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 91, Thursday, October 21, 1993. THIS WEEK'S NEWS (14.-21. Oktober) October 28 dispute between Republicans and Havel intensifies The Czech Republican Party dispute with President Vaclav Havel over celebrations on Wenceslas Square on October 28 is continuing. As reported in last week's CAROLINA, the far-right Republicans announced plans three months ago for a memorial demonstration October 28, the date of Czechoslovakia's founding in 1918. In the beginning of October, Havel said he, too, would visit the statue of Saint Wenceslas. Premier Vaclav Klaus and Milan Uhde, speaker of parliament announced their intent to be present. The Republican Party, saying it had reserved the space, threatened action against other politicians who came to the statue. "If Vaclav Havel comes as a civilian he can put a feast wreath on Saint Wenceslas's foot and venerate, while (Republican chief Miroslav) Sladek will be standing there," Jan Vik, Republican secretary said October 15. "But people who are going to be assaulted by the president's safeguard or other groups have every right to protect themselves." Vik also said that members of parliament will ask Jan Ruml, interior minister, for security. Social Democrats announced they would go with the president. "The CSSD's cabinet asked all democratic parties' representatives to attend with President Vaclac Havel at the Saint Wenceslas's monument celebration on October 28," said Minister Milos Zeman. An open telegram was sent to Vaclav Havel asking when and where should parliamentarians should be on October 28. Liberal Democrats (OH) and members of the Civil Democratic Alliance (ODA) also plan to attend. "ODA's representatives are planning on October 28 to come to Saint Wenceslas's statue regardless of the Republican's meeting," said party vice-chairman Daniel Kroupa. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic general prosecutor started is evaluating the Republican activities, according to prosecutor's deputy Pavel Bret, Rude Pravo reports. The prosecutor is also requesting a report on the demonstration's course and any conflict between Republicans and others. President Vaclav Havel announced that he is planning to celebrate the national feast twice so the enemies' conflict may not occur. First, in an official capacity, Havel, along with Primier Klaus, Speaker Uhde and others will lay a wreath at the monument on October 27. Havel will also visit the monument at 9 a.m., October 28. Civic Movement Picks Dienstbier The weekend congress of the Civic Movement party decided to change the party's name but keep its old chairman. Jiri Dienstbier will continue to head the party, the new name for which has yet to be selected. Tom Sokol was selected vice-chairman. The liberal democratic party's main aim is success in upcoming municipal elections. Even though Civic Movement failed to gain any seats in last year's election, the party is still active in Czech society. For example, Dienstbier, who was minister of foreign affairs under the first post-Communist government, retains a high popularity rating compared to other politicians. Liberal democrats criticize the goverment for trying to exert too much control and influence over various sectors of society. On the other hand, they praise the efforts of Josef Zieleniec, foreign minister, to assert his control over foreign affairs. Civic initiative against violence Stating that "Indifference and silence begin complicity," a new group hoping to foster greater tolerance in society formed October 7 in Prague. The Movement for Civic Solidarity and Tolerance (HOST) will fight against violence motivated by discrimination and prejudice. HOST is trying to inform people about unsolved problems like fascism, anti-semitism, hatred of national and ethnic minorities, sexism and homophobia. The initiators of the program feel it's important to make these problems visible. HOST plans to study individual cases of outbreaks of group violence, as well as reactions of the country's mass media and police. The group also hopes to provide legal protection to victims of discriminatory attacks and to put presssure on state authorities. According to a group organizer, Stanislav Penc, HOST is currently forming contacts in government and police circles, in hopes of obtaining information to monitor existing fascist groups in the Czech Republic. HOST would also like to acquire offices, and state financing for its activities, he said. Spokespersons for HOST are Petr Bergmann, actress Milena Dvorska, and director Vlastimil Venclik. Well-known figures such as Fedor Gal and Petr Uhl took part in forming the group. SLOVAK AFFAIRS Slovak Parties Sign Coalition Two Slovak parties -- the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) and the Slovak National Party (SNS) -- agreed Tuesday to form a coalition. The agreement, signed by party leaders Vladimir Meciar and Ludovit Cernak, solved a several-month stalemate between HZDS and SNS in the Slovak Parliament. The stalemate occurred after several parliament members defected from the Meciar-led HZDS, leaving it with insufficient support. The new coalition will control 80 out of 150 seats in the Slovak Parliament. According to an anonymous source, the chairman of the SNS parliamentary club, Marian Andel, is to be appointed new Slovak government deputy chairman for non-economic affairs, Jozef Prokes, of SNS, will become the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and SNS leader Cernak will be appointed deputy chairman of the Slovak parliament. Roman Kovac (HZDS), the present Slovak vice-premier, will become Minister of Health, and Jozef Moravcik will be the vice-premier of the Slovak government for legislation. Lubomir Feldek Fully Acquitted A regional law court in Bratislava fully acquitted the Slovak poet and writer Lubomir Feldek last week and dismissed an action brought against him by Dusan Slobodnik, Slovak Minister of Culture. Slobodnik demanded legal protection Feldek published a poem last year alluding to the minister's fascist past. Feldek also criticized Sloboidnik's appointment as Minister of Culture. The Bratislava court said it considers proven that Slobodnik was a member of the fascist Hlinka Youth at the end of World War II, and that he participated in a special SS course. Slobodnik was ordered to defray court costs, after having resorted to the courts several times. Slobodnik's attorney said claimed that he would appeal the case and he didn't rule out the possibility of taking it to the European Court in Strassbourg. Frequency 1 - A New Radio Station for Modern Listeners A private radio station, Frequency 1 (F1) began broadcasting on October 18. F1 is the second Czech-wide private radio. A six-year license, gained as a joint project of Europe 2 and Golem radio stations was granted F1 this March. According to Michael Fleischmann, the station will offer a quality news service (38 hours a week), music and "sophisticated entertainment". A morning bloc of F1 consists of various reports (every 15 minutes), sections called "Happened Indeed", "Slovakia on F1", "Stars Know, Stars Advice", telephone calls, comments and others. Broadcasters will include well-known Czech TV personalities Marie Tomsova and Hana Hermankova, singer Pavel Vitek, newscaster Michal Muckstein (originally with Europe 2) and a Slovak journalist Zuzana Bubilkova, who worked for the Czech TV until October. This new station can be tuned in on 102,5 FM in Prague, 104,5 in Brno and Pilsen and 93, 5 in Usti nad Labem. Czech Film Goers Sweat While Seeing Dinosaurs Director Steven Spielberg, despite an earlier announcement, didn't make it to the Prague primier of Jurassic Park, however, many Czech VIPs did, including President Vaclav Havel. (He liked it !) The film, T-shirts, cups, toys, cassettes and books are sure to make a lot of money in the Czech Republic. Arthur Hailey in the Czech Republic Bestselling author Arthur Hailey and his wife Sheila came to Prague on Oct. 18th. The author of novels that have sold 150 million copies and been translated into 38 languages was invited by Talpress Publishers, which published an autobiographical book by Sheila Hailey, "I Married a Bestseller," in Czech. It is the first visit of 73-year old Hailey to Prague. He told Mlada Fronta Dnes:" I've been following the history of your country since 1938 when I lived in England. I remember 1948, the year when you first got under Russian influence, as well as 1968, the year of the Russian military invasion." According to Sheila, who keeps her eye on Hailey's correspondence, most of the letters have so far came from Germany and the Czech Republic. The program of Hailey's visit is literally counted out into minutes. It consists of a lecture given at Philosophical Faculty of Charles University, a reception for Hailey by fellow author Vaclav Havel, and visits to the Skoda factory in Mlada Boleslav and to wine cellars in Southern Moravia. Hailey departs on Oct. 24th. Parlament Canceled the State Monopoly on Cinematography The state monopoly on cinematography, established by decrees of President Eduard Benes, ended October 15. So decided Czech parliamentarians, who passed a new law concerning conditions of production, circulation and archiving of audiovisual works. The rights and commitments of the one-time monopoly studios of Barrandov and Zlin are now passed over to the State Fund for the Support and Development of Cinematography. According to the law, producers will be now obliged to offer the National Film Archive two copies of every new film. At the same time, the copyright of the movies made between 1945-1990 will passed to the archive. However, Deputy Minister of Culture Michal Prokop (ODA) claimed that this in fact means a new state monopoly emerging after passing this new law. Parliament dropped a goverment proposal for a one-crown tax on every film or videocassette rented. However, according to the Czech Minister of Culture Jindrich Kabat, the Fund will thus lose half of its planned income for the next year. A one-crown tax on movie tickets passed. National Gallery Won't Lose Valuable Paintings A Prague judge has ruled that Vincent Kramar was not under political pressure when he donated his collection of paintings to the National Gallery in 1960. A Prague city judge upheld an earlier Prague 1 District Court ruling that the paintings were given freely. Kramar's children had filed a restitution claim, maintaining the donation was forced. Kramar's collection represents of valuable paintings from the workshops of Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Andre Derain, and others represents 30 percent of the Gallery's collection. Prague Bunkr To Close Having fought for its existence for more than a year, the rock club Bunkr must leave its current address within six months. The long-running conflict between Prague 1 representatives and negotiator Richard Nemcok ended October 18 with the decision of the Prague 1 District Court. Area residents, among others, petitioned for the club's closure. The club was warned by district authorities in August 1992 about disturbances of the peace both in the club and in nearby streets. Richard Nemcok signed an agreement with the housing authority in June, but the court ruled that the housing authority didn't have the right to sign the agreement. Prague was declared proprietor, and the six-month deadline set. During its three years of operation, this club, with the longest bar in Prague, has gained a considerable reputation. Both young Praguers and foreigners take advantage of the 6 a.m. closing time and many live concerts. The joining of a club with radio -- Radio 1 broadcasts from one floor up, and relays some club happenings -- can only be found in Prague or Amsterdam. While open, one could meet numerous renowned personlities there -- from President Vaclav Havel and Interior Minister Jan Ruml to the musical group Guns'n'Roses. Exchange Rates of CR National Bank (price rates) buy sell Britan GBP 41,79 44,63 France FRF 4,80 5,20 Canada CAD 21,05 22,83 Austria ATS 2,46 2,58 Germany DEM 17,20 18,12 USA USD 28,37 29,77 The exchange rates are valid since October 21. SPORT Sparta vs. Anderlecht 0:1 The Belgian team Anderlecht defeated Prague's Sparta 1-0 on Wednesday. The first soccer match of the second round European Champion Cup was played in Letna Stadium, with the winning goal coming in the 74th minute. Both teams assumed a devastating tempo, and several times Sparta dangerously reached the opposing team's goal. The same kind of luck was shared by Anderlecht. The game had a dramatic nature, and both teams played actively and energetically. The Belgians ruled the second half, as Sparta's strength waned. Sparta trainer Dobias was positive in the first half. In his oppinion, the players, although not without fault, gave their maximum. Boscamp, trainer of the Anderlecht team, believed in his charge's victory, and is satisfied with the outcome. Tennis: Czech Republic to Play Israel in First Round of Davis Cup A London defeat has put Czech players into the first round of the second-year Davis Cup. The contest will be March 25-27, in Israel. WEATHER Last weekend, it snowed in the mountains. In the valleys, heating began with briquettes recycled from old Czechoslovak money. A ton is available for 1400 Czech crowns. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. You can temporalily stop receiving of Carolna by sending the command: SET CAR-ENG NOMAIL The command should be sent to the address LISTSERV@CSEARN.BITNET