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.cz Fax: (+422) 24810987 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 114, Friday, April 15, 1994. EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (April 6-13) Seven Presidents to Gather in Litomysl The presidents of seven central European countries - Hungary, Germany, Poland, Austria, Slovenia, and the Slovak and Czech republics - are set to meet at an informal meeting April 15th - 16th in eastern Czech town of Litomysl. Plans for the meeting, held under the invitation of Czech President Vaclav Havel, were born during a similar meeting in July 1993. Meeting participants hope to create a favorable international climate in Central Europe region and to contribute to good relations between individual countries. No fundamental political negotiations nor agreements will come out of the meeting, Havel spokesman Ladislav Spacek said. According to the preliminary program, the presidents will hold common talks Friday afternoon and Saturday. During the summit, the presidents will tour the city and attend a performance of Bolek Polivka's play "The Fool and the Queen." Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus is scheduled to attend a festive dinner Friday as a guest of the conference. Katerina Czech Leader Meets Polish Counterparts in Poland with Waldemar Pawlak Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus met Sunday with Poland's Waldemar Pawlak on issues of mutual cooperation, payment of Polish debts to the Czech Republic, and possible membership of the Czechs and Poles in the European Union. The two met at the Polish castle Czocha, close to the Czech border. They agreed that the economic ministers of both countries will meet in the near future. Natalie Defamation of Government Law Partially Repealed The Czech Constitutional Court complied with President Vaclav Havel's demand that it reject a law prohibiting defamation of the government, parliament or high court. Havel called for the court to act last November, when he signed a package of new criminal laws that included the controversial measure. Havel could have refused to sign the law and sent it back to Parliament for more discussion, but didn't. (Please see Carolina issues 95 and 96.) Havel welcomed the judges action, saying it confirms the important role of the Constitutional Court in the Czech governmental system. However, the court ruling does not affect a similar section of the law dealing with defaming the president. Jiri Hanak, writing in Wednesday's Lidove Noviny, expressed disappointment that Havel didn't call on the court to void that measure. Arrests for defamation of the president and the republic were favorite repressive tactics of the communist regime, Hanak wrote. Radim Havel Signs Amendment to Labor Law Czech President Havel signed an amendment to the labor law April 6, (see Carolina issue 112), as was announced on the Sunday, April 10 radio program "Hovory z Lan" (Talks from Lany). However, the Castle told the wire agency CTK on Friday April 8 that Havel had yet to make a final decision on the bill. The date-fudging is explained by the fact that the presidential office prefers that Havel's talk concern not only general thoughts but also topical information which could be published in Monday's newspaper. Unions Meet, Elect New Chairman The Czech-Moravian Board of Trade Union Alliances (CMKOS) held its convention April 8 and 9 in Prague's Palace of Culture. It is the largest union central, made up of 3.5 million union workers in 38 unions. Nearly 1,500 delegates took part in choosing CKMOS bylaws, leadership and program. Richard Falbr, previously vice-chairman, was elected as the new chairman Friday night. He won 943 votes out of 1,362. After voting, he said that he must radicalize the union central. The previous chairman, Vladimir Petrus, was named honorary CMKOS chairman. On the first day of the convention, Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus addressed the delegates, telling them the government considers the union organization "an important element of our democratic society," putting the main emphasis on union influence in business. Klaus again criticized the March union demonstration (written about in Carolina 111), as several delegates whistled and shouted their disagreement. After thunderous discussion, new CMKOS bylaws were approved on the first day of the convention. After the vote, a few representatives of smaller associations, whose influence was decreased by the new rules, left the room. Conflict Over People's House Ends A conflict over ownership of the People's House on Hybernska Street in Prague between the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) and the Ministry of Finance ended in favor of CSSD. The District Court in Prague decided April 8 that the joint share holding group Cil, largely owned by CSSD, has rights to the house. The court rejected the Finance Ministry's contention that Cil was nationalized in 1948, and as a result, the People's House belongs to the state. Former Social Democrat chairman Josef Horak, who testified in court, was pleased with the verdict. But Finance Minister Miroslav Purkyne also said he was satisfied. Purkyne said he doesn't feel beaten, because the Ministry of Finance merely wanted to determine who the house's owner was. Conference of the People's Democratic Alliance Confirm the Status Quo In addition to economics, transformations in Czech society must have a deeper impact on the areas of education, housing and social politics, said Daniel Kroupa, vice-chairman of ODA, during a weekend coalition conference in Brno. The conference focused mainly on questions of security, pushing the Czech Republic's entrance into the EU and NATO, decentralizing state control, and supporting in the establishment of regional authorities. The last issue addressed was the cause of attitude polarization within the governmental coalition. Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec Lectures at Faculty of Law Josef Zieleniec spoke April 7 at the Faculty of Law on the delicate topic of Czech entry to European economic and security structures. Although Zieleniec did not deny the Czech Republic's goal to be the first former communist country to be admitted to Western organizations, he emphasized throughout his hour-long Czech Foreign Politics lecture the need for other Visegrad countries to be included. It is vitally important for Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and even Austria to be united in economic and security organizations, he said. Zieleniec also emphasized that NATO membership carries great obligations. Besides finances, there is the fact that "our soldiers may have to fight in a foreign country, in a seemingly foreign conflict," he said. In discussion, questions concerning foreign affairs dominated. When questioned about Russian opposition to central European countries being joining NATO, Zieleniec emphasized Czech independence. Anti-Romany Racism Called Worst in Czech and Slovak Republics The highest number of racially-motivated attacks against Romanies in the past few years took place in the former Czechoslovakia, said the president of the International Association of Romanies, Rajko Djuric, at a meeting of the association's presidium last week in Brno. The International Association of Romanies is a non-governmental organization associated with United Nations. It is making an effort to gain recognition of the Romany, or Gypsy, minority in 26 countries in which it operates. Currently, only Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Macedonia grant such recognition. The presidium called the United Nations to declare 1995 a Year of Peace, to call a peace conference in Sarajevo and to create a European peace prize named for Willy Brandt, the late former chancellor of West Germany. Viktor New Miss Czech Republic Chosen 20-year-old Brno university student Eva Kotulanova was chosen Miss Czech Republic April 9 in Brno. The first runner-up was 18-year-old Katerina Vondrova, a student from Lovosice, and second runner-up was 21-year-old Lenka Belickova, a chef from Karlovy Vary. The title of Miss Press 1994 belongs to Dagmar Vranova, a producer from Zlin. She won in a reader's competition from 13 Czech periodicals. More than 500 women from the republic competed for the title of beauty queen. The auction of crown, slippers, and sash of the new Miss brought about 313,000 Czech crowns. The money will be donated to the Foundation Against Breast Cancer for purchase of a mammograf machine. Eleven Million Crowns for Foundation called Children's Brains The Helena Mysakova Foundation has given more than 11 eleven million Czech crowns to Jindrich Vodicka, minister of Work and Social Affairs in order to support the organization Children's Brains. The money will be used to provide home treatment and to help family work with children, teenagers and other persons with disorders of the central nervous system. Helena Mysakova is very ill, and since April 6 has been receiving hospital treatment in a neurological clinic in Prague. Her husband and other relatives gained a former shop in Prague as part of the restitution program, but because of their old age they sold it and in 1992 they gave 6 million crowns to buy equipment for children's neurology, epileptic treatment, and to make the basis for Children's Brains. In the Czech Republic there are several tens of thousands of handicapped children. Private financial support helps them when money from medical services and health insurances are not enough. The couple made that donation with the term that they remain anonymous. Only now did Mysakova agree to release of their names and the proposal that financial support will be named after her husband. Fatema Interest in Charles University Study Steady Interest in studying at the Charles University stayed at the same level as last year, so the university decided to accept 5 percent more students over 1993. The university cannot accept more students due to lack of audience halls and funding, which it will receive from the national budget. Karel Maly, rector of Charles University, said the biggest interest is in the Philosophical Faculty of Charles University. Last year 4,823 people applied for it, compared to 7,500 this year. Almost the same amount of interest was shown in the Pedagogical Faculty. On the contrary, the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University (FSV UK) received of 500 applications less than the other faculties, where approximately every tenth applicant was admitted in 1993. The main difficulty being accepted at FSV UK will be for students wishing to study journalism. The school received 780 applications for 55 places. This old and famous university celebrated April 7 the anniversary of foundation in 1348. Fatema Vaclav Wallis Sentenced Vaclav Wallis, a former employee of the national security and counter-espionage services was sentenced by the Parliamentary Court April 8 to 37 months in prison. Wallis was convicted of illegally selling information to Victor Kozeny, president of Harvard privatization funds. The security agencies had asked for especially stern punishment, but the court ruled that the crimes did not cause significant damage to the agencies. Wallis has been in prison 14 months. Evzen Deadly accident involves 50 cars Heavy fog and eight centimeters of fresh snow lead to a fatal late-morning accident on the Prague-Brno motorway April 11 involving nearly 50 vehicles. Two people were killed, five severely injured and many slightly injured in the pile-up of 48 cars and trucks ended with light injuries. Towing services were pulling away demolished cars until four hours after the crash. The accident happened shortly after 11 a.m. 15 kilometers from Prague. Police are examining the cause of the accident but according to the information from the scene a truck skidded and other cars crashed into it. Repairs on Old Town's Horlogue According to Michaela Kucharova, press assistant to Prague's major, general repairs on the Old Town Horlogue, the ancient clock in the center of Prague, will last from April 5 to June 30. Hainz, Czech Watch Firm, has been caring for the monument since 1865. After seven years, academic painters will renovate the facade. The final reconstruction of the Old Town's Town Hall should also finish along with the repairs of the horlogue so that it will be open to tourists in the tourism season. Sofi CULTURE Honored Milan Kundera Is Impossible To Be Caught Last week, author Milan Kundera marked his 65th birthday, as usual, away from the public eye. But a review of his work is still in order. Kundera was born in April 1, 1929, in Brno. After the high school he graduated from the Film Faculty of the Academy of Art in Prague where he started in 1952 to give lectures on world literature, writing the book of essays "The Art of the Novel," while there. He debuted his literature work with his book of poems "Monologs" in the fifties and went on with the novel "The Joke," and the book of stories "Laughable Loves." His dramas "The Owners of Keys" and "Jacques and His Master" were performed in theaters but these were the last things he did in Czechoslovakia. In 1970, he lost his job, and emigrated to France, losing his Czech citizenship. The new country accepted him. Kundera became a university professor of the world literature and continued his literary work. He wrote the novels "Life Is Elswhere," "A Farewell Party," "The Book of Laughter and Forgetting," and "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," which was made into a film in America. His most recent novel is "Immortality." Unlikely a number of Czech writers living abroad, Kundera did not return to his home country after the revolution. His latest works are written in French and then translated into Czech and other languages. Kundera is probably the best-known Czech writer abroad and his work is well discussed. He himself says: "The only thing I care about from all I wrote are my novels." Zuzana/Zuzana Spanish Opera Stars in Prague The famous Jose Carreras, tenor, and Montserrat Caballe, sopranist, both from the world of Spanish opera, will perform in the exclusive Maj concert in Prague's Rudolfinum. Carrera and Caballe will perform melodies from Gaetan Donizettih's, Giocchin Rossini's and Guiseppe Verdi's operas and other opera melodies. Tickets will cost about 1,OOO Czech crowns, according to information. Aram ECONOMICS Stock Exchange Marks First Year The Prague Stock Exchange celebrated its first year Wednesday, April 6. The year saw 70 trading periods with 54 billions Czech crowns traded. The share of direct deals is 69 percent, which is 36 billion crowns, and buying in the central market represented 16 billions. There are now 1,007 stocks offered. Best performers of the year included Ceska sporitelna, CS First Boston, Komercni banka, Raxer and Komero. Fight For the Coupons Starts The most important part of the second wave of coupon privatization, when people and funds book shares of companies, started Monday, April 11. During the second round investors can choose a stake in 861 companies. Stock Exchange Report Between March 31 and April 12, total selling was 2 billion Czech crowns, with a high April 7 of 720.5 million crowns. On April 7, began the official stock exchange list, commemorating one year of existence of the stock exchange. Its name is "PX 50", i.e. Prague Index 50. There are 50 shares on it, the ones most often traded. These 50 shares represent about 92 per cent of total trading on Prague's stock exchange. EXCHAGE RATES OF THE CZECH NATIONAL BANK (valid from April 14) CHECKS CASH country Buy Sell Middle Buy Sell ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia 1 AUD 21.428 21.644 21.536 20.47 22.61 Belgium 100 BEF 84.110 84.956 84.533 81.83 87.23 Great Britain 1 GBP 43.792 44.232 44.012 42.59 45.43 Denmark 1 DKK 4.420 4.464 4.442 4.24 4.64 Finland 1 FIM 5.381 5.435 5.408 4.91 5.91 France 1 FRF 5.061 5.111 5.086 4.89 5.29 Ireland 1 IEP 42.301 42.727 42.514 40.51 44.51 Italy 1000 ITL 18.129 18.311 18.220 17.45 18.99 Japan 100 JPY 28.686 28.974 28.830 27.53 30.13 Canada 1 CAD 21.587 21.803 21.695 20.81 22.59 Luxemburg 100 LUF 84.110 84.956 84.533 81.53 87.53 Netherland 1 NLG 15.412 15.566 15.489 15.01 15.97 Norway 1 NOK 3.995 4.035 4.015 3.87 4.17 New Zealand 1 NZD 16.866 17.036 16.951 16.20 17.70 Portugal 100 PTE 16.964 17.134 17.049 15.87 18.23 Austria 1 ATS 2.459 2.483 2.471 2.41 2.53 Greece 100 GRD 11.818 11.936 11.877 11.17 12.59 Germany 1 DEM 17.290 17.464 17.377 16.92 17.84 Spain 100 ESP 21.371 21.585 21.478 20.48 22.48 Sweden 1 SEK 3.757 3.795 3.776 3.62 3.94 Switzerland 1 CHF 20.564 20.770 20.667 20.17 21.17 USA 1 USD 29.704 30.002 29.853 29.15 30.55 EC-ECU 1 XEU 33.500 33.836 33.668 -- -- IMF-SDR 1 XDR 41.509 41.927 41.718 -- -- Slovakia 1 XCU -- -- 33.668 -- -- SPORT Olomouc Is The Winner Of The Hockey League For the first time, Olomouc has won the first league. Even though in the first part their team was in seventh place, they won the play-off. The last match was played on Monday, April 11th against the team from Pardubice. Olomouc beat them 2 to 1. The champion team coach Josef Augusta said he started believing in victory "just four second before the end." 2Oth Round Of The Soccer League First-place Sparta Praha gained two points in Vitkovice, but the victory was very lucky. Second-place Slavia Praha beat dangerous Banik Ostrava 1:0, and moved from the third Ceske Budejovice, which lost to Viktorie Zizkov. The others results are: surprisingly high victory of Slovan Liberec over Bohemians Praha (4:0) and Viktorie Plzen over Svit Zlin (4:1), while the loss of Dukla was predictable. Dukla Praha - Petra Drnovice 0:2, Sigma Olomouc - nion Cheb 1:1, SKP Hradec Kralove - Boby Brno 1:0. 21st round Of The Soccer League The most attractive match was undoubtedly the "derby" of the Prague's "S". Ten thousand spectators could see Slavia leading, but after that because of better experience and well-shooting Horst Siegel Sparta change the score to 4:1 and moved forward to the title. Clear enough is the situation in the back of the race, with Vitkovice loosing seven points and Dukla Praha twelve. Bohemians Praha - Viktoria Plzen 0:0, Banik Ostrava - Slovan Liberec 2:0, Union Cheb - Dukla Praha 2:1, SKP Hradec Kralove - Viktoria Zizkov 3:2, Svit Zlin - Ceske Budejovice 1:0, Boby Brno - Sigma Olomouc 0:1, Petra Drnovice - Vitkovice 2:0. WEATHER This week we got back into winter with cloudy skies, heavy rains and a bit of snow. Daytime temperatures were between 5 and 9 degrees centigrades and by night slightly over zero. Sofi ====================================================================== Student Electronic News METLICE Presents: Metlice is distributed by means of the Internet computer network. 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