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 44, Friday, October 9, 1992. ======== We are apologizing for the late distribution of our journal. The reason was technical. Editors ======== THE EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK (September 30 - October 7.) Law of Ways for Dissolving the Federation did not Pass The government proposal of the constitutional law of ways which would dissolve the Czechoslovak Federation Republic did not pass in Parliament Thursday, October 1. The draft of law offered four possibilities; the division of the state through a declaration of the Federal Assembly, by agreement between Czech National Council and Slovak National Council, by referendum organized according to federal law by Federal Assembly or national councils, by resigning of one of republics or through other ways of expressing will within limits of constitution. Passing the law by three fifths would have been necessary in each house of Parliament, and since the government coalition cannot provide that amount of votes, a narrow margin was expected. In Czech and Slovak parts of the House of Nations three votes would have been necessary for passing the law. In the House of People only one one vote is required. Newspaper headlines on Friday read: "Narrow Victory of Oposition" (Cesky denik - Czech Daily), "Coalition Overestimated its possibilities" (Svobodne slovo - Free Word), "Red Light for Extinction of CSFR" (Lidova demokracie - Peoples' Democracy). The recent political development may be due in part to the refusal of changes proposed by oposition. I. Fisera of the Czechoslovka Social Democratic Party (CSSD) proposed to affirm the termination of the republics by "confirming the referendum". The government coalition was more surprised by the fact that the Parliament accepted the proposal of M. Zeman (CSSD) to establish a commision for preparation of a Czecho-Slovak Union. Deputies from Czech leftist parties, Republicans and Movement for Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) voted in favor of the proposal. The Civic Democratic Party ODS party critisized the members of HZDS who voted for the referendum for violating previous agreements. The situation appeared to be serious. The Slovak government cancelled a meeting with the Czech government and suggested a new meeting between ODS and HZDS representatives. The Czech partner finally agreed and the session did not appear to be controversional. 7th Meeting of Delegations of ODS and HZDS (instead of meeting of governments) January 1, 1993, will mark the end of the Czecho-Slovak federation and the beginning of bilateral agreements between Czech and Slovak republics. Both delegations agreed that attempts to establish any union (like Mr. Zeman's proposal) are of no use. Various aspects of bilateral agreements between future independent states were discussed in a meeting between the representatives of ODS and HZDS on October 6 in Jihlava. Another meeting is scheduled for October 10 or 13 where both governments plan to negotiate the terms of future agreeements. Basic bilateral agreements should be passed by national councils in November and ratification of them will be completed on or before January 1, 1993. The outcome of the 7th meeting of the delegations was announced by Mr. V. Meciar (Slovak Prime Minister and HZDS leader) and Mr. V. Klaus (Czech Prime Minister and ODS leader). Both ensured journalists and viewers during a press conference on October 7 that they are aware of the responsibility they have before them. They also expressed hope that future relations between both republics will be beneficial for people living in both republics. Draft of Press Law Withdrawn by Federal Government As noted in our last issue, the draft of a new press law was critisized not only by professionals and mass media trade unions, but also by a number of members of parliament. On Wednesday, September 30, the Federal government took back the draft and decided not to offer a new one. Civic Movement (OH) Is a Party The Civic Movement (OH), one of successors of former Covic Forum (OF), has declared itself an official party in a convention held last weekend. The party also decided to cancel the collective free membership. The title will remain the same, and former Foreign Minister of the CSFR, Mr. Jiri Dienstbier, was re-elected to lead the party. Havel Supports a Direct Election of Czech President Former Czechoslovak president Vaclav Havel suggested a direct election for Czech president as opposed to the current system of referendum. He said this way of election should be inacted only for the first president and this would subsidise the referendum about a Czech independent state. The president has responsibilities other than government and should be elected by people other than by those who give the confidence to the government, he said. (The government is confirmed by the parliament, and the president is elected by parliament in Czechoslovakia). In a press conference last weekend, Mr. Havel did not exclude the non-constitutional vanishing of CSFR. States and republics are not created and dissolved according to valid constitutions, he said. Czechoslovakia has not been established according to constitution of Austrio-Hungarian monarchy of 1918. Restriction of Production in Skoda Company in Plzen Started Only 1200 emloyees of 5 enterprises of Skoda Company Plzen temporarily lost their jobs on October 1, though management originally announced that most of 21 enterprises of this machinery company would be closed (Carolina 42). According to negotiations between management and trade unions, all employees who lost their jobs during the period of non-voluntary vacations will get 60% of their income (trade unions demanded originally 100%) and cannot be terminated for 3 months after returning to work. Alexander Dubcek's Surgery A. Dubcek, who was seriously injured in a car accident on September 1, underwent emergency abdomen surgery. The surgery was completed without complication, though Mr. Dubcek's condition is still very serious with pneumonia. The Mayor of the Italian city of Bologna and two Italian doctors visited him on Thursday, October 1. The possibility of transfering the patient to Italy for complex surgery of spine was considered, but not accepted by Prague doctors because of his delicate state. Mr. Dubcek's sons asked for him to be tranfered to Brno, but this request was also denied. Abortion for 2500 to 3000 Czechoslovak Crowns (Kcs) On October 15 the Czechoslovak Ministry of Health announced a new regulation that would allow a Czechoslovak woman to receive an abortion for up to 3000 Kcc. The average month income in CSFR is 4297 Kcs. Abortion was performed free of charge until now. Czech gynecologic-obstetrical society will ask the Minister of Health to postpone the date for three months, in order to allow women to receive information about paid abortion and have opportunity to ask for contraception. Chairman of the Society, Professor L. Pilka said this is the only way the regulation may work as a tool of education and not as a punishment. According to Pilka, Czechoslovakia is has a low development for contraceptives use. Abortion is the leading form of birth control, with 80 abortions for every 100 born babies. Abortion due to health reasons will continue to be free of charge. This measure is sure to place increased pressure upon the doctors. WEATHER No changes in this last week. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. To subscribe Carolina please send to the address LISTSERV@CSEARN.BITNET the e-mail message with the text SUBSCRIBE CAR-ENG Name Surname for the english version or SUBSCRIBE CAR-CS Name Surname for the Czech version. To drop sending replace the text by SIGNOFF CAR-ENG or SIGNOFF CAR-CS and send it to the above address. The subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated.