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Carolina (English) No 370
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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 370, Friday, April 7, 2000.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (March 29 - April 5)
Stanislav Gross New Interior Minister
Stanislav Gross, 30, chairman of the Social Democrats' (CSSD)
Parliamentary Club, was named interior minister April 4 to succeed
Vaclav Grulich, 67, who resigned. Gross said in an interview for Czech
Radio's Radiojournal that he planned certain personnel changes, but his
main task would be to calm the atmosphere surrounding the ministry.
Gross has been in high politics for 10 years. After finishing
a technical high school he drove trains, then he joined the party in
1990 and rose quickly - he became a Parliament deputy in 1992 and has
been Parliamentary Club chairman since 1995. He attended law school
simultaneously with his work in the Chamber of Deputies and graduated
last year. After the Social Democrats won the 1998 general elections,
Gross became vice chairman of the Chamber of Deputies.
After being named minister, Gross gave up his posts in the Chamber
of Deputies. Party Vice Chairman Zdenek Skromach became head of the
Parliamentary Club April 4 and will probably give his party post to
Gross, who said he wants to keep his influence in the party. Social
Democrat deputy Frantisek Brozik will run for Gross' post as vice
chairman of the Chamber.
The change at the ministry is the fifth change in the minority
Social Democrat Cabinet. Two changes are yet to be made - at the
Transportation Ministry and the Regional Development Ministry (see
Carolina 369).
Ondrej Maly/Ondrej Maly
State to Help Graduates
From 10,000 to 20,000 high school and university graduates will be
offered jobs in state and charity organizations. Because they might
otherwise stretch the budget by going on the dole, the government passed
the measure April 3 as proposed by Deputy Prime Minister and Labor
Minister Vladimir Spidla. The graduates' salaries will be fully funded
by the Labor Ministry and, Spidla said, the cost might be several
hundred million crowns.
Spidla said the main reason for the measure is to give the
graduates the chance to get experience to put themselves in a better
position on the labor market. The measure is supported by unions.
Ondrej Maly/Ondrej Maly
Milevsko Will Definitely Not Export To Bushehr
The Chamber of Deputies overrode the Senate's veto and April 4
passed a bill forbidding any Czech company from exporting to the Iranian
nuclear plant in Bushehr. The bill also stipulates Czech firms will not
receive compensation for lost income. The Senate had suggested
compensating losses from the state budget. The issue was raised around
the company ZVVZ Milevsko's planned export of climate-control technology
to the plant. Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr promised Stanislav Kazecky,
the head of ZVVZ Milevsko, that the government will help the company,
for example with new orders, loans, debt capitalization and the creation
of jobs.
The new law says Czech companies cannot export goods, services or
information to Bushehr.
Daniela Vrbova/Jakub Jirovec
NEWS IN BRIEF
* The Interior Ministry March 31 dissolved the National Alliance,
a neo-Nazi organization allegedly breaking the law by propagating
national and racial intolerance. Alliance Chairman Vladimir Skoupy is on
trial for the propagation of fascism.
* Labor Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla will take
control over the coordination of the Security Information Service (BIS),
the Government decided April 3. Previously, coordination had been in the
hands of former Minister without Portfolio Jaroslav Basta, but Prime
Minister Milos Zeman did not transfer it to Basta's successor,
27-year-old Minister Karel Brezina. The country has four secret
services, two military and two civilian, and Prime Minister Milos Zeman
said he expected a reorganization of this structure in the future.
* The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) condemned the words of President
Vaclav Havel, who said in an interview for Czech Television and Czech
Radio (see Carolina 369) that he sees elements of "Mafia capitalism" in
the Czech Republic. Havel said that ill-defined laws and low moral and
political culture in the country were to blame. ODS Chairman Vaclav
Klaus said he considers this evaluation of 10 years of transformation an
"insult to hundreds of thousands and millions of people in the country".
Darina Johanidesova/Darina Johanidesova
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Zeman: Nature of Trip More Economic Than Political
Prime Minister Milos Zeman returned April 1 to Prague from his
six-day trip across Northern Europe (see Carolina 369). He said the aim
of his visit to Norway, Finland and Lithuania was more business than
political.
Nokia Vice President Mikka Heikkonen discussed with Zeman the
possibile replacement of the present Czech police communication system
supplied by the company Tetrapol (a subsidiary of the French company
Matra), and heavily criticized by users. Zeman rejected the offer,
pointing to contract fines with Matra which would cost the state
billions of crowns.
Zeman said to the daily MF DNES that there are 84 joint ventures
between Czech and Lithuanian companies, that he proposed in Vilnius
a deal for Czech Albatros airplanes, and that he signed a contract with
his Lithuanian counterpart Andrius Kubilius for the delivery of Czech
Karosa buses worth 1.5 billion crowns.
Martin Moravec/Milan Smid
Pope Speaks to Czech Pilgrims in Vatican
About 7,000 Czech Roman Catholics ended their pilgrimmage to the
Vatican April 2. Organizers of the event said the number of pilgrims was
the largest since Agnes was made a saint in 1989, when some 12,000 made
the journey.
The highlight was a meeting with Pope John Paul II. He told them he
still remembered his three visits to the Czech Republic in the 90's. He
spoke to them in Czech and emphasized the need to solve the problem
between the state and the Catholic Church in the Czech Republic.
Spokesman of the Confederation of Czech Bishops Daniel Herman said the
first meeting of the working group preparing an agreement between the
Czech Republic and the Vatican concerning the Catholic Church should
take place within a few weeks.
The pilgrimmage ended April 2 in St. Paul's Cathedral in the
Vatican with a mass led by Cardinal Miloslav Vlk. Those present had the
chance to take a piece from the Christmas tree given by the Czech
Republic to the Vatican last year.
Veronika Hankusova/Veronika Hankusova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Vasil Bilak Charged with Treason
The Slovak Attorney General March 30 charged former Communist
politician Vasil Bilak with treason and other crimes in relation to his
activities in 1968. Bilak, then a member of the presidium of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (UV KSC) and
secretary of the Communist Party of Slovakia, strongly opposed the
reforms of the Prague Spring. He was one of the signatories of the
letter of invitation that asked Soviet leadership for armed intervention
against a counter-revolution in Czechoslovakia. After the Soviet-led
invasion of the Warsaw Pact armies in August 1968, Bilak became one of
the leading members of the new Politburo and was responsible for
ideology and foreign policy in the Central Committee. He was ousted from
the party in December 1989.
According to the Slovak Radio Twist, Bilak accepted the charges in
peace. He said he is not afraid of the trial nor of a sentence: "I will
be 83 in August. Let them give me a life sentence, I don't have many
days left." He said he does not understand why he was charged with
treason. "I cannot imagine which homeland I betrayed. The socialist
homeland? I didn't defend socialism enough?" he said.
Simon Dominik/Simon Dominik
Meciar Refuses to Testify
Vladimir Meciar, chairman of the Movement for a Democratic
Slovakia (Hnuti za demokraticke Slovensko, HZDS) and former premier, has
refused to accept a subpoena to testify in the case of the kidnapping of
Michal Kovac Jr., son of the former president.
Meciar defends himself by referring to two amnesties related to
this case issued when he was acting president, and also to the verdict
of the Constitutional Court that stopped prosecution of Jaroslav
Svechota, charged with the kidnapping. The chairman of the
Constitutional Court is Milan Cic, a former communist interior minister.
Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda repealed Meciar's amnesty and reopened
the case. HZDS says it considers the step unconstitutional. To protest
against the reopening of the case, Meciar and few HZDS legislators are
staying in a pension in Trencianske Teplice "until the current
government decides to respect the law and the verdict of the
Constitutional Court."
Michaela Kleckova/Simon Dominik
Markiza TV Hit with 2-Million Fine
The regulatory Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting fined
the Slovak television channel Markiza 2 million Slovak crowns for
broadcasting an interview with singer Richard Mueller March 6. The
reason was not the content of the interview (the singer admitted he had
taken drugs and talked about their positive impact on his creative
work), but the fact that some of it was broadcast in a 7 p.m. newscast.
Markiza aired the full interview after 10 p.m.. The law allows
broadcasting programs that could endanger the moral and spiritual
development of youth only after 10 p.m.. Markiza has said it will
appeal.
David Luksu/Simon Dominik
ECONOMY
Philips Will Assemble Television Screens in Moravia, Government Helps
The government March 29 approved investment incentives of about
1.6 billion crowns for Philips Components, a division of Philips
Electronics. Philips decided to build a plant for producing television
screens in the Moravian town of Hranice na Morave.
Construction of the plant should start within two months, with
production beginning in the middle of 2001. The government's incentive
plan includes a 10-year tax holiday, duty-free import of technology,
state subsidies for new jobs and a contribution to complete local
infrastructure. Philips will invest about 600 million euros (about 21.6
billion crowns) into building the factory. In the first phase Philips
will employ 1,000 workers and produce 2.5 million television screens
annually. The factory should eventually have 3,200 employees and produce
8 million screens annually (95 per cent of production will be exported).
Philips was deciding between Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic
for the factory, but the Czech government's incentives were said to play
an important role in the decision.
Besides Philips, the government also approved investment incentives
to Matsushita, manufacturing Panasonic televisions in Pilsen for four
years, and to TYCO, producing cable wires in Kourim. Matsushita is to
increase its output in Pilsen, investing 72 million USD and employing
another 1,400 people (it employs 900 now). TYCO wants to invest 35.5
million USD and employ another 1,200 people.
Lubos Kratochvil/Denisa Vitkova
Occupation Strike in Kohinoor Coal Mine
Twenty-eight miners began an occupation strike in the Kohinoor coal
mine in Marianske Radcice in the Most region March 31. It is the second
time Kohinoor miners have struck underground - they protested in
December, fearing the mine would be closed (see Carolina 355).
At that time the miners did not agree with the decision of the mine
owner - the Most Coal Company (Mostecka uhelna spolecnost) - to close
the shaft and fire all employees. Finally, the government, the Most Coal
Company and the coal mine's union agreed to close the mine gradually to
2005. However, the Most Coal Company decided later, considering the
mine's unprofitability, to close it faster. The government does not want
to be involved this time, calling the situation a conflict between the
labor union and a private company.
All Kohinoor miners began an occupation strike April 4. There are
some 50 miners underground, willing to end the strike if a contract is
signed between SHD-Peel or another owner and the Most Coal Company.
According to union leader Vladimir Perlik, the Most Coal Company has
been delaying the sale.
Lubos Kratochvil/Denisa Vitkova
ECONOMY IN BRIEF
* The government April 3 proposed the Consolidation Bank and Finance
Ministry discuss concluding the sale of Skoda Auto. Volkswagen owns 70
per cent of the company, and it is expected the remaining 30 per cent
will wind up in Volkswagen's hands. Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr
expressed his disagreement with selling the remaining shares. Gregr said
the share price should increase after the new motor factory begins
production. On the contrary, Finance Minister Pavel Mertlik wants to
sell the shares and said he expects income of 12 billion crowns.
Volkswagen has offered 8 billion crowns for the shares.
Lubos Kratochvil/Denisa Vitkova
Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid April 7)
--------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 36.285
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 22.690
Great Britain 1 GBP 59.704
Denmark 1 DKK 4.869
Japan 100 JPY 35.961
Canada 1 CAD 25.934
IMF 1 XDR 50.745
Hungary 100 HUF 13.999
Norway 1 NOK 4.460
New Zealand 1 NZD 18.895
Poland 1 PLN 9.967
Greece 100 GRD 10.833
Slovakia 100 SKK 87.107
Slovenia 100 SIT 17.824
Sweden 1 SEK 4.370
Switzerland 1 CHF 23.045
USA 1 USD 37.648
Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 18.552
Belgium 100 BEF 89.948
Finland 1 FIM 6.103
France 1 FRF 5.532
Ireland 1 IEP 46.072
Italy 1000 ITL 18.740
Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.948
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.465
Portugal 100 PTE 18.099
Austria 1 ATS 2.637
Spain 100 ESP 21.808
CULTURE
Topol Charms United States
Czech writer Jachym Topol toured the US in connection with the
release of the English translation of his Czech novel Sestra, in English
as City Sister Silver. The novel was translated by Alex Zucker, former
editor of the English version of Carolina. The Czech daily MF DNES wrote
April 3 that Topol's tour was a success: the New York Times compared the
novel to Salman Rushdie's Children of Midnight. Talk Magazine included
Topol's work among its 10 best books of the month. The novel was
published in America by Catbird Press.
Topol's father Josef is a famous Czech playwright and his brother
Filip is a pianist and composer and legend of the underground Czech
music scene. Jachym has also released a collection of poetry and the
novel Angel (Andel).
Jan Vedral Jr./Jakub Jirovec
Tibet 2000 in Prague Castle
Tibet 2000 is the name of an exhibit on the geography, landscape
and lifestyle of the Himalayan country open March 22 - May 7 in three
rooms of the gothic Old Kings' Palace at the Prague Castle. The exhibit
is divided in three parts according the Tibetan concept of living
creatures composed of body (earth), speech (people and material culture)
and thought (spiritual culture). The exhibit was organized by the Potala
and Lunga Foundation with the Prague Castle Administration, all pieces
are from private collections. More information is available at the URL
http://www.tibet2000.cz.
Gabriela Bobkova/Milan Smid
Duel between Mary Stuart and Elizabeth Appears in Estates Theater
The premiere of Friedrich Schiller's play Mary Stuart took place
March 30 on the stage of Prague's Estates Theater (Stavovske divadlo).
The play's females leads will alternate - Elizabeth is played by Iva
Janzurova and Tatjana Medvecka, Mary Stuart by Jana Preissova and Eva
Salzmannova.
Veronika Hankusova/Veronika Hankusova
CULTURE IN BRIEF
* The case of the Mlada fronta publishing house (see Carolina 369)
has developed into a libel case. Representantives of the Children and
Youth Fund filed a criminal complaint for libel against several
distinguished writers, including Josef Hirsal, Jiri Kolar, Pavel Kohout
and Ludvik Vaculik. They signed a petition supporting former publishing
house director Vladimir Pistorius and calling fund representatives
"managers from a circle of persons in which billions of crowns from the
assets of the one-time state youth organization dissolved."
* The film Return of the Idiot by Sasa Gedeon, which won five Czech
Lions, was awarded the Jury Prize at a European film festival in Mamers,
France. The picture is being shown in French movie theaters.
* Fans of internet and literature can attend the 10th Writers
Festival in Prague live at the URL http://www.pwf.globalone.cz.
* Joe Cocker sang for about 90 minutes March 30 in front of some
8,000 spectators in the Rondo hall in Brno.
Simon Dominik, Pavel Novotny/Milan Smid
SPORTS
Soccer Euro 2000 Preparation: Czech Republic - Australia 3-1
The wonderful combination that led to the Czech team's third goal
was the highlight of the national team's performance in a preparation
game against Australia March 29. Karel Poborsky took the ball from Jan
Koller on a counterattack and returned it with his heel. Koller could
have tried to score his 13th goal in his 12th national team game, but
instead he passed to an open Ivo Ulich. Ulich scored his first goal for
the national team. The Czechs then led 3-0. "It was super cooperation,"
said Ulich. Milan Fukal (also his first national-team goal) and Koller
scored the first two goals of the game.
Australia's team was a disappointment in Teplice, with but two
impressive moments - the solo charge of Marc Viduka, cleared by
goalkeeper Jaromir Blazek, and, in the 89th minute, when Foster scored
the only Australian goal. "I am not fully satisfied with our
performance," said Czech team coach Jozef Chovanec, who tested some new
players in the squad. "The players are tired after a demanding season,
they were missing ease."
Martin Moravec/Mirek Langer
Slavia Squeaks by, Remains in First
Slavia fans endured a nerve-racking game in the 23rd round of the
top soccer league. Drnovice almost took a point for a tie in the
first-place team's stadium. However, eight minutes before the end Ludek
Zelenka changing the potential catastrophe into a 2-1 win.
Second-place Sparta produced one goal against Bohemians and stayed
four points behind Slavia. Third-place Drnovice is 21 points behind
first place, fourth-place Teplice would need 30 points to move to the
top, a total 10 teams in the league have not yet reached for the season.
Results of the 23rd round: Slavia Praha - Drnovice 2-1, Bohemians
Praha - Sparta Praha 0-1, Olomouc - Pribram 1-0, Blsany - Zizkov 0-2,
Liberec - Opava 1-0, Ostrava - Teplice 2-2, Hradec Kralove - Jablonec
0-0, Brno - Ceske Budejovice 2-0.
Standings: 1. Slavia Praha 61, 2. Sparta Praha 57, 3. Drnovice 40,
4. Teplice 31, 5. Bohemians Praha 31, 6. Blsany 30, 7. Brno 29, 8.
Liberec 28, 9. Ostrava 27, 10. Pribram 27, 11. Ceske Budejovice 27, 12.
Olomouc 26, 13. Zizkov 25, 14. Opava 23, 15. Hradec Kralove 19, 16.
Jablonec 19.
David Luksu/Mirek Langer
Sparta and Vsetin in Hockey Extraleague Finals
The finals of the hockey extraleague will probably break attendance
records, as Sparta and Vsetin have been heading here inexorably - both
swept their opponents out of the semifinals.
Sparta won the regular-season league crown, 11 points ahead of its
nearest opponent. Vsetin, the five-time reigning champion, had trouble
at the beginning of the season, but in the playoffs performed like it
had in previous playoff conquests. Both semifinal sweeps were decided by
overtime games, with Sparta's going to penalty shots. Sparta won in
Litvinov after Richard Zemlicka converted the deciding penalty shot,
while Jan Tomajko moved Vsetin into the finals with his sudden-death
goal in Pilsen.
Prague's Paegas Arena is sold-out for the first game April 9.
Results of the semifinal series: Sparta - Litvinov 3-0 (4-1, 3-1,
4-3 on penalty shots), Vsetin - Plzen 3-0 (2-0, 3-2, 3-2 in overtime)
Darina Johanidesova/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
St. Peter, who in Czech mythology not only minds the gates of
heaven but also controls the weather, has been benevolent to the people
of the Czech Republic last week. He prepared a beautiful, sunny weekend
with temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius/59 degrees Fahrenheit for
them right in the middle of a cloudy and overcast Europe. And when the
weekend was over and the workweek began again, cold air with
temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius/50 degrees Fahrenheit returned to
Prague and Central Europe.
Michaela Kleckova, Radka Kohutova
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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