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 STUDENTS' E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECH REPUBLIC School of Social Sciences of Charles University Smetanovo nabr. 6 110 01 Prague 1 Czech Republic e-mail address: carolina@n.fsv.cuni.cs *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 57, Friday, January 8, 1993. Dear Readers, just before distributing this issue of Carolina, we attempted to correct the heading of our weekly. A question arose, what address to name for postal contacts, also to answer your frequent inquirires. We phoned CTK (Czech Press Bureau) and asked for the official English name of our republic, as well as for an abbreviation to replace the former CSFR. Only at the fourth attempt we ascertained definitively that Ceska republika is Czech Republic, but that no abbreviation has been adopted yet. Accordingly, we recommend to include the whole name in the address. At the same time, we would like to draw your attention to a change in our e-mail address to which you can write to us: carolina@n.fsv.cuni.cs We wish you all the happiness in year 1993. Editors. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FROM THE EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK (Dec. 30, 1992 to Jan. 6, 1993) With The Split Of Czechoslovakia, Europe Has One More Country After more than 74 years of existence, Czechoslovakia ceased to exist, and two independent subjects were born on its territory on January 1, 1993. Czech Republic has a population of about 10,305,000, ranking 14th among European countries. Its territory measures 78,862 square kilometres, placing it on the 22nd rung in Europe (following Austria). Slovak Republic, with more than five million inhabitants, is 22nd in Europe, and by area of 49,014 square kilometres, it is 27th. The two states are separated by a border 265 kilometres long, along which the customs officers started to check passing vehicles on January 1st. Relations between Czech and Slovak Republic are regulated by 25 treaties, starting January 1. Slovakia Rejoiced One minute before New Year's midnight, the Czechoslovak flag was lowered from the Bratislava Castle. By the stroke of midnight, the flag of the independent Slovak Republic was hoisted to the sounds of the Slovak national anthem. This is the beginning of the Monday report by the Czech Daily (Cesky Denik) on the celebrations of Slovak independence. The deputies of the National Council of SR welcomed the independence by a New Year's ceremonial session on which its chairman Ivan Gasparovic declared that it is in the interests of Slovakia to maintain friendly relations with the Czechs. Youth Front Today (Mlada Fronta Dnes), in its Monday issue, brings reports from Bratislava and Kosice, under the headline Slovakia Rejoices But a Tough Year Is Ahead. The paper writes that according to Premier Vladimir Meciar's New Year's speech on television, it is necessary to draw a thick line after the past. Coming to terms with the past, he said, should have the character of atonement. He emphasized: "This atonement does not mean forgetting, consequently no political space will be made for the return of old former power holders to political and state powers." Mlada Fronta Dnes reports that estimates of the turnout on the celebration in the Slovak National Uprising Square spread from 10 to 30 thousand. The Birth of the Czech State The sound of the state anthem of the Czech Republic marked the opening of a ceremonial session of the House of Deputies of the Czech Parliament of CR, which took place on Friday, January 1, in the Vladislav Hall of the Prague Castle. According to the Constitution of CR, which came into effect on January 1 of this year, the Parliament is the highest legislative assembly of the republic. It consists of the House of deputies, whose members are all 200 deputied of the former Czech National Council, and of the Senate which has yet to be filled. After the anthem, the Chairman of the House of Deputies MilanUhde and Premier Vaclav Klaus gave ceremonial speeches. "The Czech Governmental Coalition, as it arose from the June elections, did not see its mission as a negative task, as a task to destroy something, but rather saw it as a positive task. We had to demonstrate that even a painful matter such as splitting a state, of which especially we Czechs have grown so fond, can be approached in a civilized, cultured manner, and it need not at all lead to building a Chinese Wall from Jablunkov to Breclav. That it is possible as well as bilaterally advantageous to preserve, under different conditions, a maximum of bonds which have developed during more than seventy years of the existence of the Czechoslovak state," said Vaclav Klaus in his speech. Absent from the session were all deputies from the Association for the Republic - The Republican Party of Czechoslovakia. This way they protested against the splitting of the federation. Members of the former Federal Assembly, who were elected in the Czech Republic, Ministers of the Czech Government, and members of the Prague Diplomatic Corps were present as guests at the session. Among the guests were also former Czechoslovak President Vaclav Havel, and the Archbishop of Prague, Miloslav Vlk. New Republics Recognized by Scores of Countries Scores of countries that have recognized CR and SR include all neighbouring countries and the states of the European Community. As of January 6, according to the information gathered by CTK, CR has been recognized by 76 countries and SR by 72 countries. Investigation of the Consulate Bugging Device Case Continues The investigation of the bugging case at the American Consulate in Bratislava, which was reported in Carolina Nb. 53, has not concluded yet. Former federal deputy minister of the interior S. Lastovka said that future investigation will be exclusively in the competence of the Slovak Republic. The case will be taken over by the martial region prosecution in Bratislava. During the investigation, it was allegedly revealed how large a part of the installation of the device was that of the former State Security. Two New Czech Ministers on the Verge of the Year The last federal premier Jan Strasky (Civic Democratic Party) became the Minister of Transport, and the member of his former Cabinet, Antonin Baudys (Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak Folk Party) became the Minister of Defence. According to Slovak premier Vladimir Meciar, is it not possible to appoint the Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic yet because this right belongs to the competence of the future President of the Slovak Republic. CULTURE Czech Coronation Jewels After the festive meeting of the Deputy Chamber of Czech Parliament on Friday, January 1, its members and guests had a chance to see the coronation jewels in the St. Vitus' Chaple in the St. Vitus' Cathedral. All seven keepers of the keys were present at the opening of the crown chamber and the removal of the jewels: chairman of the Deputy Chamber Milan Uhde, Czech premier Vaclav Klaus, general vicar forane of the Prague Archdiccese bishop Jaroslav Skarvada, Lord Major Milan Kondr, the head of the Office of the President of the Republic Lubos Dobrovsky and Prague archbishop Miloslav Vlk. The seventh key belonged to the Chairman of the Federal Assembly. The coronation jewels will be prepared for the public by the conservationists probably for a period of just ten days during the second half of January, due to security reasons. The last time the jewels were available for public viewing was 14 years ago at an exhibition devoted to the great personality of the Czech history, King Charles IV. Singing Fountain Rejoiced It was for the first time when Krizik's fountain at the Prague Exhibition Grounds performed a great colorful water show playing the Christmas carols on that Eve. Smetana's symphony Vltava, Anthem of the Czech Republic, and the poems of Czech poet Jiri Zacek were heard as well. Foundation Generation Presents Itself Association of Czech graphic artists HOLLAR in cooperation with the National Gallery in Prague opened on January 6 an exhibition with a title Foundation Generation SCUG HOLLAR 1918-1938. Exchange rate of the Czechoslovak Crown Purchase Sale USA 1USD 28.40 29.80 BRD 1DEM 17.31 18.23 GB 1GBP 42.32 45.46 AUT 1ATS 2.47 2.59 FRA 1FRF 5.05 5.37 The rates are as of January 6,1993. SPORT Silver for The Czech Republic On December 30 at the ski-jump competition Intersportturne in Oberstdorf, Czechoslovakia was for the first time in its post-war history represented by two independent teams. For the Czech Republic there were Jiri Parma, Jaroslav Sakala, Silvestr Mikulastik and Frantisek Jez. Slovak part was represented by Martin Svagerko and Miloslav Lepko. The best result in our team in the third competition of the 41st year of Intersportturne was achieved on January 3, in Insbruck by Jaroslav Sakala who took second place. WEATHER While still at the beginning of this week, the thermometer kept dropping below zero, sometimes to 20 degrees below zero. On Wednesday it was raining (at least in Prague) and freezing drops on the roads and pavements made them shinny and slippery for pedestrians and cars. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. The subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated. Send them please to the address: carolina@n.fsv.cuni.cs To subscribe to CAROLINA you send an e-mail message to the address LISTSERV@CSEARN.BITNET. The text of the message is: SUBSCRIBE CAR-ENG First name Last name for the English version or SUBSCRIBE CAR-CS First name Last name for the Czech version. To delete your subscription from the list you send the following message to LISTSERV: SIGNOFF CAR-ENG or SIGNOFF CAR-CS