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Carolina (English) No 411
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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 411, Friday, March 23, 2001.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (March 14 - March 21)
Measures Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease Cause Problems at Borders
The hygienic measures taken by the Czech Republic to stop the
possible spread of foot-and-mouth disease from EU countries caused
problems at border crossings during the second half of the past week.
Since March 15 all visitors to the Czech Republic are required to
disinfect their shoes by crossing mats containing disinfectants; the
same measures are valid for vehicles. Border crossings with Germany were
among the most affected - in Rozvadov visitors waited four hours to
enter, and one hour less in Folmava.
Customs officials also confiscated from visitors to the Czech
Republic from EU countries and Poland food products (mainly meat
products) that could transfer the highly infectious livestock disease.
On the suggestion of hygienists, 70 smaller tourist border
crossings with Germany, Austria and Poland were closed. During the
weekend of March 17-18 delays at borders crossings decreased.
Petr Adam/Sofia Karakeva
Ed Fagan Versus Temelin
American lawyer Ed Fagan, representing Austrian opponents of
nuclear energy, made a surprise visit March 20 to the Temelin nuclear
power station. Even though Temelin management had announced a day
earlier that the earliest possible visit could be realized next week, it
allowed Fagan to visit many parts of the complex. Fagan had the
opportunity to visit the archive and look at materials he had requested.
Speaker of the Upper Austria Platform against Nuclear Energy Josef
Puehringer, Czech and Austrian environmental activists and journalists
accompanied Fagan. At Temelin's gate members of the South Bohemia
Fathers welcomed Fagan. The group was formed to counter the South
Bohemia Mothers, which strongly opposes Temelin.
During the press conference that followed the visit, Fagan extended
by 30 days to April 19 his ultimatum to the Czech Energy Company (CEZ)
and Westinghouse to present the documents he demanded. If he does not
receive the documents, he says he will press charges against both
companies in the Czech Republic and in USA.
Temelin's reactor in the first block March 20 reached an output of
almost 29 per cent. After a series of prescribed tests the output of the
reactor is increasing. It has been turned off repeatedly during the
testing process.
Dana Zlatohlavkova/Sofia Karakeva
Havel Chats On-Line
President Vaclav Havel March 14 for the first time answered
citizens' questions live on the Internet. The president, who
communicates through all available media, cannot ignore the Internet,
said his speaker Ladislav Spacek. Havel was prepared to answer all
questions in order. Only vulgar questions were removed, said Spacek.
The on-line discussion started at 2 p.m. and within seconds the
presidential server (www.hrad.cz) was swamped and collapsed and no more
questions could be sent. Havel managed within an hour to answer some of
the almost 10,000 questions that made it through. The questions referred
mainly to domestic and international politics, with Havel's personal
interests and marriage also touched upon.
Ales Borovan/Sofia Karakeva
Czech House Hotel Contract - Corruption in the Foreign Ministry?
The daily MF DNES March 20 broke the story of the lucrative,
state-owned 10-story building in Moscow: Foreign Minister Jan Kavan and
his staff - namely Karel Srba and Helena Opolecka - signed a highly
suspicious rental contract with the company Czech House Hotel.
The contract gives Czech House Hotel, which is registered in the
Czech Republic, the exclusive right to use the building, which is
a 15-minute walk from Red Square and includes hotel rooms, suites,
a restaurant, bar, gym, sauna, office space and other utilities. The
Foreign Ministry signed the contract after the government decided in
October that all embassies should get rid of any side, commercial
activities.
The Czech House Hotel company is to pay the Czech state 28 million
crowns over the five-year term of contract. Many provisions of the
contract are unclear: the company is not registered in Russia, it uses
the Czech embassy's bank account, it does not pay taxes to Russian
authorities and enjoys diplomatic privileges. The contract also includes
an exclusive right to purchase the lucrative state property, should it
be sold.
Czech Ambassador to Russia Jaroslav Basta objected to the deal and
sent a protest letter to Kavan. However, Kavan dismissed Basta's
objections, relying on legal opinions. Kavan also said the contract was
fine to MF DNES March 20. One day later, Kavan admitted the contract is
specious, and he promised to investigate the case and punish the persons
responsible within a week.
Gabriela Pribilova/Milan Smid
Foreign Residents Need Czech Driver Licenses
Foreign residents in the Czech Republic must exchange their
original driver licenses for Czech licenses. The change is part of the
Road Traffic Act valid from January. The three-month term to exchange
foreign licenses expires April 1. If a foreigner does not request the
new license in time, not only is he subject to heavy fines but insurance
providers will not have to recognize claims. This temporary measure has
raised negative responses from abroad, in particular from the USA and
Canada, where the license serves primarily as an ID card.
Gabriela Pribilova/Ondrej Maly
New School Law Draft Has Emerged
The controversial Education Act proposal of by Education Minister
Eduard Zeman was approved by the government March 14. The minister
fourth version of the bill was finally successful, but faces an uphill
battle in the Chamber of Deputies. The most discussed aspect of Zeman's
proposal is the abolition of eight-year secondary schools that, he says,
drain grade schools of too many talented students.
The law introduces new types of schools - kindergartens, artistic
grade schools, language schools. It introduces a new legal term - the
school entity, which would employ staff instead of the county office.
The bill proposes curriculum frameworks. Schools will determine
themselves how many hours they will devote to each particular subject.
The needs of handicapped students are discussed. There is a new form of
the graduation examination and adjusts the grading system. Verbal
evaluation is made equal to traditional grading.
Gabriela Pribilova/Ondrej Maly
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
After India, Zeman Visits South Korea
Prime Minister Milos Zeman arrived March 15 in South Korea, after
finishing his four-day official visit to India. After Spain not long
ago, Asia is now the region where the prime minister is trying to
persuade local businessmen to invest in the Czech Republic. Also, larger
imports of Czech goods were discussed. The prime minister met
representatives of Daewoo Motors, which has invested in the Czech
Republic in Daewoo Avia Letnany, and with representatives of Samsung
Electronics.
The prime minister's traveling party was the same as in India
- Finance Minister Pavel Mertlii, Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr and
Agriculture Minister Jan Fencl. Korean President Kim Te-jung received
him March 16. The delegation returned home March 18.
Dana Zlatohlavkova/Ondrej Maly
Kavan in Brussels: CR Wants Strong European Union
The government of the Czech Republic supports the vision of strong
central organs in the future form of the European Union, said Czech
Foreign Minister Jan Kavan during his visit to Brussels March 19. He
assured the EU representatives he wants a modern and flexible system
based on social solidarity. With Kavan's visit, the nation became the
first candidate country to join the discussion on reform of the EU's key
organs.
Petr Adam/Adam Fendrych
FROM SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF
* March 14 commemorates the 62nd anniversary of the first Slovak
state, founded as a Nazi puppet state by Catholic priest Jozef Tiso
during World War II. Only some 200 members of various nazi organizations
honored the regime, celebrations were used as an opportunity for
demonstrations by several hundred people against racism. Thanks to well
prepared policemen, the groups did not clash.
* Guy Verhofstadt, prime minister of Belgium, made a visit to
Slovakia March 14. At his meeting with President Rudolf Schuster and
Premier Mikulas Dzurinda, he said he appreciated Slovakia's efforts to
join the EU among the first group of new members and praised the
government for seeking a solution to the Romany issue, as there has been
a decrease in the number of Slovak Romany applications for asylum in
Belgium.
* Antiseptic chlorine mats were placed March 15 at all border
crossings (except for crossings shared with the Czech Republic), at the
M. R. Stefanik International Airport in Bratislava and at certain
railway stations to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease to
Slovakia.
* Interior and justice ministers from the EU and its associate states
settled on joint visa policy (except of Great Britain and Ireland) at
a March 16 meeting in Brussels. Slovakia was added to the so-called
White List of safe countries, which means Belgium and Denmark will have
to annul visa requirements for Slovak citizens.
* The Slovak Statistics Office March 16 released the country's
economic indexes. Yearly GDP growth in 2000 was 2.2 per cent and is
rising. The inflation rate has fallen from 12 per cent in 1999 to 7 per
cent in 2000.
From Slovakia by Zdenek Sloboda/Adam Fendrych
ECONOMY
Detour around Pilsen Launched
Transportation Minister Jaromir Schling and Regional Development
Minister Petr Lachnit March 19 laid the foundation stone for the freeway
detour around Pilsen (Plzen). This part of the Prague-Nuremberg freeway
is eight kilometers long and will be connected to the highway toward
Klatovy and Zelezna Ruda. The road will cost about 2.5 billion crowns
and should be finished by mid-2003.
The construction is hindered by disputes among politicians, Pilsen
representatives and environmentalists. The Chamber of Deputies February
28 decided that the most controversial section is in the public
interest. That vote must be approved by the Senate and signed by the
president, and if passed will give the detour special status. Ecologists
strongly protest against the detour and say they will file a complaint
with the Supreme Court.
State Debt Increasing
The Finance Ministry March 17 released figures regarding the state
debt. The debt last year reached a record 289 billion crowns, which is
60 billion crown more than the 1999 level. The total debt is about
30,000 crowns per capita. The increase was brought about by the budget
deficit of up to 45 billion crowns, as well as by settling the
14.4-billion-crown debt of the Consolidation Bank. The ministry
forecasts that the debt might exceed 600 billion crowns in two years.
That would cause great problems for the Czech economy, which is now
getting out of a recession.
Ministry to Fight Illegal Employment
The government March 14 approved its plan for the Employment Act.
The new act would enable unemployed people to receive unemployment
compensation while earning some money in occasional jobs. The Ministry
of Labor and Social Affairs plans that unemployed people would not be
allowed to earn more than half the minimum wage, now 2,500 crowns
a month. People who work more than 20 hours a week could not receive
compensation.
This measure is intended to stop illegal, untaxed moonlighting. "If
the unemployed had the possibility to work legally, their official
earnings would thanks to that be higher and the state would have to pay
as much money in social benefits," said to the daily MF DNES Ladislava
Steinichova of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
Economy news by David Pillar/Stepan Vorlicek
Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid March 24)
--------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 34.460
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 19 042
Great Britain 1 GBP 55.095
Denmark 1 DKK 4.615
Japan 100 JPY 31.249
Canada 1 CAD 24.598
IMF 1 XDR 49.202
Hungary 100 HUF 12.928
Norway 1 NOK 4.244
New Zealand 1 NZD 16.008
Poland 1 PLN 9.355
Slovakia 100 SKK 78.951
Slovenia 100 SIT 15.927
Sweden 1 SEK 3.726
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.537
USA 1 USD 38.747
Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 17.619
Belgium 100 BEF 85.424
Finland 1 FIM 5.796
France 1 FRF 5.253
Ireland 1 IEP 43.755
Italy 1000 ITL 17.797
Luxemburg 100 LUF 85.424
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.637
Portugal 100 PTE 17.189
Austria 1 ATS 2.504
Greece 100 GRD 10.113
Spain 100 ESP 20.711
CULTURE
Eighth Days of European Film Festival
Spanish director Carlos Saura presented his film Goya in Bordeaux
March 18 in Prague's 64 U Hradeb cinema, a showing that closed the Days
of European Film festival's eighth stay in Prague. Within ten days
people could see in Prague 36 films, mostly Czech premiers, from the
countries of the European Union and the Czech Republic. The festival is
now going to be moved to Brno where it will run another ten days to
March 28.
The project is unique because it is organized by the Ministry of
Culture and also by delegation of European Commission in the Czech
Republic, legation of council of states of EU, Goethe Institut, Austrian
Cultural Institut, British Council and Eurimage Fund. These
co-organizators are guarantees that all introduced films will be the
best production of Europe in past few years.
Films shown included the Swedish comedy Everything is Always
Different Than You Want, the Spanish psychological drama When Will You
Return to My Side? One great example of family comedy was the Italian
film Bread and Tulips, which won nine awards given by Italian Film
Academy in 2000. Films for young people also included the film F. is
a Bastard (Switzerland/France), about a homosexual, and the
German-Turkish road movie In July and the Dutch rock retro from the
backwoods Wild Mussels.
Zdenek Sloboda/Veronika Hankusova
No Surprises at Pop-Music Academy Awards Ceremony
The Czech Pop-Music Academy awarded its annual prizes for tenth
times in the live TV show organized at the Expo Palace (Veletrzni
palac). The results in the six major categories: group of the year
- Monkey Business; male singer of the year - Dan Barta; female singer of
the year - Lenka Dusilova; newcomer of the year - Monkey Business; song
of the year - Buty, Above the Herd of Horses (Nad stadem koni); album of
the year - Dan Barta, Illustratosphere.
Besides these categories, voted on live during the show, six other
genre categories were awarded by critics: best video - Dan Barta,
I Suppose (Predpokladam); best heavy-metal artist - Silent Stream of
Godless Elegy; best dance, rap and hip-hop artist - Ohm Square; best
ethno and alternative artist - Rale; best jazz and blues artist - Roman
Pokorny; best folk and country artist - Karel Plihal.
Milan "Mejla" Hlavsa, bassist and leader of the Plastic People of
the Universe, was inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame. The award
was accepted by President Vaclav Havel, who provided the biggest
surprise of the evening. See also http://www.aph.cz.
Pavel Frinta/Veronika Hankusova
CULTURE IN BRIEF
* Matej Kopecky, a member of the legendary family of puppeteers, died
March 14 in Prague at the age of 77. Kopecky was one of those who played
at country fairs where performances with marionettes were accompanied by
circuses and street artists. During the 50's the family was not allowed
to perform because of restrictions against private business. Kopecky
returned to his profession in the Dragon Theater (Divadlo Drak) in
Hradec Kralove where he worked almost for 30 years. His most famous
plays were Faust and Enspigl.
* The Czech Center in New York opened the Days of Czech Baroque
culture festival March 14. The project is organized in connection with
exhibit The Fame of Baroque Bohemia (Slava barokni Cechie) arranged by
the National Gallery. The project will be inaugurated by an exhibit of
Vladimir Uher called The Beauty of Baroque Architecture (Krasy barokni
architektury).
* Czech Television is presenting a 13-part documentary called
Alternative Culture - the first part could be seen on CT2 on the evening
of March 16. The first few parts will introduce America's Beat
Generation, later segments include Czech alternative culture, the
Russian underground, various art communities in Europe and the punk
invasion.
Marie Sternova/Veronika Hankusova
SPORTS
Match of the Year: Eight Goals in Soccer Derby
Traditional rivals Sparta Praha and Slavia Praha met in the 21st
round of the soccer league. Sparta lost its lead in the last minute of
the game, when Tomas Kuchar's goal saved a point for Slavia with a 4-4
draw. Sparta leads the standings, Slavia moved into seventh place.
The largest crowd of the season, 16,350 spectators, saw the drama.
Sparta led 2-0 at the half after Jiri Jarosik and Marek Kincl's goals,
but it allowed Pavel Kuka to tie with two goals in six minutes. Kuka,
the active leading scorer on the national team, replied later to Josef
Obajdin's goal for a pure hat trick, his first after his return from
Germany. After a header by Radim Holub, Kuchar's long-distance shot
decided the final score.
The fans left the game in thrall. Czech journalists called the
250th Sparta-Slavia intracity derby the best game of the season. Kuka
said, "We probably aren't going to play soccer like that till the end of
the season."
Results of the 21st round: Sparta Praha - Slavia Praha 4-4, Olomouc
- Jablonec 1-0, Pribram - Zizkov 2-1, Brno - Blsany 0-0, Bohemians Praha
- Plzen 3-1, Teplice - Ceske Budejovice 4-1, Ostrava - Drnovice 2-0,
Liberec - Stare Mesto 2-1.
Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 50, 2. Olomouc 37, 3. Pribram 35, 4.
Teplice 33, 5. Liberec 31, 6. Zizkov 30, 7. Slavia Praha 27, 8. Stare
Mesto 26, 9. Bohemians Praha 26, 10. Drnovice 26, 11. Ostrava 23, 12.
Jablonec 22, 13. Blsany 21, 14. Brno 19, 15. Ceske Budejovice 15, 16.
Plzen 12.
Slavia Kept by Malek in Hockey Extraleague Quarterfinals
The hockey extraleague playoffs reached the fifth games of the
first-round best-of-seven series. Pardubice, Sparta and Slavia took the
3-2 leads in their series, while Zlin managed to cut into the 3-1 lead
of Vsetin.
Slavia goalkeeper Roman Malek was the hero of the tie against
Znojmo, he did not allow a goal in three games in a row and helped
Slavia turn its series around against Znojmo. He confirmed his standing
as the regular-season leader in save percentage.
Reigning champion Sparta Praha defeated Litvinov despite many
injuries. Litvinov lost injured captain Robert Reichel, who will not
play again this season.
Zlin prolonged the series against Vsetin thanks to solid defense
and a lucky goal.
Hockey extraleague playoffs results: Zlin - Vsetin 3-5, 1-2, 2-0
(Vsetin leads 3-2). Slavia Praha - Znojmo 6-0, 1-0, 3-0 (Slavia leads
3-2). Vitkovice - Pardubice 1-4, 4-3, 1-6 (Pardubice leads 3-2). Sparta
Praha - Litvinov 1-0, 2-3 on penalty shots, 4-1 (Sparta leads 3-2).
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* Frantisek Chvalovsky, chairman of the Czech-Moravian Soccer Union,
is again in jail. He was arrested by the police because the court feared
he might influence witnesses. Chvalovsky was first taken into custody
February 27 and accused of a 640-million-crown loan fraud. He was free
for 15 days, after paying 10 million crowns in bail.
Sports news by Adam Fendrych/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
Spring, indeed. It's warm, it rains, it's cold, it's windy, the sun
shines, then it rains again, all day March 21 it snowed. The first day
of spring.
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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