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 135, Friday, November 4, 1994. EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (October 19 to November 2) Havel Marks October 28 With Flowers at St. Wenceslas Statue Vaclav Havel and Prague Mayor Jan Koukal placed bouquets at the foot of Prague's statue of St. Wenceslas October 28 to mark the anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia in 1918. The small ceremony was witnessed by about 100 citizens. Afterewards, Havel said the calm atmosphere was a dignified celebration of the national holiday, which remembers independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Last year, Havel's visit to the statue clashed with the planned demonstration of Miroslav Sladek's right-wing Republican Party. In the first courtyard of the Prague Castle, accompanied by Defense Minister Vilem Holan, Havel he took part in the swearing in of 150 Castle Guard soldiers. In the afternoon, Havel and his wife Olga strolled in the southern gardens of Prague Castle and in the evening attended a festive concert in the Vladislav Hall and a reception in the Spanish Hall of Prague Castle. In the morning, wreaths were laid by delegations of the Civic Democratic Alliance, headed by Jan Kalvoda, the Social Democrats, led by Milos Zeman, and the Free Democrats, headed by former foreign affairs minister Jiri Dienstbier. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus's Civic Democratic Party did not send anybody to the statue officially, as Mayor Koukal, of Civic Democratic Party, accompanied the President as the capital city representative. Stepanka Kucerova/Jiri Schneider Three Hospitalized After the Republican demonstration Several people were injured following clashes between anarchists and skinheads following a demonstration of the far-right Union for the Republic-Republican Party of Czechoslovakia. The first violence between anarchists from the Anti-Fascist League and supporters of the Republican Party occured in Celetna Street shortly after the demonstration began. Miroslav Sladek, chairman of the Republican Party, gave a two-hour speech during the demonstration in the Old Town Square October 28 marking the birth of Czechoslovakia. Nova-TV reporter Marek Vitek was beaten by bodyguards of Sladek at the demonstration. He was hospitalized that evening with a cerebral concussion. Nova Executive Manager Vladimir Zelezny said the station would file a lawsuit for "Sladek's bodyguards' brutal kicks." Lawyers for Nova also claim that Sladek could be named in a suit, as they allege Sladek prompted the attack. But Josef Krejsa, a leading Republican, said it is Vitek who is guilty. "Despite numerous warnings, he tresspassed into the organizers' area," Krejsa said. "At the moment he was being asked to leave, he brutally attacked the organizers." Krejsa added that the reporter had intended to attack Sladek. Therefore, the Republican Party would take legal steps against Marek Vitek, because he "disrupted a legally announced meeting in a serious manner," Krejsa said. After his release from the hospital, Vitek immediately denied the accusations of Republicans. According to his version of events, which he says is supported by witnesses and videotape, he was attacked outside the organizers' area. In his testimony for police, Vitek said he recognized among his attackers a man who had been involved in the Republican disruption of a memorial service in Terezin earlier this year. (The man is being sued because of Vitek's coverage of the Terezin's events.) A special team of investigators was set up to examine the entire incident. After coming to the Wenceslas Square, where the Republicans had not been permitted to hold their demonstration, Miroslav Sladek attempted to talk from the pedestal of the St. Wenceslas Statue. This was prevented by the town police. During this incident, Republican parliamentary representative Jan Vik fell to the ground, having slipped on wet stairs. Sladek's followers then faced the attacks of skinheads. A town policeman hit by a cobblestone was also taken to the hospital. According to the Town Police director three policemen were injured and twenty people were arrested. Stepanka Kucerova/Vera Vitkova/Jiri Schneider Klaus Asked to Seek Ban on Republicans Pavel Hirs, chairman of the Liberal and National Social Party, has asked Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus to request that the constitutional court ban the Union for the Republic-Republican Czechoslovak Party (SRP-RSC). Hirs said the action is needed because of the behavior of Republicans and their leader, Miroslav Sladek, during October 28 celebrations. Republican actions "are constantly jeopardizing the democratic situation in the Czech Republic," and disturbing political stability, Hirs said. Klaus said he thinks banning the Republican Party is unsuitable, although he said he doesn't like either the party or its representatives. However, Czechs lived too long in a state where thoughts were forbidden, Klaus said. For now, a wide spectrum of parties are rejecting the idea of banning the Republicans. Jakub Knezu/Eftychia Damianidou Vlk Named Cardinal of Catholic Church Prague Archbishop Miloslav Vlk was designated a cardinal by Pope John Paul II October 30. Vlk was one of 30 newly named cardinals, raising the total number to 167. However, only 120 of these have the right to vote for a new Pope, voting being limited to cardinals under the age of 80. The new cardinals will be given their caps and cassocks November 26, when they will officially start their work. Speculations about candidates who could replace John Paul II, ill in recent months, have appeared in the Italian press. One of four possible candidates mentioned is Vlk. Vlk said he doesn't think the designation is his own honor, but is an appraisal of the whole Czech Catholic Church, a view shared by Czech President Vaclav Havel. A week after his investiture, Vlk will celebrate the thanksgiving service at the St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle. According to Czech law, Vlk could have problems with his citizenship. Cardinals, as the Pope's closest colleagues, become Vatican citizens. But cardinals who are not Rome-based keep their native citizenship. The law of the Czech citizenship does not allow dual citizenship for those who request a new citizenship of their own will. "Prague is a very important place for a cardinal," said Vlk. "I take my designation more as a bond to the Central Europe." Tereza Hadravova a Michal Vynohradnyk/Jiri Chvojka Police President Dismissed Interior Minister Jan Ruml, acting with agreement of the government, dismissed police president Stanislav Novotny October 26. According to Ruml, the main reason the dismissal was his effort to create a police department that would be autonomous from the Interior Ministry. Novotny also promoted personnel changes that were unpopular with parlimentarians. He replaced 15 district police directors, the head of the Prague police, and in September, dismissed his deputy, Jiri Stanek. Novotny said he didn't think he had make such mistakes as to be dismissed, but added that he wouldn't appeal Ruml's decision. In four years, Novotny is the third police president to be dismissed. The police are temporarily headed by Jaroslav Zatorsky, Novotny's deputy. He has the same authority as police director, but must consult with Ruml. Karolina Polakova/Martina Vojtechovska Czech-Romanian Trade Pact Signed A treaty establishing a free-trade zone between the Czech Republic and Romania was signed in Prague October 24 by prime ministers Vaclav Klaus and Nicolae Vacaroi. The two leaders also discussed the Czech Privatization effort. While the Czech effort is nearing completion and being hailed as one of Central and Eastern Europe's most progressive schemes, Romania has made only tentative steps toward privatization. Michal Vynohradnyk/Eftychia Damianidou Angolan ambassador expelled from the Czech Republic The Czech Republic has expelled the Angolan ambassador. Manuel Quarto Punzo on Monday, October 24. In a diplomatic note, Manuel Quarto Punzo was given 72 hours to leave the country along with four other Angolan diplomats. The expulsion came in response to the occupation of the residence of the Czech charge d'affaire, Zdenek Mrklovsky, in Angola. Mrklovsky had been given 48 hours by Angolan officials to leave his residence. However, an commando unit of the Angolan military had already occupied the residence. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affaires called the Angolan moves a "violation of the basic principles of international law. "It is a provision we had to undertake because our mission in Angola was occupied, thus preventing our ambassy from its activities," said a ministry statement in connection with the expulsion. However, the Foreign Ministry said it is still interested in keeping good relations with Angola. Vera Vitkova Scandals Drag Down Politician's Numbers The October Center for Empirical Research study of Czech preferences of politicians showed that scandal can hurt. The approval rating of Antonin Baudys, the former defense minister fired after a series of embarrassing scandals, dropped 18 percent. For vice-chairman of the Civic Democratic Party Petr Cermak, who was accused of not paying taxes on a gift Mercedes, the drop was 10 percent. And Ludek Rubas, health minister, saw his popularity drop 10 percent in the wake of problems with the privatization of Na Homolce Hospital. No such problems plague, Trade and Commerce Minister Vladimir Dlouhy, who maintains his iron-clad grip on the Mr. Popular title, with 85 percent approval ratings. Next comes Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec, at 72 percent, followed by Jiri Dienstbier, former foreign minister and head of the Free Democrats, with 70 percent. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus and ministers Jan Kalvoda (deputy prime minister), Ivan Kocarnik (finance) and Jan Strasky (transportation), each got over 60 percent. Approval ratings for President Vaclav Havel were not involved in the research. Andrea Rihova/Jiri Chvojka Czech Political Scientist and Philospher Ivan Svitak Dies Czech philosopher Ivan Svitak died October 20 in Prague after a long illness. Svitak, a leading figure in the Prague Spring in 1968, was born October 10, 1925, in Hranice na Morave, a city in central Moravia. He graduated from the Department of Arts of the Charles University in Prague, and in the '50s and '60s worked as scientific assistant in the Philosophical Institute of Czech Academy of Science (CSAV) and in the Film Institute. During this period, he wrote numerous philosophical essays and articles dealing with the issue of film aesthetics. Along with these activities he also published several books. Svitak belonged to the reform communists and was one of the most famous people in the Prague Spring. He was involved in activities of the Club of Commited Non-partisans (KAN). In 1968 due to his "anti-state activity," he was expelled from the Communist Party, removed as scientific secretary of the Philosophical Institute of Czech Academy of Science, deprived of the Czech citizienship by the means of judicial decree and sentenced in abstentia to 8 years in jail. In exile in the United States, he lectured at the Columbia University and as a full-time professor at San Diego State University in California since 1970. During this period many of his critical books, such as "Round Square," and "Dialectics of Power", were issued by exile publishers. In March 1990, he returned to Prague, active as a left-oriented politician. In the elections of 1992 he became a Left Bloc representative of the Federal Assembly. Ivan Svitak was a critic of the economic reforms of the Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus. Tereza Hadravova according to Rude Pravor/ Vera Vitkova Former Czechoslovak Prime Minister Oldrich Cernik Dies Oldrich Cernik died of a heart attack October 19. Cernik was the last living leader of the Prague Spring of 1968. Cernik was injured in June when his car skidded into a parked truck. He had bruised lungs and five broken ribs. Cernik began his political career when he was 28. He became an official of the Communist Party and eventually chairman of the regional council in Ostrava. He became minister of energy in 1960. During the '60s, he was a supporter of political and economic reforms. In August 1968, following the Russian invasion, Cernik, the prime minister, he was forced at gunpoint to Moscow to sign the Moscow Accord. He was replaced by Lubomir Strougal and in 1970 he was expelled from Communist party. Jakub Knezu/Martina Vojtechovska Prague Residents Make, and Pay, the Most Czech Statistics Bureau data show that Prague residents earn the most for their work, but also pay the most for goods of anyone in the Czech Republic. The Statistics Bureau report shows that the average monthly wage for Prague residents is 7,386 crowns. The average wage in Eastern Bohemia, by contrast, is only 5,423 crowns, 30 percent less than in the capital city. After Praguers, Central Bohemia workers are best off. They receive an average monthly wages of 6,439 crowns. The nationwide average is 6,301. Acccording to experts, these differences are caused by several factors. Businesses with high salaries, such as banking, consulting services or even some organs of the state bureaucracy, are concentrated in Prague. Prague also has extremely low unemployment, which drives up wages. But Prague residents need those hefty paychecks to pay their bills. >From 1989 to 1993, prices in Prague rose 124 percent. By contrast, prices in Hradec Kralove increased only 105 percent. Prague leads the way in food prices, too. Restaurants in the capital cost twice what they do anywhere else in the country. Karolina Polakova/Jiri Schneider Another Camp For Refugees Opens in Vysne Lhoty A fourth camp for refugees was opened in Vysne Lhoty, and foreigners seeking shelter in the Czech Republic have already arrived. These refugees come from former East Bloc states, but also from Africa, Asia, and South America. Shah Muhammed/Eftychia Damianidou Prince Rastislav Canonized Great Moravian Prince Rastislav was sanctified by the Orthodox Church in Brno on Sunday. Rastislav, who summoned Saints Cyril and Methodious to Moravia in the 9th Century was enlisted in the calender of the Orthodox Church by decree of the Constantinople Patriarch. After Saint Gorazda, he becomes the second modern national orthodox saint. His nameday will be celebrated annually on October 28. Michal Vynohradnyk/Jiri Schneider FROM SLOVAKIA First Slovak Referendum Fails Only one in five voters turned out for a referendum on the future of privatization in Slovakia, rendering the result invalid. The referendum, if passed, would have required people and companies to declare the source of money used in privatization bids, and was widely seen as a threat to any future privatization. Although the referendum is not valid, it received support from 93.6 percent of those who voted. Only 4 percent voted against the referendum, and 2.4 percent of votes were ruled invalid. The referendum came only weeks after an arduous parliamentary election in Slovakia, and the lack of interest was attributed to voter fatigue. Politicians seemed as tired as voters, as there was very little campaigning for the referendum. The referendum was initiated by Jan Luptak, leader of Association Workers of Slovakia, and supported by deputies from the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, the Slovak National Party and some deputies of the Democratic Left Party. Holding the referendum cost Slovaks 60 million crowns. Lukas Zentel/Martina Vojtechovska CULTURE Bernstein's West Side Story Czechmade On October 26, on Prague's Rokoko theater, the primier of Romove and Juliet -- E-55 Story, was held. It was inspired by Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. The lyrics were written by Janek Ledecky, music was composed by Miroslav Korinek and the director was Petr Polednak, who came with idea to create a Czech version of West Side Story. "I have never digressed so far from the original version," said Korinek. "I had a little hesitation, we are going to very thin ice and it would have been a crime to hurt Bernstein's music." Where it was necessary to create harder music, Miki Jelinek and Martin Kumzak, who arranged West Side Story in the Karlin Theater, contributed arrangements. Besides melodies from Bernstein's musical, we can hear a passage from Dvorak's Jakobin opera, and motifs from Sarka and Dvorak cello's concerto. Jana Maruskova/Martina Vojtechovska Comedian Jara Kohout died Jara Kohout, comedian and theatrical performer, died in the night from October 23, one day short of his nintieth birthday. In the First Republic, Kohout was active in theater and cabaret, performing in the Rokoko, Red Ace Cabaret and the Tyl Theater. In 1938, he took over from Voskovec and Werich, after their departure overseas, Novak's Theatre, where he was in charge until 1946. He left Czechoslovakia in 1948 to live in exile. In the United States, he worked for Radio Free Europe and he made eleven films.In 1990, he returned to Prague and when he was 88 years old he got married for the second time. During his life, Jara Kohout made 60 full-length films. With his wife Marcela, a journalist 60 years his junior, he wrote of book of memories. He did not live to see it published. Jindrich Jirasek/Eftychia Damianidou Roxette and David Byrne - a concert blast Roxette, the Swedish pop-music group, was introduced to its Czech audience at two near sell-out concerts in Prague October 26 and 27. The group is known for its hits The Look, Joyride and It Must Have Been Love. At the same time, David Byrne, founding member of the seminal new wave band Talking Heads, performed songs from his solo career and Talking Heads classics like Burning Down the House to a packed Archa Theater. Tomas Kopecny/ Vera Vitkova ECONOMICS New Skoda Unveiled Skoda Felicia - the new Czech car - was officially presented to guests and journalists on October 26 in Prague's Hotel Atrium. Prague Mayor Jan Koukal christened the new model water from the Vltava River on the Charles Bridge. Felicia is the first new model in the Skoda-Volkwagen joint effort. After months of secret development, the successor to Skoda's Favorit was revealed. It is a 5-door sedan with a 1,289 ccm engine. Felicia has a new modern interior and exterior design. There are many systems giving more comfort and security than previous Skodas, including airbag, automatic braking systems, air-conditioning and a three-way catalysator. Jiri Hrabovsky, Skoda spokesman, said the the most important changes were made on the chassis. The car is made of 80 percent Czech components. The highest speed of the car is 150 km per hour, but customers can have also stronger VW engines, which allow higher speed. The Felicia base price will be 209,000 crowns. Sales will begin in November. President Vaclav Havel tried the car and said he liked it. "I guess it is such a small family car for middle classes and I hope they will be able to afford this," said Havel. Petr Hosek/Jiri Chvojka Exchange Rates of the Czech National Bank (valid from November 3) Checks Cash country Buy Sell Middle Buy Sell Great Britain 1 GBP 44,455 44,901 44,678 43,26 46,10 France 1 FRF 5,300 5,354 5,327 5,13 5,53 Canada 1 CAD 20,018 20,220 20,119 19,23 21,01 Austria 1 ATS 2,581 2,607 2,594 2,53 2,65 Germany 1 DEM 18,166 18,348 18,257 17,80 18,72 Switzerland 1 CHF 21,823 22,043 21,933 21,43 22,43 USA 1 USD 27,131 27,403 27,267 26,57 27,97 Slovensko 1 XCU -- -- 34,752 -- - SPORT Viktoria Zizkov Leads Football League In the eleventh round, Slavia Prague beat Viktoria Zizkov, which led the standings until then, so Slavia moved to the top of the standings. Slovan Liberec and Boby Brno continued their accomplishments: Slovan defeated Sigma Olomouc 2:1 and Boby Brno won in at Drnovice. On the contrary, Sparta Prague lost again at the opponent's home stadium, - 1:2 in Hradec Kralove, the last team in the standings. Other results: Cheb - Ostrava 0:0, Plzen - Benesov 2:1, Zlin - Jablonec 2:1, Bohemians Prague - Ceske Budejovice 0:0. In the twelfth round, Slavia brought only one point for a draw without goals from Cheb, while Viktoria Zizkov beat the third-place Slovan Liberec 1:0 and returned to first place. Boby Brno finished the match in Benesov without two expelled players, but still kept a 1:1 draw. Other results: Jablonec - Hradec Kralove 3:0, Ostrava - Ceske Budejovice 2:1, Olomouc - Plzen 3:1, Ruda Cernik/Mirek Langer Three Medals from Hall Cycling World Championships The pair of Miroslav Berger and Miroslav Kratochvil won the silver medal and followed the glorious tradition of the Pospisils brothers, the twenty-time world champions in bicycle-polo. The next two bronze medals are for figure bicycling: Martina Stepankova in category of soloists and Sarka Jelinkova with Blanka Pospisilova among couples. Mirek Langer Czech Hockey Players Return from NHL Because of a strike in the U.S. National Hockey League over wages some Czech players temporarily return to the ice-hockey Extraleague. Among the short-time returnees are Jaromir Jagr of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Frantisek Musil of the Calgary Flames. Tomas Kopecny/Mirek Langer Czech Ice-hockey Extraleague Results Twelfth round: Ceske Budejovice - Sparta Prague 2:4, Vitkovice - Litvinov 4:1, Plzen - Zlin 4:4, Vsetin - Olomouc 2:0, Kladno - Jihlava 3:1, Slavia Prague - Pardubice 4:2. Thirteenth round: Olomouc - Vitkovice 4:3, Zlin - Sparta Prague 5:2, Slavia Prague - Ceske Budejovice 3:1, Pardubice - Vsetin 3:6, Litvinov - Kladno 3:3,Jihlava - Plzen 2:1. Fourteenth round: Ceske Budejovice - Zlin 4:8, Sparta Prague - Jihlava 3:1, Plzen - Litvinov 3:3, Kladno - Olomouc 5:5, Vitkovice - Pardubice 3:3, Vsetin - Slavia Prague 4:0. Fifteenth round: Vsetin - Ceske Budejovice 4:3, Olomouc - Plzen 2:2, Slavia Prague - Vitkovice 1:5, Pardubice - Kladno 4:4, Litvinov - Sparta Prague 7:1, Jihlava - Zlin 3:4. Tomas Kopecny/Mirek Langer Teams for Davis Cup and Federation Cup Have Got New Coachs Vladislav Savrda, former coach of Czech tennis player Karel Novacek, will run the Czech Davis Cup team in the next year. The women's Federation Cup team will be run by Helena Mandlikova, former player and now coach of Jana Novotna. The Executive Committee of the Czech Tennis Union has appointed them. Tomas Kopecny/Mirek Langer WEATHER A warm break in the chilling of the autumn has seen daytime temperatures as high as 15 degrees Celsius. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. The subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated. 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