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 92, Wednesday, October 27, 1993. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (from October 21-27) Klaus Satisfied With Visit to America and Germany The Czech Republic has acquired a good reputation abroad, being seen as a stable country which is a model of a post-communist state's successful transformation. So says Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, according to Cesky Denik, reporting on his return October 24 from a 10-day visit to the United States, Guatemala, Mexico, and Germany. Klaus, who noted the similarity between Czech and Mexican economic reforms, said a preliminary agreement on establishing free trade between countries was on of the trip's most important results. According to Klaus, the agreement would be a breakthrough in relations between Europe and American countries. Karel Maly Voted New Rector of Charles University The Charles University will have a new rector beginning in February, 1994, Karel Maly will replace Radim Palous as head of the Czech Republic's leading university. The University's Academic Senate selected Maly in a secret ballot October 22. Of the 65 votes cast, 40 were for Maly. Maly, who was born in 1930, is currently vice-rector of science and research, director of the Institute of Legal History, and head of the Higher Education Advisory Council. A member of the Communist Party from 1961 to 1968, he has since then been uninvolved in partisan politics. He speaks German, Russian, French, and some English. Maly is married and has a son. Maly's rival for the post was Cyril Hoschl. Asked by Lidove Noviny whether he would care to name Hoschl a member of his advisory board, Maly said, "I would be glad if he were (a member), but he declined. He would like to continue as dean of Charles University's third Medical Faculty." Radim Palous was not a candidate because a rector is limited to two consecutive terms. Jiri Hajek, Former Czechoslovak Foriegn Minister, Dies Jiri Hajek, former Czechoslovak Foreign Minister, died October 22 at the age of 80. Hajek received worldwide attention when he spoke against the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 before the Univet Nation's Security Council. Hajek was one of the founders of the human-rights monitoring group Charter 77. Slovak Gold Stays For Now in Czech Republic As the result of a favorable shift in talks, the Czech and Slovak republics may soon sign agreements dividing budget deficits left over from the former Czechoslovak federal government, according to Czech Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik and Slovak Finance Minister Julius Toth. The ministers, who met October 24 in Brno, also made progress toward eliminating highway tariffs. However, said Kocarnik, the National Banking Commission has not made great progress in allocating debt from the division of the Czechoslovak National Bank. Slovakia has maintained that it is responsible for a third of the total. The Czech side argues that four tons of Slovak gold and one-third of the Slovak share in former federal material reserves, will remain in the Czech Republic until Slovakia recognizes its debt, which could come to more than 24 million crowns. The two sides are considering appointing a new commission to advance the stalled negotiations. Tuition for University May Start Next Year Starting next year, university students in the Czech Republic should pay tuition, according to Ivan Pilip, education minister. The fees should apply only to first-year students because older students started their education under other rules, Pilip said. Under the proposal, a system of support for students would keep fees lower than 10,000 crowns. Tuition could be paid either at the beginning of the semester or for the whole school year. Needy students would also have the ability to take out long-term, low-interest loans. The tuition law shouldn't prevent anyone from studying, Pilip said. Vladimir Dlouhy still most trustworthy Minister of Industry and Business Vladimir Dlouhy of the Civic Democratic Alliance retains his months-long hold on the people's trust. In surveys, Dlouhy is rated ahead of all other politicians, including Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus and President Vaclav Havel. The survey was conducted by the Insoma research firm. Economics Minister, Karel Dyba, Chats With University Students The Club of Young Conservatives organized a meeting between Economics Minister Karel Dyba and Charles University students October 21. About 100 people attended the meeting at the School of Social Sciences in which Dyba (also a lecturer for the school) summerized statements made last week by Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus. (While meeting with Pilsen residents, Klaus proclaimed that economic reform has, in essence, finished. "It's like a person who had a broken leg.", he expanded the next day. "Now it has healed, but he must still strengthen it.") Dyba also complained about his experience with the press, criticizing journalists for requesting interviews without being prepared and for taking things out of context. AIDS in the Czech Republic AIDS has hit the Czech Republic, with 163 cases of people with HIV were reported, 45 cases of AIDS, and 27 deaths, according to health statistics through September. More than 70 percent of the cases were casued by heterosexual contact. Of the 163 ill people, there are 146 men and 17 women. Twenty-nine of the cases are among people 20-24 years old, and 31 of the cases are among those 30-34 years old. Most of the HIV-positive people, 105, live in Prague. Thirteen cases are reported in the surrounding area, and 11 cases in southern Bohemia. According to experts, between 2,000 and 3,000 people in the Czech Republic are probably HIV-positive. The Ministry of Finance is about to give 25 million crowns to 30 people with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The people, who will receive 750,000 crowns each, got the virus from blood transfusions before 1987. The ministry is keeping a 3.5 million crown reserve for any other person with the same case. A spokesman for the Prague hospital testing blood said that since 1986 no cases of HIV infection through blood transfusions have occurred. He also denied that there were any cases of infection through medical facilities. On October 7. Lucerna Film-Gama released a French film titled "Night of the Beasts." The film is an autobiographical story of the musician, singer, painter, author, actor and producer Cyril Collard, who died of AIDS 3 days before the critics awarded him four Ceasars, including one for best film. A book called "How to Avoid AIDS," written by former basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson was published in Czech this year. The book was first published in New York in 1992. Exchange Rates of CR National Bank (price rates) buy sell Britan GBP 42,23 44,07 France FRF 4,82 5,22 Canada CAD 21,59 23,37 Austria ATS 2,44 2,56 Germany DEM 17,09 18,01 USA USD 28,68 30,08 The exchange rates are valid since October 26. FORECAST Since last weak, autumn has definitely shown its face. According to folk on Simona and Judy holiday we will have to take our coats out of the loft, which means that cold autumn is present. Temperatures are little bit above zero, rains are still frequent, mists and cold wind are coming and going. So, the weather leaves us no other option but to take our coats, because cold days have arrived and autumn is behaving the same way as in a Jiri Grossmann song. If we, who are often waiting in train platforms, don't appreciate autumn's coming, we will face lots of difficulties. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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