CCCCC AA RRRRR OOOO LL II NN N AA CC AA A RR R OO O LL II NNN N AA A CC AA A RRRRR OO O LL II NN N N AA A CC AAAAAA RR R OO O LL II NN NN AAAAAA CCCCC AA A RR R OOOO LLLLLL II NN N AA A STUDENT'S E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA School of Social Science of Charles University Smetanovo nabr. 6 110 01 Prague 1 C.S.F.R. e-mail address: CAROLINA@CSEARN.BITNET *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 39, Friday, September 4, 1992. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST DAYS (From August 19 to September 2) Slovak Constitution Confirmed 114 of 134 members of parliament of Slovak National Council presented voted for Constitution of Slovak Republic on September 1, 1992. This act was the only item on the program of the 5th meeting of Slovak parliament. Analyzing the draft of Constitution, Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar said: "This is the first constitution discussed at the Slovak national council without any external influence and based upon attitudes and ideas within our society. It refuses fasism, antisemitism and nationalism and guarrantees democracy, freedom and respect to law." As well as during voting for Declaration of Slovak Sovereignty (July 17 - Carolina # 37), each memeber of the Parliament has to vote loudly, which means they declare publicly whether they are for Constitution or not. Members of Christian Democrats' Movement lead by former premier J. Carnogursky voted against the Constitution. Members of Hungarian minorities' parties didnot take part in the whole process and left the hall. The honor signing of the Constitution by Prime Minister V. Meciar and Chairman of the Slovak NAtional Council takes place at Bratislava Castle on Thuserday September 3, 1992. Slovak National Council, Slovak government and Slovak members ofthe Federal government will be present. Prime minister of the Federal government J. Stransky, Czech Prime minister V. Klaus and Chairman of Czech National Council has been invited, too. CSFR only until December 31, 1992? 5th meeting of Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and Movement for Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) designed for Thuserday was surrounded by diffenrent tensions caused by the letter send to V. Klaus (ODS) by V. Meciar (HZDS) saying that other meeting is "unsuitable". The reason seemed to be violation of agreements from Czech side and disagreement on right person for position of director of Federal Save and Information Agency (FBIS). The meeting finally took place a the discussions were surprisingly calm and clear. Both sides were speaking about spliting Czechoslovakia into two countries for the first time. Czech republic and Slovak republic will be established in January 1, 1993. The separation of currencies as well as custom service has not be discussed. There will probably be a temporary custom, currency and defence union. Agreement between two political parties cannot lead to separation of both republics. It might be done after the law "about ways of falling apart the federation" will be confirmed by Federal Assembly. Alexander Dubcek Badly Hurt At Car Accident Bad injuries of ribs and chest and some inner injuries are the result of serious car accident of Mr. Dubcek's car at the highway 88 km from Prague. His BMW left the road in rainy weather and fell down the hill. A. Dubcek was delivered to the Prague hospital and condition of his health is serious. Increase of Prices of Fuel, Beer, Liquers and Cigarettes There will be new turnover taxes for fuel, liquers and cigarettes. The price of traveling in sleepeng vans of trains, as well as price of water will increase. Slected list of medicaments will be also paid by citizens and since October 92 the fee for phone calls will inrease, too. Comments in Czech press: On August 4 federal finantial minister Jan Klak claimed that "No solution has been made in this field". He repeated it on August 5. On August 27 minister Klak announced increase of turnover tax. Is it possible that the minister didn't know about such plan? Anyway, journalists asked him, because they "smelt something in the air". It was just in the oven, is the solution of Jiri Franek from Lidove noviny in article "Game with the Confidence". Jiri V. Kotas Candidate for Czechoslovak President Jiri V. Kotas, the leader of federal board of conservative party Free Block, is the only candidate for federal presidency until now. The election will take place on September 24. In interview concerning the end of federation For Mlada Fronta Dnes daily he said, "I don't think the law of canceling the federation will get the three fifth majority in Federal Assembly. Furthermore, the law is about 'ways' of canceling the federation, not about canceling itself. And finally, there is the president who may sign the law or not." To Whom the Slovaks Believe The vast majority (50,3%) of Slovak citizens trust V. Meciar, the Slovak Prime Minister and Leader of HZDS. According to public polling done at the end of July and beginning of September, P. Weiss (Party of Democratic Leftists) and A. Dubcek (Social democrats) follow. V. Klaus with less than 15% is on the 4th position and V. Havel with less than 9% on the 5th position. Modest Celebrations of the Slovak National Uprising On Saturday, August 29 (the date of the outbreak of the antifascist uprising during the Second World War) representatives of the Slovak National Council and the Slovak government placed wreaths on the memorial to the Slovak National Uprising in Bratislava. This was the first time the celebrations of the SNP were transferred from the central Slovak town of Banska Bystrica, the epicenter of the uprising, to the Slovak capital. The press noted only a few hundred spectators. Cesky denik (August 31) reported that, probably for the last time in the history of official celebrations, the Czechoslovak national anthem was played. At memorial celebrations in Banska Bystrica, Alexander Dubcek was among those who participated. September First -- Beginning of a New School Year For students in primary and middle schools, on Tuesday a new school year began. During their ten-month academic year, the students can look forward to a ten-day break at Christmas and a one-week Spring Break. There is a one-day pause at mid-term, and Easter vacation lasts a couple of days. The academic year at the universities begins traditionally in October. Forest Fire Halts Traffic on Expressway The greatest forest fire in recent years in Slovakia brought traffic on the last August weekend on the freeway between Bratislava and Brno to a screeching halt (segment D2 Lozorno-Kuty). The fire, which broke out on Saturday, was finally put out on Tuesday. The firefighters' work was hampered by strong winds, which spread sparks a distance of more than 200 meters. Flames reached heights of 100 meters. There was no loss of life, but property damage will reach many millions of crowns. A strip of territory 17 km long and 3 km wide was burned out. The cause of the fire is unknown. There were also fires in the forests of Northern Moravia over the weekend. CULTURE World Record Knedlik-Eater 155 plum dumplings were devoured in one hour by Frantisek Pohorsky from Tecovice, near Zlin in Southern Moravia. This feat took place during the traditional festivities surrounding the plum distilling at Vizovice. Plum (svestkove or trnkove) dumplings belong among Moravia's favorite sweets. The plums are wrapped in a flour-dough (the thinner the covering, the better the cook), they are boiled in water, sprinkled with sugar or sugar mixed with poppy seeds, and basted with melted butter. (Translator's note: and they're deadly delicious). F. Pohorsky gained three and one half kilograms during his record performance. THE WEATHER A Tropical August The highest temperature of the year in the Czech Republic was measured on August 9 in Bechyne: 37.7 degrees Celsius; and the highest in Slovakia at Topolcany on August 29: 38 degrees. The average daily temperature in the Czech Republic was around 8 to 10 degrees higher than normal for the end of August. At the Clementinum in Prague records of temperature have been kept since 1775, and this year's summer brought 6 record temperatures. The beginning of September brought with it a noticeable cooling trend, with morning temperatures around 10 degrees, and on their first journey to school, the pupils (at least in Prague) were sprinkled with rain -- perhaps for luck! By way of explanation, it's a folk saying here that if it rains on a wedding, it is raining good luck for the bride and groom. * * * The editors of Carolina would like to remind our readers that, beginning with this number, we will be coming out again on a regular schedule, each Friday. 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