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Carolina (English) No 432
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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 432, Friday, October 5, 2001.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (September 19 - October 3)
Prime Minister Zeman Offers Military Assistance
Prime Minister Milos Zeman October 2 offered military aid to the
allies on behalf of the Czech Republic. The aid includes field
hospitals, chemical warfare units and the 6th brigade of special forces,
which won the NATO competition for most efficient unit.
Zeman's speech was broadcast by Czech Television and Czech Radio.
The prime minister reminded the viewers of Czech historical experiences
(e.g., the Munich Agreement of 1938) that "prove that appeasing
a terrorist aggressor does not pay."
Public Opinion Poll Finds Czechs Afraid of Global Conflict
More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Czech respondents are afraid
that events after the terrorist attack on the USA might cause
a worldwide military conflict, according to a poll taken by the STEM
agency for Czech Radio and Czech Television.
Forty-five per cent of respondents are for military retaliation.
Slightly less than two-thirds of the respondents (64 per cent) said one
of the causes for the terrorist attack was insensitive U.S. foreign
policy.
American Buildings in Prague Guarded by Police and Army
The Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty building, said to be targeted
for a bomb attack, has been guarded by armored personnel carriers,
policemen and airborne infantry from September 27. According to General
Jiri Sedivy, head of the joint chiefs of staff, the Czech Republic
received a warning from intelligence services. The daily Lidove noviny
claimed terrorists were to deliver the bomb in a small van. Interior
Minister Stanislav Gross acknowledged Prague was in real danger.
As a result of defense of the RFE/RL building (the former
Czechoslovak Federal Assembly), police are limiting traffic on the
streets between Wenceslas Square and the National Museum. No vehicle
over 3.5 tons is allowed on these roads. The APCs are, according to
43rd battalion mechanized infantry chief Ales Opata, "an artificial
mobile barrier against explosives in vehicles." The APCs were
transferred to Prague from Hodonin (in southern Moravia) with a marked
delay. That caused a great displeasure among opposition deputies in the
Defense and Security Committee. Special security measures accepted after
the terrorist attacks in USA are in effect for the U.S. Embassy, Prague
Castle and the Lany Chateau (the presidential retreat) as well.
Secret Services Gain Greater Authority over Citizens
Amendments to the Police and Secret Services Act were passed
September 24 to allow the Security Information Service (BIS) to obtain
mobile-phone records more easily (to whom and from where calls were
made). President Vaclav Havel supported the intentions of police and
secret-service authorities. "But I would not call this a limitation of
civic or human rights. I would probably call it their protection," said
Havel.
Havel's Heart Problems Cause Cancellation of State Visit to Italy
The sudden heart arythmia of President Vaclav Havel forced the
cancellation of his planned three-day visit to Italy in the final
minutes before his plane was to leave September 24. Havel boarded the
plane but felt sick and his doctor discovered the president's heart rate
was twice as high as normal. After four days of treatment in the Central
Military Hospital in Stresovice, Havel was released. His convalescence
took place as usual in the presidential retreat at the Lany Chateau.
Top Politicians Discuss Army Reform
Top constitutional representatives - the president, prime minister,
the chairs of both chambers of Parliament and the chairs of four parties
represented in the Chamber of Deputies - agreed to abolish compulsory
military service as part of the Czech Army's reform. The meeting took
place September 21 in Prague Castle, President Vaclav Havel as usual
refused to invite representatives of the third-largest parliamentary
party - the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM). According to
the government's plan, the Czech Republic should have a fully
professional army by January 1, 2007, with 35,000 soldiers and 10,000
civilians (see Carolina 430).
1,500 Foreign Soldiers Receive Training in the Czech Republic
A total of 1,500 soldiers from the Netherlands, USA and Slovakia
are taking part in the international military training maneuvers, called
Falcon, from October 1-19. The training is taking place in the Boletice,
Jince and Hradiste military training areas and also at the army air base
in Ceske Budejovice. The Netherlands requested the Czech Republic host
this training. The operations section of the joint chiefs of staff is
coordinating the training.
Alexandr Vondra in Charge of NATO Summit in Prague
President Vaclav Havel September 21 in Prague Castle appointed
Alexandr Vondra, until recently Czech ambassador to the USA, to manage
the preparation committee for the NATO summit planned for November 2002
in Prague, where further expansion of the alliance should be decided.
NEWS IN BRIEF
* Former tennis player and businessman Milan Srejber, 37, did not
succeed in appealing his five-and-a-half year sentence to the High Court
(see Carolina 403). The original sentence was cut to five years, but it
was upheld and came into force. Srejber was sentenced for abusing
insider information and damaging shareholders of his Srejber Tennis
Investing Fund. Damages were valued at 13 million crowns. Srejber was
connected to the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) financial scandal in
1997, when he confessed to sponsoring the ODS under false names (see
Carolina 267, 268).
* The Supreme Court rejected a complaint on behalf of Jiri Kajinek,
sentenced to life for a contract double-murder. Kajinek had never
confessed to the crime and he became the most notorious Czech prisoner
after escaping from the high-security Mirov Prison (see Carolina 392,
398). The complaint, submitted in February by then-Justice Minister
Pavel Rychetsky, was based on the principle that in case of reasonable
doubts, the accused should be found innocent.
ECONOMY
The exchange rates of the Czech currency broke this year's records
after the crown reached its best-ever rate against the euro (33.61
crowns) October 3. The crown got stronger also in relation to the US
dollar with an exchange rate of 36.70 crowns to the dollar. The strong
currency is good news for importers and Czech tourists but bad news for
Czech exporters. Monetary experts say the present strengthening of the
crown was caused by the expected payment the Czech state should receive
for the sale of its share in the Commerce Bank (Komercni banka). Another
reason could be the weakening of the U.S., Japanese and EU economies.
Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid October 5)
--------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 33.710
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 18.404
Great Britain 1 GBP 54.190
Denmark 1 DKK 4.534
Japan 100 JPY 30.539
Canada 1 CAD 23.482
IMF 1 XDR 47.366
Hungary 100 HUF 13.097
Norway 1 NOK 4.180
New Zealand 1 NZD 15.106
Poland 1 PLN 8.770
Slovakia 100 SKK 77.432
Slovenia 100 SIT 15.318
Sweden 1 SEK 3.477
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.664
USA 1 USD 36.811
Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 17.236
Belgium 100 BEF 83.565
Finland 1 FIM 5.670
France 1 FRF 5.139
Ireland 1 IEP 42.803
Italy 1000 ITL 17.410
Luxemburg 100 LUF 83.565
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.297
Portugal 100 PTE 16.814
Austria 1 ATS 2.450
Greece 100 GRD 9.893
Spain 100 ESP 20.260
CULTURE
Open-Door Days at Sova's Mills
After many years the doors of Sova's Mills (Sovovy mlyny) were
opened to the public September 28 on St. Wenceslas' Day holiday, and
about 6,000 people toured the site. The structure, repaired for 122
million crowns by the Prague City Hall in cooperation with the Jan and
Meda Mladek Foundation, should be opened for good next spring. The
building will house the Mladeks' enormous art collection, best known for
its array of paintings by Frantisek Kupka. The mills now feature an
exhibit by Croatian tapestry artist Jagoda Buicova.
The reconstruction of the building, the first known mention of
which comes from the 14th century, was the center of long political
battles and architectural controversy. Meda Mladek decided after her
husband's death to donate part of their collection to Prague, in
exchange for which the city granted her the use of the mills for 99
years for free. Mladek demanded a glass structure added to the
building's roof, a plan that was rejected by numerous building
commissions but finally approved by Culture Minister Pavel Dostal. The
latest problem is Mladek's plan to accommodate important guests in the
building.
100 Years Since Jaroslav Seifert's Birth
September 23 would have been the 100th birthday of Jaroslav
Seifert, the distinguished poet and the only Czech Nobel laureate in
literature. He died in 1986 and his funeral turned into a silent
demonstration against the communist regime. Among his most significant
poems are The Apple from Your Lap (Jablko z klina, -1933), The Hands of
Venus (Ruce Venusiny, 1936), written before WWII, and Turn off the
Lights (Zhasnete svetla, 1938), The Fan of Bozena Nemcova (Vejir Bozeny
Nemcove, 1940), The Bridge of Stone (Kamenny most, 1944) from the period
of Nazi German occupation. The Song of Viktorka (Pisen o Viktorce,
1950) resulted in accusations of having betrayed his class and led to
Seifert's concentrating upon politically non-controversial themes.
Seifert was a member of the Communist Party in the 20's, but he
left the party in 1929 and his proletarian leftist attitude turned into
a more non-affiliated, social-democratic leaning. He delivered
a historic speech at the Czechoslovak Writers' Association congress in
1956, where he called for the release and rehabilitation of jailed and
persecuted authors. In 1968 Seifert condemned the Soviet invasion, in
1969 he was elected Chairman of the Czechoslovak Writers' Association,
but he was deposed after the Husak regime came to power. His works An
Umbrella from Piccadilly (Destnik z Piccadilly) and The Plague Column
(Morovy sloup) were published first in samizdat and by foreign
publishing houses. In 1977 Seifert signed Charter 77. Although
Seifert's position was uncomfortable for the regime, the Nobel Prize for
Literature in 1984 prevented Seifert from being doomed to public
oblivion, and the official media published stories on his life and work.
Zdenek Rotrekl - Jaroslav Seifert Prize Laureate
The Charter 77 Foundation awarded the prestigious Jaroslav Seifert
Prize for 2001 to Zdenek Rotrekl, a poet, writer and critic, for his
exceptional achievements in literature. His book of poems A Town without
Walls (Nezdene mesto) appeared in samizdat in 1976, but was officially
published last year. The Charter 77 Foundation has awarded the Jaroslav
Seifert Prize, along with 250,000 crowns, since 1986.
SPORTS
Champions League: Sparta Praha - Feyenoord Rotterdam 4-0
Sparta Praha soccer players recorded their first win in this
campaign of the top European football competition. They defeated the
Netherlands' champion 4-0 at home in Prague September 25. It was the
same result another Dutch team - Tilburg - recorded in Prague two years
ago.
Sparta was better in all facets, both coaches agreed. It had a lot
of scoring opportunities while it did not allow its opponent any better
chances. Lukas Hartig scored the first goal in the 24th minute, in the
37th minute van Gobbel fouled Libor Sionko in the box and was sent off
before Vladimir Labant converted the penalty. Marek Kincl added the
third goal in the 71st minute and Rastislav Michalik scored the fourth
three minutes later. About 15,000 fans saw the mismatch.
After Spartak Moscow lost to Bayern Munich 1-3, Sparta and Bayern
lead the standings: 1. Sparta 4 points, 2. Bayern 4, 3. Spartak 1, 4.
Feyenoord 1. The first round was postponed after the September 11
terrorist attacks on the United States till October 10.
UEFA Cup First Round: Pribram and Liberec Advance
Two of five Czech representatives managed to advance to the second
round of the UEFA Cup.
Marila Pribram defeated CS Sedan of France 4-0 at home and although
it lost 1-3 in France, it went on to the second round to face PAOK
Thessaloniki of Greece.
Slovan Liberec can look forward to games against Spain's Celta Vigo
after it eliminated Slovan Bratislava (2-0 at home, 0-1 away).
It was Vigo, which eliminated Sigma Olomouc. It won 4-0 at home,
the Czechs at least celebrated a victory in the rematch, won by Olomouc
4-3.
Slavia Praha said goodbye to this year's European Cups unexpectedly
soon. The UEFA Champions League qualification-round loser was not good
enough for Servette Geneve. It lost 0-1 away and drew 1-1 at home.
Also Viktoria Zizkov did not succeed, failing to score a goal. It
played a scoreless tie at home and lost 0-1 away.
Soccer League: Last-Place Opava Changes Coach
Bohus Keler is the first coach sacked in this year's soccer league.
Keler, who led Opava during the season it won the second league and
moved into the first league, got only one point in nine games and was
replaced by assistant coach Miroslav Mentel.
Results of the 8th round: Drnovice - Sparta Praha 0-2, Ostrava
- Bohemians Praha 1-1, Slavia Praha - Synot 0-1, Hradec Kralove
- Pribram 1-0, Jablonec - Blsany 1-0, Teplice - Brno 2-2, Olomouc
- Opava 3-1. The Zizkov - Liberec game was postponed till October 9.
Results of the 9th round: Sparta Praha - Jablonec 1-0, Bohemians
Praha - Teplice 1-0, Synot - Ostrava 0-4, Brno - Hradec Kralove 2-1,
Blsany - Slavia Praha 1-2, Brno - Hradec Kralove 2-1, Opava - Zizkov
0-1, Pribram - Olomouc 1-1, Liberec - Drnovice 1-1.
Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 21 points, 2. Bohemians Praha 20, 3.
Ostrava 17, 4. Zizkov 16, 5. Slavia Praha 16, 6. Liberec 13, 7. Brno
13, 8. Jablonec 12, 9. Synot 12, 10. Drnovice 11, 11. Blsany 10, 12.
Olomouc 10, 13. Hradec Kralove 9, 14. Teplice 8, 15. Pribram 8, 16.
Opava 1.
Hockey Extraleague Results
Results of the 6th round: Zlin - Slavia Praha 3-2 OT, Karlovy Vary
- Vsetin 2-4, Trinec - Litvinov 0-4, Znojmo - Pardubice 0-3, Havirov
- Plzen 4-3, Ceske Budejovice - Vitkovice 1-2 OT, Sparta Praha - Kladno
1-2 OT.
Results of the 7th round: Slavia Praha - Trinec 6-2, Kladno
- Znojmo 4-3 OT, Ceske Budejovice - Zlin 4-4, Vitkovice - Karlovy Vary
2-1, Pardubice - Havirov 6-1, Litvinov - Sparta Praha 1-4, Vsetin
- Plzen 3-1.
Results of the 8th round: Havirov - Vsetin 2-3, Trinec - Ceske
Budejovice 4-5 OT, Karlovy Vary - Litvinov 10-3, Sparta Praha
- Pardubice 3-4 OT, Plzen - Kladno 4-4, Zlin - Vitkovice 3-2, Znojmo
- Slavia Praha 4-3.
Results of the 9th round: Zlin - Trinec 2-6, Vitkovice - Znojmo
3-1, Ceske Budejovice - Karlovy Vary 4-3, Slavia Praha - Sparta Praha
1-2, Kladno - Vsetin 1-1, Litvinov - Havirov 3-2, Pardubice - Plzen 5-0
Results of the 10th round: Sparta Praha - Vitkovice 2-2, Znojmo
- Zlin 2-3, Plzen - Slavia Praha 1-1, Kladno - Pardubice 1-2, K.Vary
- Trinec 1-3, Vsetin - Litvinov 2-1, Havirov - Ceske Budejovice 2-1 OT
Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 23, 2. Pardubice 21, 3. Zlin 19, 4.
Vsetin 17, 5. Trinec 17, 6. Vitkovice 15, 7. Slavia 13, 8. Litvinov 13,
9. Havirov 10, 10. Kladno 10, 11. Ceske Budejovice 8, 12. Karlovy Vary
7, 13. Znojmo 7, 14. Plzen 5.
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* The Czech Republic defeated Romania 3-2 in the Davis Cup World
Group qualification round. The Czech team remains the only one never to
fall from the World Group after the tie played in Prostejov September
21-23.
* The first Czech driver in formula one, Tomas Enge, finished 13th
in the Grand Prix of the United States in Indianapolis (he finished the
race in 14th place, but moved up one spot after Trulli's
disqualification).
WEATHER
According to the calendar autumn began September 23, but in the
first days of October the long-awaited Indian summer finally arrived.
The high temperature of October 3, 25 degrees Celsius/77 degrees
Fahrenheit, represents the highest recorded temperature since
measurements were first taken in 1775.
The issue of Carolina was written by Martin Rusek, Lenka Nejezchlebova,
Lida Truneckova and Ondra Trunecka, and translated by Sofi Karakeva,
Ondrej Maly, Mirek Langer, Milan Smid and Michael Bluhm.
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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