of nature but succeeded in approaching
its essence.
Martina Oplatkova/Veronika Hankusova
SPORTS
Jan Koller Wins Belgium's Player of the Year Award
Czech national team member Jan Koller won the award as the top
Belgian-league soccer player of 2000. The Anderlecht forward won the
trophy by a large margin ahead of his teammate Vanderhaege. Journalists,
coaches, officials and past poll winners voted for the award. Koller is
the seventh foreigner and the first Czech to win this trophy in its
30-year history.
Koller came to Belgium in 1996 from Sparta Praha and managed to
make a name for himself in Lokeren SC and was then bought by the fabled
Anderlecht team. In the 1999-2000 season he was the top scorer in the
Belgian league and is the third-leading scorer this year. He also helped
Anderlecht during its unexpected trip to the UEFA Champions League
second stage. Belgian journalists appreciate especially his commitment,
devotion and team-oriented play.
Renata Vlasakova/Mirek Langer
Vsetin Leads Hockey Extraleague ahead of Zlin and Pardubice
Slavia Praha hockey players celebrated the 100th anniversary of
their club's founding with a 7-2 win against Sparta, the most lopsided
win in the Prague intracity derby's history in the extraleague.
Results of the 42nd round: Trinec - Ceske Budejovice 4-2, Vitkovice
- Karlovy Vary 4-0, Zlin - Pardubice 3-2, Znojmo - Vsetin 2-7, Sparta
- Plzen 4-2, Slavia Praha - Havirov 4-2, Kladno - Litvinov 0-5.
Results of the 43rd round: Slavia Praha - Sparta Praha 7-2, Havirov
- Trinec 5-4, Vsetin - Zlin 1-0, Karlovy Vary - Kladno 2-3, Litvinov
- Plzen 5-2, Pardubice - Vitkovice 1-2, Ceske Budejovice - Znojmo 2-3.
Standings: 1. Vsetin 80, 2. Zlin 74, 3. Pardubice 70, 4. Litvinov
70, 5. Sparta Praha 67, 6. Vitkovice 66, 7. Ceske Budejovice 64, 8.
Slavia Praha 63, 9. Znojmo 63, 10. Trinec 59, 11. Plzen 54, 12. Kladno
50, 13. Havirov 49, 14. Karlovy Vary 43.
Ondra Trunecka/Mirek Langer
Czechs Win Six Medals in Cyclocross World Championships
Czech cyclocross enjoyed great success in the World Championships
in Tabor with a 1-2-3 sweep in the junior category and its first medal
in the elite category since 1992. Czech cyclists started their campaign
February 23, winning two medals in the under-23 race. Tomas Trunschka
finished second behind Belgium's Vanthourenhout and David Kasek won the
bronze with some luck in the last meters of the race. The Czechs then
recorded their historic success in the juniors as they filled the podium
for the first time. They determined the speed of the peloton from the
start, with Radomir Simunek Jr. in first and - from the fifth lap
- Martin Bina. Bina won the title, Simunek finished second and Jiri
Kunta third.
Petr Dlask crowned the Czech success, taking the silver medal in
the biggest race of the championships, finishing only one second behind
the winner, Belgium's Erwin Vervecken. Mario De Clercq of Belgium
finished third. Jiri Pospisil finished in fifth place and also Vaclav
Jezek fit in the top 10. The Czech Republic won its first medal in the
elite category since Karel Camrda won his silver in 1992.
Renata Vlasakova/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
Although it is winter, the actual weather (daily temperatures
between four and 12 degrees of Celsius) are conspicuously reminiscent of
spring. After a weekend rich in snow, a nationwide thaw followed. It
hurt business in the Czech Republic's mountains, but skiers can still
use the country's highest peaks.
Martin Roubal/Mirek Langer
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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