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Carolina (English) No 433
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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 433, Thursday, October 18, 2001.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (October 3 - 17)
Czech Universities Protest
Representatives of Czech universities and colleges are asking for
the resignation of Education Minister Eduard Zeman, who did not keep his
promises for the 2002 budget. Unions are ready to strike and the
presidents of Czech universities are ready to step down in protest
against Zeman. Labor union leader Richard Falbr supported the demands,
but said before a strike negotiations should take place.
Universities decided in the spring to accept 10 per cent more
students for the 2001-2002 school year because the Ministry of Education
promised to increase the 2002 university budget accordingly, i.e., by
2 billion crowns. The government's 2002 budget draft does not include
the promised sum.
University representatives expressed their concern as to the Czech
universities future at a meeting with Zeman October 4. Zeman argued the
whole 2002 education budget is going to be limited, because the
Opposition Contract between the ruling Social Democrats (CSSD) and the
Civic Democratic Party (ODS) puts limits on the overall budget deficit.
About 13,000 students at Palacky University in Olomouc organized
a two-hour strike and protest meeting October 13, the first such event
since November 1989. Another protest meeting took place at the College
of Physical Education and Sport of Charles University October 16. The
next day, October 17, two-hour strikes and meetings took place in other
schools of Charles University, among them at the College of Social
Sciences.
The University Academic Senate, a body which consists of students
and teachers of all Charles University colleges, adopted a declaration
which stated the fact that the Czech Republic gives universities 0.8 per
cent of its GDP while the OECD average is 1.7 per cent of GDP. "The
2002 state budget is not the main point of our concerns ... What matters
is whether it would be possible to reverse the present unfavorable
development in financing universities," said the declaration.
Katerina Krenova/Milan Smid
Czechs Ready to Assist the U.S.
NATO members, among them the Czech Republic, decided to invoke
Article 5 of the NATO Treaty (which presuppose that each NATO member
will militarily help the member state attacked) October 3 and took
measures to expand the campaign against terrorism.
The Czech Republic is going to extend its participation in SFOR
units in Bosnia-Herzegovina and KFOR units in Kosovo to fill the gap
after U.S. troops move to another mission. Czechs will actively
participate in the exchange of intelligence information. The Czech
Republic cleared its airspace and airport facilities for NATO flights in
anti-terrorist operations. The Czech Republic promised to enhance
security measures near American institutions in the country.
The U.S. accepted the Czech offer to use a Czech TU-154 airplane
and its crew for transport purposes. The plane shall help to move
military cargo between Europe and America. The Czech government also
made available a military field hospital, an anti-chemical unit and
a special rangers unit, but the U.S. government has not yet taken up the
offer.
Karla Stepankova/Milan Smid
Suspicious Letters Sent to Many Addresses
Fear of anthrax infection caused many phony alarms in the Czech
Republic. The daily Lidove noviny reports that citizens informed about
172 suspicious items by October 16, many of them letters. Prime Minister
Milos Zeman was the addressee of a suspicious package from Japan, the
letter was harmless. Police and firemen were usually called to remove
suspicious items.
At Prague's Ruzyne Airport, three British citizens of Arab origin
were detained, because some liquid poured from their luggage on the
floor of the airport hall. They were released after lab tests showed the
liquid to be water. A driver in Beroun found under his wipers an
envelope with a white powder labeled anthrax. Three people in Liberec
underwent hospital tests because they came into contact with
a suspicious letter from the U.S.
"There is no reason to panic. There is not a single piece of
information which would indicate that a biological attack has been or
shall be made on the Czech Republic," said Interior Minister Stanislav
Gross to the daily MF DNES. The Interior Ministry plans to organize
a free phone line to provide information on how to recognize a potential
danger.
Milan Brunclik/Milan Smid
Human Rights and Terrorist Attack Focus of Final Forum 2000
The fifth and final Forum 2000 conference took place in Prague
October 14-17. The international meeting of intellectuals was initiated
by President Vaclav Havel and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellie Wiesel in
1997. The conference programs addressed the hopes and fears of humanity
at the dawn of the new millenium.
This year's biggest guests were former American President Bill
Clinton, Israeli Foreign Minister Simon Peres and American thinker
Francis Fukuyama. The theme given for the conference was human rights
and the search for global responsibility. Speakers inevitably also
discussed the terrorist attacks on the U.S. and American retaliation.
Representatives of the world's five largest religions met October
17 in St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle, where they each lit a candle
to honor those killed in the terrorist attacks.
The Student Forum portion of the conference went global, thanks to
the internet. Clinton in Prague was able to discuss with students at
Masaryk University and in Brno and Palacky University in Olomouc.
Linda Vavrikova/Milan Smid
Havel Turns 56
President Vaclav Havel celebrated his 65th birthday October 5, and
on the occasion presented the Dagmar and Vaclav Havel Foundation Vision
79 prize to biologist and philosopher Zdenek Neubauer. It was the 11th
year in a row Havel has celebrated his birthday in office. This term,
his last under constitutional limits, expires in 2003.
Michaela Novakova/Michael Bluhm
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
* Demonstrations against the Temelin nuclear power plant took place
October 5. Demonstrators, dressed as doctors, distributed to cars at the
border brochures on the dangers of nuclear energy. The populist Free
Democrats (FPO) of Joerg Haider also officially filed a request for
a referendum on Temelin. The Free Democrats demand the closing of
Temelin, and want Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel to use Temelin
to hamper Czech negotiations on EU membership.
* Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman visited Germany October 11-12 and
received assurances that Germany will not oppose Czech EU membership for
any reason, including Temelin.
Michael Eichler/Michael Bluhm
FROM SLOVAKIA
BSE Found in Slovakia
A case of BSE (Mad Cow Disease) in a six-year-old cow from the
Vtacnik Velka Trnavka herd was confirmed October 4 by tests in Germany.
The first case of BSE in the Czech Republic was recorded about four
months ago.
The Health Ministry said tests on the cow's meat showed no evidence
of BSE. Hungary and Poland reacted with a ban on beef imports from
Slovakia. Another 80 head of cattle will probably be killed as
a preventative measure.
Jaromir Hason/Michael Bluhm
New Bridge over Danube after 57 Years
The political leaders of Slovakia and Hungary October 11 officially
opened the Marie-Valerie Bridge over the Danube River between Sturovo,
Slovakia and Ostrihom/Esztergom, Hungary. An earlier bridge in the same
spot was destroyed in 1944, and some commentators take the new bridge as
a symbol of improving Slovak-Hungarian relations.
Jaromir Hason/Michael Bluhm
Slota Founds New Party - the Real SNS
Jan Slota, the mayor of Zilina and former leader of Slovakia's
ultra-nationalists, was elected chairman October 6 of the newly formed
political party, the Real Slovak National Party. He was elected
unanimously by 414 delegates, Slota himself abstained from the vote.
The party was formed after Slota and some of his supporters were
thrown out of the Slovak National Party (SNS). The official reason for
their ejection was activity subverting the party.
Slota claims 80 per cent of SNS members from the Zilina region have
joined his new party, and says the party will not cooperate with any
parties advocating Slovakia's membership in NATO.
Ondrej Jurik/Michael Bluhm
ECONOMY
Czech Republic to Receive Part of Russian Debt
An agreement on payment of Russia's 137-billion-crown debt to the
Czech Republic was signed after the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail
Kasyanev's visit to Prague. Representatives of the Czech and Russian
finance ministries agreed on paying a part of the debt.
The company Falkon Capital, which was called into question by the
Czech intelligence service, will purchase 96.9 billion crowns of the
debt. Falkon was the only company approved by the Russians for the
transaction. The Czech side will transfer the debt to Falkon after
Falkon pays a down payment of 20.9 billion crowns.
The Czech Republic will receive 23 per cent of total debt, a good
deal according to many economists. The remainder of more than 40 billion
crowns is to be paid over the next 40 years.
Expected income from the sale of the debt is part of the
government's 2002 budget proposal. Education Minister Eduard Zeman
suggested the money could be used to supply funds promised to the
universities.
Monika Millianova/Ondrej Maly
Societe Generale Takes over Commerce Bank
The French bank Societe Generale October 4 paid 1.186 billion euro
(40 billion crowns) to the National Property Fund (FNM) for the state's
share in the Commerce Bank (Komercni banka). The Czech National Bank
ordered the money to be deposited into a special privatization account,
so the transfer does not negatively affect the crown's exchange rate.
Representatives of the Czech branch of Societe Generale and the
National Property Fund also signed agreements October 4 on the share
transfer. The next day, bank management, led by CEO Radovan Vavra,
resigned. The bank's supervisory board then chose new management with
a French majority - the new chairman of the board of directors is Alexis
Raymond Juan, 58, a member of Groupe Societe Generale's Board of
Directors Commission. Extensive changes in management should not
interfere with operations of the bank, which will now focus on retail
banking services. The new bank leadership said it is considering
changing the company logo but will keep the bank's name.
Tereza Krasenska/Ondrej Maly
Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid October 18)
--------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 33.480
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 18.893
Great Britain 1 GBP 53.595
Denmark 1 DKK 4.502
Japan 100 JPY 30.633
Canada 1 CAD 23.579
IMF 1 XDR 47.343
Hungary 100 HUF 13.159
Norway 1 NOK 4.212
New Zealand 1 NZD 15.462
Poland 1 PLN 9.065
Slovakia 100 SKK 76.930
Slovenia 100 SIT 15.203
Sweden 1 SEK 3.525
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.468
USA 1 USD 37.085
Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 17.118
Belgium 100 BEF 82.995
Finland 1 FIM 5.631
France 1 FRF 5.104
Ireland 1 IEP 42.511
Italy 1000 ITL 17.291
Luxemburg 100 LUF 82.995
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.193
Portugal 100 PTE 16.700
Austria 1 ATS 2.433
Greece 100 GRD 9.825
Spain 100 ESP 20.122
CULTURE
Swedish Duo Roxette Performs Again in Prague
The Swedish pop duo Roxette performed October 9 in Prague's Paegas
Arena. Guitarist Per Gessle and singer Maria Fredriksson, who formed
Roxette in 1986, sold out two concerts in 1994 in Prague. This time more
than 5,000 fans came to listen to Roxette's new album Room Service and
to old hits like Joyride, Dangerous and The Look.
Elan Still Popular
The legendary Slovak band Elan celebrated its 20th anniversary with
a tour that started in the summer in Australia and the US and concluded
this month in the Czech Republic. More than 12,000 people saw their
concert in Ostrava, the best attendance ever for a concert there, more
than for Sting or Deep Purple. Other concerts were also surprisingly
well attended. During one sold-out concert October 13 in Prague's
Lucerna, where the band presented its new album called 3000, almost
3,000 fans sang along with every song. The tour marked the return of
Elan singer and leader Jozo Raz, who suffered serious injuries in
a motorcycle accident in 1999.
Singer Judita Cerovska Died
Singer Judita Cerovska died October 9 at the age of 72 at Prague's
Faculty Hospital on Charles Square (Karlovo namesti) after a long
illness. During the 60's Cerovska became famous with hits like The Rain
Is Gone (Je po desti), It's Like That (Je to tak), Where Have All the
Flowers Gone? (Rekni, kde ty kytky jsou) and Little Dipper (Maly vuz).
Cerovska was born in Most in 1929.
She started her career at the age of 27 after she won an amateur
singing competition in Prague's Slavic House (Slovansky dum). In 1959
she was seriously injured in an automobile accident, which complicated
her career. During the 60' s and 70' s her voice made her famous not
only in the Czech Republic but also in other European countries,
including the former Soviet Union).
Culture section by Zdenek Mihalco/Sofia Karakeva
SPORTS
Czech Soccer Players Defeat Bulgaria 6-0 in World Cup Qualifier
Both Czechs and Bulgarians had theoretical chances to advance
directly to the 2002 World Cup - with the help of a Denmark loss to
Iceland. Denmark, however, defeated Iceland 6-0 and so the last game of
the qualification group served to determine only the second-place
finisher, which would move into the qualification round.
The Czechs were more active throughout the game October 6 in Prague,
they played creatively and were patient on defense. On the contrary,
Bulgaria disappointed, its one shot on goal was a poor performance. The
Czechs led soon after Tomas Rosicky and Pavel Nedved's goals, Nedved's
long-distance shot was a hit of the evening, then Milan Baros produced
the third goal with a solo run. After the break Vratislav Lokvenc took
advantage of a perfect Karel Poborsky center. The best players of the
game, Rosicky and Nedved, added the final two goals.
The Czech Republic defeated Bulgaria 6-0 one day after the Czech
under-21 team hammered Bulgaria 8-0.
The Czech national team will meet Belgium in the qualifier for the
World Cup, it will have to play without suspended Jan Koller, Rosicky
will miss the first game because of yellow cards.
Czech Republic - Bulgaria 6-0 (3-0). Goals: 5 min and 70 Rosicky,
16 and 76 Nedved, 28 Baros, 67 Lokvenc.
Ondrej Hodalik/Mirek Langer
Pittsburgh Penguins Fire Coach Ivan Hlinka
The worst Pittsburgh Penguins start to a season in 18 years was
fatal for the only European coach in the NHL, Czech Ivan Hlinka. The
club's management was disappointed by last season's conference finals
loss, as well as with the Hlinka's weak English. The management offered
Hlinka an English-language course during the pre-season, but Hlinka
wanted to learn individually and went to the Czech Republic.
Hlinka's assistant Rick Kehoe is to lead the Penguins from the
bottom of the NHL. Hlinka was the second European coach in NHL history.
He signed his contract in 2000 only days after Chicago choose Finland's
Alpo Suhonen, who resigned due to health problems before the end of the
season.
Tomas Fliegl/Mirek Langer
UEFA Champions League: Sparta Praha Advances to Second Phase
After four games, Sparta Praha has ensured itself participation in the
UEFA Champions League second phase. It did not allow a goal in its group
and leads the standings.
Sparta defeated Spartak Moscow 2-0 at home October 10. Marek Kincl
scored in the 57th minute and in the 88th minute Libor Sionko added the
second goal.
The game against Feyenoord in Rotterdam's De Kuip Stadium finished
with the same result October 17. Jiri Jarosik opened the score with his
free kick at the end of the first half. The Dutch team was weakened with
two red cards in the second half and Jiri Novotny's header after
Rastislav Michalik's free kick gave the final 2-0 margin. Sparta leads
the standings and advanced to the second stage.
Standings of the group H: 1. Sparta Praha 10 points, 2. Bayern
Munich 8, 3. Feyenoord Rotterdam 2, 4. Spartak Moscow 1.
Ondra Trunecka/Mirek Langer
International Ice Hockey Federation Demands Project of Arena for Worlds
If the 2004 World Championships is to take place in the Czech
Republic, Czech Ice Hockey Union (CSLH) President Karel Gut must present
the project for the new arena in Prague. The delegates of the
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) voted on the demand in their
regular meeting in Malmo, Sweden.
They were not convinced by the documents including financial
guarantees of the investor, the Sazka company, support of Prague Mayor
Jan Kasl and the government's envoy for the World Championships Ladislav
Maly.
"By the end of the next month we must present the specific project
to the commission, which controls preparation of the world
championships. It is completely logical. They are right and we need
a similar guarantee as well," said Gut.
The Czech Republic got IIHF support for organizing the World
Championships in 2003, but because of complications around the new arena
the CSLH exchanged the championships with Finland, which had been
scheduled for 2004. The new arena should be built in Prague's 9th
District (the Maniny is also being discussed) and should cost some 4
billion crowns.
Jirka Sochor/Mirek Langer
111th Velka Pardubicka: Peruan Does Not Win Fourth in a Row
The nine-year-old bay Chalco, trained by Josef Vana and ridden by
German jockey Peter Gehm, won the 111th Velka Pardubicka steeplechase
October 14 in Pardubice. He finished the 6,900 meters race in 10 minutes
4.52 seconds.
The winner for the last three years, Peruan, with rider Zdenek
Matysik, attempted to overcome the standard set by the legendary
Zeleznik. After a tough fight in the finishing straight, Peruan wound up
in second place.
Only 10 of 21 horses finished the race. Only two horses fell on the
most-feared jump, Taxis, although the French favorite Anatol died after
a fall at the penultimate jump.
Katerina Krenova/Mirek Langer
Sparta Wins Soccer League Derby against Slavia 1-0
Sparta Praha boosted its lead over its rival in the soccer league
standings, winning 1-0 in the intracity derby against Slavia Praha. The
guest Sparta played more actively, but its attacks were stayed off by
Slavia goalkeeper Vaclavik till the 80th minute. Jiri Jarosik then
managed to beat the goalie with his second successive attempt.
Results of the 10th round: Hradec Kralove - Olomouc 1-0, Zizkov
- Pribram 2-0, Drnovice - Opava 3-0, Jablonec - Liberec 0-3, Slavia
Praha - Sparta Praha 0-1, Ostrava - Blsany 3-1, Teplice - Stare Mesto
1-1, Brno - Bohemians Praha 0-3.
Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 24 points, 2. Bohemians Praha 23, 3.
Zizkov 22, 4. Ostrava 20, 5. Liberec 16, 6. Slavia Praha 16, 7. Drnovice
14, 8. Brno 13, 9. Stare Mesto 13, 10. Jablonec 12, 11. Hradec Kralove
12, 12. Blsany 10, 13. Olomouc 10, 14. Teplice 9, 15. Pribram 8, 16.
Opava 1.
Ondrej Hodalik/Mirek Langer
Pardubice Leads Hockey Extraleague after One-Quarter of Regular Season
A tough battle in Trinec turned in the last five minutes in favor
of Trinec, sending Sparta Praha down from the top spot in the league, as
Pardubice got full points against Vsetin. Pardubice prolonged its
winning streak to nine games before it lost to Slavia Praha. Pardubice
started a new streak in the next game, an early match of the 34th round
against Sparta Praha - a clash of the two teams at the top of the
standings.
Plzen moved up in the standings. In the 12th round it broke its
nine-game streak without a win and beat Vitkovice 4-1, thanks to new
formations and good performances by goalkeeper Barta it added wins
against Ceske Budejovice and Znojmo as well. Karlovy Vary stays in last
place, although they crushed Havirov 7-1 in the 14th round.
The 13th round was special because of the successes of road teams,
only Slavia managed to win at home, beating Vsetin.
Results of the 11th round: Pardubice - Vsetin 5-3, Litvinov - Plzen
4-1, Slavia Praha - Havirov 5-3, Vitkovice - Kladno 6-0, Ceske
Budejovice - Znojmo 4-1, Zlin - Karlovy Vary 8-0, Trinec - Sparta Praha
5-4.
Results of the 12th round: Sparta Praha - Zlin 6-3, Havirov
- Trinec 3-5, Vsetin - Ceske Budejovice 4-1, Kladno - Slavia Praha 3-2
OT, Pardubice - Litvinov 4-1, Znojmo - Karlovy Vary 5-2. Preplayed:
Plzen - Vitkovice 4-1.
Results of the 13th round: Slavia Praha - Vsetin 3-2, Vitkovice
- Havirov 2-3, Ceske Budejovice - Plzen 2-5, Zlin - Pardubice 2-6,
Trinec - Znojmo 1-3, Karlovy Vary - Sparta Praha 2-4, Litvinov - Kladno
5-2.
Results of the 14th round: Ceske Budejovice - Sparta Praha 6-2,
Karlovy Vary - Havirov 7-1, Znojmo - Plzen 2-6, Trinec - Vsetin 5-4,
Zlin - Kladno 4-1, Slavia Praha - Pardubice 1-0, Vitkovice - Litvinov
4-2.
Early game of the 34th round: Sparta Praha - Pardubice 1-2.
Standings: 1. Pardubice 33 points, 2. Sparta Praha 29, 3. Trinec
26, 4. Zlin 25, 5. Slavia Praha 23, 6. Vitkovice 21, 7. Vsetin 20, 8.
Litvinov 19, 9. Ceske Budejovice 14, 10. Plzen 14, 11. Havirov 13, 12.
Znojmo 13, 13. Kladno 12, 14. Karlovy Vary 10.
Tomas Fliegl/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* Tomas Enge, the first Czech driver in the formula one World
Championships, had a serious accident in practice before the Japan Grand
Prix, but he escaped uninjured. In the race, he made a mistake with
signals and took a pit stop before his mechanics were prepared. He did
not complete the race because of a front-wheel bearing failure.
* Roman Kresta had to retire from the Rally San Remo three kilometers
before the finish while in 16th place in his first official race as
a Skoda Motorsport team member. Because Germany's Armin Schwarz retired
in the first stage because of an alternator failure, only Belgium's
Bruno Thiry - the 13th-place finisher - saved face for Skoda.
* Jaroslav Hules finished 14th in the Japan Grand Prix as well as in
Australia, where Jakub Smrz finished 19th.
* Australia's Leigh Adams won the 53th Golden Helmet speedway race in
Pardubice ahead of second-place Czech Marian Jirout.
* Tomas Konecny's ninth place in the road race was the best Czech
result in the road-cycling World Championships in Lisbon.
Jirka Sochor/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
The sun was responsible on October 3 for establishing a new record
high temperature (the measurement in the Prague Clementinum of 26
degrees Celsius/79 degrees Fahrenheit broke the record from 1929), but
then selfishly abandoned us for a week into the clutches of fog and
clouds. A second wave of Indian summer did get us out of our raincoats
and autumn depressions, with good weather lasting until October 14.
Daytime highs this week have ranged from 10 degrees Celsius to 15
degrees Celsius/50 degrees Fahrenheit to 59 degrees Fahrenheit, with
morning fog lasting into daytime cloud cover. The view from the offices
of Carolina is not very inspiring right now, - we can only hope that our
readers, scattered around the world, are enjoying their weather a bit
more.
Linda Varikova/Michael Bluhm
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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