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 Fax: (+422) 231 7391 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 90, Thursday, October 14, 1993. FROM THE EVENTS OF RECENT DAYS (October 6-14) Havel Speaks on Czech Republic joining NATO Czech President Vaclav Havel said the Czech Republic "naturally shares all the values defended by NATO," and supports "all the basic values of Euro-american civilization." The October 12 speech to parliament outlined the reasons for the Czech Republic possibly becoming a member of the NATO, according to the daily Svobodne Slovo. Havel said that if NATO is to remain functional, it cannot be opened to all at once. "Europe does not need a NATO boundless, vast, inflexible, motley and therefore unstable," Havel said. This does not mean, however, that the gates of NATO should remain closed to post-communist countries building their new democracies and market economies, Havel said. "Membership in NATO is not only a ticket to take shelter under a protective umbrella held by someone else but also a commitment, an application for freedom and democracy and a willingness to make sacrifices to their protection," Havel said. Responses to the speech varied. While Jaroslav Ortman of the Left Bloc is firmly against the Czech Republic joining any military grouping, Pavel Hirs, chief of the National Socialist Liberal Party, said that NATO now has a chance to create a stable Europe. Czech Minister of Defence Antonin Baudys refused to discuss the speech of because he was not consulted in advance. Minister of Foreign Affairs Josef Zieleniec emphasized that no alliance can guarantee freedom of the Czech Republic and that its citizens must be prepared to defend it at any time. However, he also declined to comment on the speech, saying he needed to "better familiarize myself with the address." Age of Child Now Sets Amount of Allowance After stormy debate, the Chamber of Deputies passed a government proposal changing the system of allowance for children on October 13. Before, the goverment paid 310 crowns for one child, 870 for two, 1,510 for three and 2,120 for four, increasing by 450 for each child. Under the new law, the Czech goverment will pay 340 crowns for children age 1-6, 380 for children 6-10, 450 for age 10-15, and 490 for every child older than 15. In most cases, this represents an increase in the allowance. However, if the former system is more advantageous for a family with more small children, it can be preserved. This new system will be valid until the end of 1994. After that, the Czech Goverment wants to propose a new way of paying the child allowance according to each case. Another Argument of the Republicans with Vaclav Havel - This Time About the Celebration of October 28th. "All right, let him come there...in the dark", said Miroslav Sladek, chief of the far-right Republican Party at a press conference on October 7, addressing his words to Czech President Vaclav Havel. "But we reserved this place and whoever else comes there violates the law and we will enter an action against him." This is the latest flap between Havel and the Republicans, and it concerns celebrations under the statue of St. Wenceslas on Wenceslas Square. On July 21, the Republicans announced their intention to organize a celebration on October 28, the date Czechoslovakia was founded in 1918. According to a 1990 law, whoever announces his intention to organize a celebration first has the chosen area at his disposal. When Havel expressed his wish to lay a wreath of flowers in front of the statue of St. Wenceslas the on-going feud re-emerged. "No one, not even Mr. Sladek, will prevent me or anyone else from visiting this place," Havel said during a live broadcast on Czech radio. Presidential spokesman Ladislav Spacek told Mlada Fronta Dnes that Havel will be joined by Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus and Milan Uhde, chairman of the Czech Parliament. Spacek did not deny that the official goverment celebration might take place October 27. During an October 10 press conference, Vaclav Klaus and Prague Town Mayor Jan Koukal said that in the future it will be necessary to adjust the law. Validity of Travel Dokuments Citizens carrying old Czechoslovak passports can have until the end of 1994 to have them converted, free of charge, to Czech Republic passports. This will ensure validity after Jan. 1, 1995, when it will no longer be possible to travel abroad with unmarked passports. Each person, or his legal representative, must present his own application for the newly-marked travel dokuments. He must be able to prove Czech citizenship, as marked in either his citizen's, or old travel passports. Stricter Regulations for Premature Retirement The Czech government approved a new law concerning early retirement at an October 6 meeting. People finishing 25 years of work, due to retire in 2 years, will be eligible to collect pensions. The appplicant must be registered half-a-year as unemployed at a labor office. For a maximum of two years, retirees would collect 300-500 crowns less than a normal pension. This applies to men over 60, and childless women of more than 55 years. Customarily, world-wide procedure dictates that in collecting early retirement the pensioneer receives a slightly lower payment. Some professionals are angry with the government's law. In their opinion, it would prove most advantageous for the state to pay early retirement to the unemployed, and to help re-adjust younger workers. Obtaining Czech Citizenship To Be Easier Parliament ammended the state citizenship law October 12, simplifying for certain groups of residents, the process of obtaining Czech citizenship. The change mainly affects Slovak citizens permanently living in the Czech Republic, and those who were born before Dec. 12, 1939, in Slovakia, but have at least one Czech-born parent. The new law shortens the drawn-out administrative procedure for elderly citizens. Newly covered by the law are adopted children. Children placed in the Czech Republic are entitled to Czech citizenship if at least one of their adoptive parents is a Czech citizen. Other children keep their original citizenship until age 15, when they can legally choose a new nationality. Some criminals from Slovakia get a break under the new law. While serving prison time, they complete the five-year requisite term on Czech soil, and after release, obtain citizenship upon application. Another unanswered question lies in the so-called Volin Czechs. These are people, who over 80 years ago moved to a town called Volin, near Chernobyl, in the Ukraine. Though their language is nearly a century old, they have remained in their traditions and beliefs steadfastly Czech. Now, because of the recent nuclear disaster, they are coming back, and the government must make a decision about catagorizing their citizenship. Czech Relationships With Their Country A new study shows that 29 percent of Czech citizens were ashamed of their nationality. However, than a fourth, 27 percent, were proud of their country. These were the results of an investigation run in September by the Research Institute of Public Opinion (RIPO). The survey included 763 respondents 15 years or older. According to the survey, interaction with foreigners humbled 4 percent of citizens. The same percent was ashamed of robbery of foreigners and when comparing lifestyles. Seven percent felt pride in Czech sports accomplishments, six percent in relation with the independence of the republic, and a like amount for personal reasons. Three percent of Czechs feel pride regardless of problems. Compared to the 1992 RIPO survey, feelings of shame have fallen from 45 percent to 29 percent. FROM SLOVAKIA Czech MPs in Slovakia A delegation of the Czech Parliament led by Speaker Milan Uhde paid an official visit to the Slovak Republic October 10, the first such visit by Czech parliamentarians. They met in the Slovak National Council in Bratislava, where Uhde met with representatives of the Slovak Parliament. In the afternoon, the delegation met Slovak President Michel Kovac. The main themes of discussion were about amending the payment agreement between the two republics and the work of the border commission. Chairman of the Slovak National Council, Ivan Gasparovic, touched upon problems of dual citizenship, but the Czech side opposed such proposals. International jazz festival Prague's annual international winter jazz festival is being readied by Czech musical agencies Pragoconcert and Arta and also by renowned musical critics. The festival will be November 5-7. Although the schedule conflicts with a more famous jazz show in Maastricht, Belgium, a number of musicians opted for the Prague event. The festival, in the famous Lucerna Hall, will feature, in addition to many Czech jazzmen, the famous Ornette Coleman, the 63-year-old founder of free jazz. Coleman's group includes guitarist Mike Stern and trumpeter Lester Bowie accompaniment. The budget for the festival grew to 3.5 million Czech crowns due to higher transportation and lodging expenses and royalties. Ten sponsor's helped with expenses. The festival, hosted by Czech Republic Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, is open to jazz enthusiasts world wide. Ota Sklencka died Ota Sklencka, an actor with the Theater in Vinohrady and member of Prague's City Theatres and the Realistic Theater, died October 10 at the age of 73. Exchange Rates of CR National Bank (price rates) buy sell Britan GBP 42,10 44,94 France FRF 4,88 5,28 Canada CAD 20,60 22,38 Austria ATS 2,48 2,60 Germany DEM 17,38 18,30 USA USD 27,85 29,25 The exchange rates are valid since October 14. SPORT Pardubice Steeplechase held without disruption The winner of the 103rd Pardubice Great Steeplechase in Pardubice was the brown 9-years-old Rigoletto with his rider Stencl. Rigoletto, the only horse to cross the finish line in the October 10 race, netted a 500,000 crown prize for his owners. Unlike last year's violent clashes between animal rights demonstrators and police, this year's event was peaceful. A demonstration before the drew 1,000 people, mainly from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria. SOS Animal Foundation delegate Petr Bergmann gave an appeal on animal abuse to Agriculture Minister Josef Lux, and asked for an end to the Great Pardubice Race and racing sports in general. Due to the withdrawal of four horses, two by the veterinary commission for medical reasons, only nine horses started the race. This year's course was modified according to demands of the the World's Animal Protection organization and the Czech Animal Protection committee. Still, six horses didn pass the hurdles. A number of horses were blocked when the Russian horse Dogovor with Truscenkem failed to pass. The audience's applause and the fair-play prize were given to the rider Matysik for dismounting his injured horse Farada 150 meters before the finish line. FORECAST Winter is playing games with us. In spite of earlier cold October weather, temperatures between 16- and 20-degrees celsius returned. Occasionaly a little rain surprises, but most of the time Prague has sunshine and light clouds, like the idyllic photographs of Karel Plicky. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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@CSEARN.BITNET: SIGNOFF CAR-ENG or SIGNOFF CAR-CS Please, don't send automatic replies to our list. 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