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Carolina (English) No 397
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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 397, Friday, December 8, 2000
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (November 29 - December 6)
Nation Pays Tribute to Zatopek
The last farewells to famous distance runner Emil Zatopek were said
at the National Theater in Prague December 6. Zatopek, the four-time
Olympic champion, who in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics won the 5,000m, the
10,000m and the marathon, died November 21.
"Emil Zatopek was a sports legend and legends never die," said Juan
Antonio Samaranch, chairman of the International Olympic Committee in
his address at the wake in the National Theater, which was attended by
many sports figures and politicians. Samaranch awarded Zatopek the
Pierre de Coubertin Fair Play Medal posthumously. Prime Minister Milos
Zeman and Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus were among the
honorary guests. President Vaclav Havel was absent because of illness
and was represented by his wife Dagmar.
The farewell wake was televised live on Czech Television. Hundreds
of people watched the event in front of the National Theater on a big
screen. The urn with Zatopek's ashes will be buried at the cemetery in
Roznov pod Radhostem, in the region of Moravia where Zatopek was born.
David Pilar/Milan Smid
Disputes Continue over New CNB Governor
President Vaclav Havel November 29 appointed Zdenek Tuma governor
of the Czech National Bank (CNB), despite strong political pressure from
Prime Minister Milos Zeman and exiting CNB Governor Josef Tosovsky (see
Carolina 396). The president also named Ludek Niedermayer (member of the
CNB's Banking Council) CNB vice governor. Havel named Michaela Erbenova
and Jan Freit to the Banking Council. Tosovsky and Finance Minister
Pavel Mertlik did not attend the official ceremony. Mertlik had strongly
criticized the appointment of Erbenova, who was an adviser to Civic
Democratic Party (ODS) Chairman Vaclav Klaus when he was prime minister,
and advised former Finance Minister Ivan Pilip. Mertlik said he is
convinced council members should be politically independent.
By naming Tuma governor, the president sparked the largest conflict
to date between his office and the current government. During
a clandestine Cabinet meeting November 28, the government decided the
appointment of governor and vice governor should be signed not only by
the president but also by the prime minister. In the past the president
has named the officials without political approval, but this government
is the first to point out the vagueness of the Constitution on this
issue.
The constitutional technicality is a symbol of political opposition
to Tuma's appointment. Zeman has said he dislikes Tuma's stated
readiness to raise interest rates if inflation pressure increases. Tuma
was part of the influential domestic investment bank Patria Finance and
was a co-founder of Lipa, a civic association critical of the
government. Tuma is also criticized for having signed the Drevic Appeal,
in which a group of economists and entrepreneurs gave their version of
the economy's problems and their causes. The government, along with
Tosovsky, would rather see CNB Vice Governor Oldrich Dedek as the new
governor.
The government decided during its meeting December 4 to make an
appeal to the Constitutional Court on the signing issue of. Tosovsky
December 1 took over as chairman of the Financial Stability Institute,
part of the International Settlement Bank.
Tereza Polachova/Sofia Karakeva
Parliament Approves 2001 Budget
The Chamber of Deputies approved the 2001 state budget December 5.
This was the first time the government managed to pass a deficit budget
on time. Income is estimated at 636 billion crowns and expenses at 685
billion, leaving a deficit of billion crowns. Discussion was delayed
because of 400 amendments deputies presented to obtain more money for
their regions. Most of the bills were rejected. Almost 43 per cent of
expenses will go to the social sphere, chiefly for pension payouts and
health insurance.
The budget was supported mainly by the deputies of the ruling
Social Democrats and their opposition partner the Civic Democratic Party
(ODS). In return for its loyalty, ODS wants some concessions from the
government. Above all, they want to release 20 billion crowns in
privatization income to lower the state debt.
The concept of the budget was criticized by the Four-Party
Coalition with Chairman Karel Kuhnl disagreeing the most loudly.
Vlastimil Tlusty of ODS said passing the budget is better than burdening
the country with more interim measures.
Pavla Reznickova/Stepan Vorlicek
Novak's Acquittal Upheld
The financial frauds of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) will not
be punished as criminal. Former party Executive Vice Chairman Libor
Novak, indicted for tax evasion, had his lower-court acquittal upheld
November 28 by the High Court. The defense was successful with its claim
that Novak only signed party tax returns, but was not responsible for
their content. Judge Jiri Hnilica said, "Someone from ODS, and in a high
position, committed the crime in question. It was not proven, however,
that it was Libor Novak."
There is thus no closure to the financial scandal that caused the
break-up of the party and the fall of the party Chairman Vaclav Klaus'
government in the fall of 1997. It's been five years since ODS knowingly
falsified the names of its contributors, but no one has been found
guilty by a court of wrongdoing.
Jakub Vavruska/Stepan Vorlicek
No Changes after CSSD's Weekend Meeting
Vladimir Spidla, vice chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party
(CSSD), will most probably become the party chairman at the congress in
April, taking the post from Prime Minister Milos Zeman. The party's
Central Executive Committee (UVV) met in Hradec Kralove over the weekend
of December 2-3, and also discussed the results of the Senate and
regional elections and whether Zeman should resign after the party's
failure in the elections.
Zeman long ago said he would not run for chairman next year. The
post was to be decided between two candidates; Labor Minister Spidla and
party Vice Chairman and Interior Minister Stanislav Gross. Gross decided
not to run and informed the committee of his decision in a letter
because he was in hospital with a broken ankle. Gross wrote that he did
not want to divide the party by having to decide between the two
politicians. Spidla said Gross should be appointed to one of the highest
posts within the party. Both politicians have expressed the goal of
changing the party's contemporary political style.
The committee meeting also recommended party deputies and senators
should resign from their places on boards of directors and supervisory
boards in private companies. This would be, said Spidla, the "first
evidence of a change in style."
Zuzana Boleslavova/Sofia Karakeva
NEWS IN BRIEF
* An accident was simulated at the Temelin nuclear power plant (JETE)
December 1. Personnel and safety system units were tested on a model
breakdown, which included radiation emission. The operation included
evacuation of an elementary school in Tyn nad Vltavou, which lies in the
plant's security zone. Members of the crew said the drill showed the
plant's external safety system works satisfactorily.
Marie Valaskova/Stepan Vorlicek
FROM SLOVAKIA
Members of Democratic Party Leave SDK Club
Six deputies from Democratic Party (DS), chaired by Jan Langos,
decided December 4 to leave the largest club of legislators, the Slovak
Democratic Coalition (SDK). The reason for their departure is that
Premier Mikulas Dzurinda did not allow the use of the platform of the
recently created Slovak Democratic Christian Union (SDKU) within the SDK
club. "DS therefore decided to assume party responsibility for all its
members, whether in the government or parliament," said Langos. DS
legislators will be officially registered in the National Assembly as
independents.
This act was carried out only few days after the Christian
Democratic Movement (KDH) left the SDK club (see Carolina 396). There
are now 27 legislators in the SDK club, instead of the former 47. It is
still the largest club in the 150-seat legislature.
Veronika Pavlu/Veronika Hankusova
FROM SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF
* The treaty with Vatican was passed in the Slovak National Assembly
December 4. The agreement was passed by 100 of 113 present legislators,
no one was against its and the remaining 13 abstained. Legislators also
passed a resolution asking the government to present a bill on the
relationship between the state, the church and other religious entities
before September 30, 2001.
* President Rudolf Schuster is to move to a new residence in the
luxurious neighborhood of Bratislava Pod Slavinem. Schuster now lives in
a two-room apartment in the presidential palace, which was judged
inappropriate for the president's health condition. This is the first
official villa for the president since the foundation of an independent
Slovakia in 1993, because former President Michal Kovac lived in his own
house.
Veronika Pavlu/Veronika Hankusova
ECONOMY
Clients of Credit Unions to Receive Compensation
The Credit-Union Deposit Insurance Fund will receive 6 billion
crowns from the state to cover the losses of credit-union clients.
Parliament November 30 passed the government's bill for the issue of
bonds to obtain the money for the fund. Defrauded credit-union clients
demonstrated for five days in front of the Office of the Government. The
Credit Union Act was very badly written and allowed virtually anybody to
found a credit union and embezzle the money.
It is planned that clients will receive 80 per cent of their
deposits with a maximum of 100,000 crowns. About 70 per cent of the
clients have deposits of less than this limit.
The novel was opposed foremost by the Civic Democratic Party (ODS),
which wanted the Consolidation Bank to supply the money for the fund.
Pavla Reznickova/Ondrej Maly
Government to Raise Gas Prices by 25 Per Cent
The Finance Ministry, authorized to adjust the price levels of gas
and other commodities, announced December 5 after consultations with the
government an average increase of 24 per cent in the price of gas.
Prices for large and middle-size customers will rise by 16 per cent and
11 per cent, respectively. The government supported the lowest increase
proposed by the Trade Ministry. The 24-per-cent average increase in
prices is the average of all small customers' rates. The government said
its decision is justified by the increase in the prices of oil products
and the strong dollar (the state-owned exclusive gas importer, Transgas,
pays for gas with dollars).
Radim Hladik/Ondrej Maly
ECONOMY IN BRIEF
* The world's fourth-largest toymaker, Lego, opened a new production
plant in Kladno. It will complete sets and gift models for Legoland.
Lego chose the Czech Republic for its cheap labor. The company is
reportedly considering placing research and design studios in Kladno in
the future.
Jana Niklova/Ondrej Maly
Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid December 8)
--------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 35.020
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 21.458
Great Britain 1 GBP 56.414
Denmark 1 DKK 4.699
Japan 100 JPY 35.363
Canada 1 CAD 25.557
IMF 1 XDR 50.346
Hungary 100 HUF 13.209
Norway 1 NOK 4.314
New Zealand 1 NZD 16.782
Poland 1 PLN 8.909
Greece 100 GRD 10.283
Slovakia 100 SKK 80.404
Slovenia 100 SIT 16.473
Sweden 1 SEK 4.066
Switzerland 1 CHF 23.089
USA 1 USD 39.050
Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 17.905
Belgium 100 BEF 86.812
Finland 1 FIM 5.890
France 1 FRF 5.339
Ireland 1 IEP 44.466
Italy 1000 ITL 18.086
Luxemburg 100 LUF 86.812
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.891
Portugal 100 PTE 17.468
Austria 1 ATS 2.545
Spain 100 ESP 21.047
CULTURE
Baroque Column in Olomouc Added to UNESCO List
The Holy Trinity Column, standing on the Upper Square in the
Moravian city of Olomouc, was added to the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage List of the United Nations' Education, Science and Culture
Organization (UNESCO) November 30 at the UNESCO plenary session in
Cairns, Australia.
The five-meter group of sculptures was created by Olomouc masons
from 1716-1754. It is one of the last columns built in Europe to
celebrate the Christian faith. The opulent monument, with statues of
saints, is complemented by a chapel inside. The monument was consecrated
in the presence of Austrian Empress Maria Theresa.
Martina Parizkova/Adam Fendrych
Czechs to Return Art Confiscated by Nazis
At least 1,000 works of art from Czech collections, confiscated by
the Nazis, will return to the families of their original owners - mostly
Holocaust victims.
The return of works, including Alfons Mucha's and Gustav Klimt's
paintings, is possible thanks to a new law passed this summer allowing
people without Czech citizenship to request the return of art as well.
Most of the stolen works are in the National Gallery in Prague.
Another very valuable collection, formerly belonging to industrialist
Oskar Federer, who fled in 1939, is in the Artcraft Gallery in Ostrava.
It includes works by Edvard Munch, Oskar Kokoschka, Klimt and Antonin
Slavicek. The Moravian Gallery in Brno owns a collection of paintings
that used to belong to Arthur Feldman, a lawyer executed by the Nazis.
Both Moravian Galleries are ready to meet restitutional demands, but
they say it will cause them a great loss.
These stolen works appear to be only a fraction of collections
confiscated by the Nazis. Works that might have been stolen should be in
an internet catalogue by the end of the year.
Martina Oplatkova/Adam Fendrych
SPORTS
Sport Legends of the Century Meet in Municipal House
The jury of 14 specialists (including journalists and athletes) had
the difficult task of selecting the nine best Czech athletes of the
century (each in a different sport) from 38 finalists. Emil Zatopek, the
four-time Olympic champion who died November 21 (see above), was awarded
a special prize as a personality whose importance exceeded Czech sport.
Zatopek's wife Dana (who won an Olympic gold herself in the javelin in
1952) accepted his crystal trophy as Legend of Czech Sport. The prizes
were awarded in Prague Municipal House (Obecni dum).
The decisions in the other categories were not so clear. Jaromir
Jagr was selected as the best hockey player, defeating Dominik Hasek,
Jiri Holecek and Jiri Holik. Josef Bican and Josef Masopust were the top
candidates for the soccer trophy, Masopust's Golden Ball for as 1962's
Top European Player was probably the key factor leading to his win.
Of the other winners, only Jagr missed the ceremony, because of his
duties in the NHL. Ivan Lendl arrived in Prague from his American home
just to receive his trophy, Jan Zelezny accepted his award from
legendary Ukrainian pole-vaulter Sergei Bubka.
The best Czech athletes of the century: Special Prize - Legend of
Czech Sport - Emil Zatopek (four Olympic gold medals in track and field
competitions in 1948 and 1952). Hockey - Jaromir Jagr (1998 Nagano
Olympic champion, Hart Trophy winner). Soccer - Josef Masopust (1962
World Cup silver medal, 1962 Top European Player). Tennis - Ivan Lendl
(winner of eight Grand Slam titles). Water sports - Stepanka Hilgertova
(wild-water canoeing 1996 and 2000 Olympic champion). Gymnastics - Vera
Caslavska (seven-time Olympic champion in 1964 and 1968). Cycling - Jan
Vesely (1949 Tour of Peace winner). Track and field - Jan Zelezny
(1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic champion in javelin). Skiing - Jiri Raska
(1968 ski-jumping Olympic champion). Combat sports - Vitezslav Macha
(1972 Olympic champion in wrestling).
Marketa Bartosova, Mirek Langer/Mirek Langer
Intracity Derby Sparta - Slavia: Sparta Wins 3-1
One postponed game of the 6th round of the soccer league was the
biggest treat of the soccer weekend - it was the storied intracity derby
between Prague's Sparta and Slavia. The game was decided by the red card
shown to Karel Rada in the 43rd minute. Slavia's captain fouled Kincl
after his own mistake and the game, tied and exciting till then, became
one-sided.
Slavia did not let Sparta onto its half of the field in the first
15 minutes and in the 23rd minute Pavel Kuka scored the opening goal
(another Kuka kick hit the bar in the 35th minute). One minute later
Martin Hasek tied the score after Obajdin's pass. Rada was then sent
off. Sparta's one-man advantage was evident. Jarosik's and Kolousek's
goals determined the final 3-1 score.
Results of postponed games: Slavia Praha - Sparta Praha 1-3 (6th
round), Blsany - Brno 0-1 (6th round), Olomouc - Ceske Budejovice 2-1
(7th round).
Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 40, 2. Teplice 27, 3. Olomouc 26, 4.
(equal) Stare Mesto and Pribram 25, 6. Zizkov 25, 7. Liberec 24, 8.
Slavia Praha 20, 9. Bohemians Praha 19, 10. Jablonec 19, 11. Blsany 17,
12. Brno 17, 13. Drnovice 17, 14. Ceske Budejovice 15, 15. Ostrava 15,
16. Plzen 9.
Renata Vlasakova/Mirek Langer
Dramatic Clash of Two Top Extraleague Teams Ends in Tie
The schedule of the hockey extraleague's 28th round was highlighted
by the match between Litvinov and Pardubice, the two top teams in the
standings. The lively crowd watched a hard-fought and dramatic game, in
which Pardubice twice came back after the home team took a lead.
Sparta made a sensational comeback in Plzen. It led from the first
minute, but Plzen then scored four times in 15 minutes. Sparta recovered
in the third period, Zemlicka tied the score in the last minute and
Zabransky scored the game-winner in the fifth minute of overtime.
First-place Pardubice has not won in four games, and despite the
tie in Vitkovice they stay atop the standings. Sparta defeated Slavia in
the Prague intracity derby, decided by power-plays - Slavia did not
score in nine tries.
Results of the 28th round: Litvinov - Pardubice 2-2, Zlin - Ceske
Budejovice 2-5, Plzen - Havirov 6-3, Vitkovice - Sparta Praha 2-4,
Znojmo - Trinec 4-2, Kladno - Vsetin 1-2 OT, Slavia Praha - Karlovy Vary
2-3 OT.
Results of the 29th round: Pardubice - Zlin 2-3 OT, Ceske
Budejovice - Trinec 3-2, Havirov - Slavia Praha 3-2, Plzen - Sparta
Praha 4-5 OT, Vsetin - Znojmo 1-4, Karlovy Vary - Vitkovice 1-2,
Litvinov - Kladno 2-3.
Results of the 30th round: Vitkovice - Pardubice 3-3, Zlin - Vsetin
2-1, Sparta Praha - Slavia Praha 5-2, Trinec - Havirov 7-5, Plzen
- Litvinov 1-3, Kladno - Karlovy Vary 5-3, Znojmo - Ceske Budejovice
2-3.
Standings: 1. Pardubice 55, 2. Litvinov 52, 3. Vitkovice 49, 4.
Zlin 49, 5. Vsetin 49, 6. Sparta Praha 47, 7. Znojmo 43, 8. Trinec 42,
9. Plzen 41, 10. Ceske Budejovice 40, 11. Kladno 37, 12. Slavia Praha
36, 13. Havirov 35, 14. Karlovy Vary 30.
Jana Niklova/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* During the national swimming championships in Chomutov, 19 swimmers
met the limits for the European 25m Swimming Championships, which will
take place in Valencia. Ilona Hlavackova and Daniel Malek were the most
succesful swimmers in Chomutov.
* Zdenek Vitek won the first event of the biathlon World Cup in
Anterselva in Italy. The men's relay team (Petr Garabik, Ivan Masarik,
Tomas Holubec and Vitek) won the first relay of the season. The team was
the fastest on the track and the second-best shooters.
Katerina Kunovska, Marketa Bartosova/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
The refrain of the French song "Bleu, bleu, le ciel est bleu,"
should have a Prague version these days: "Gray, gray, the sky is gray."
The sun has not appeared for weeks, temperatures fluctuate between 0 and
5 degrees Celsius/32 and 41 degrees Fahrenheit. If there is a Mother
Nature, she has been very stingy in December. No sun, no snow, only fog
and mud have arrived. Let us hope she will be more generous at
Christmas.
Zuzana Boleslavova
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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