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 STUDENT'S E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA Faculty of Social Science of Charles University Smetanovo nabr. 6 110 01 Prague 1 Czech Republic e-mail: CAROLINA@cuni.cz tel: (+42 2) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+42 2) 24810987 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 139, Friday, December 2, 1994. EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (November 23-30) Kohl Comments Rekindle EU Jitters A changed attitude toward Czech membership in the European Union on the part of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl would be "very unpleasant," said Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus. He was reacting to Kohl's statement November 23 that Poland was the leading candidate to enter the union. But in his reaction, Klaus added that he does not yet know the exact content and context of Kohl's remarks. "If I may judge, this was said in the part of (Kohl's) speech where the issue of European security was discussed," Klaus said. Klaus said he believed Kohl was emphasizing the size and strategic importance of Poland. Kohl's omission of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary in his speech was strongly criticized by the German Social Democrat opposition leader Rudolf Scharping. The three countries are applying for entry to the European Union at the same time as Poland. Vera Vitkova Archbishop Vlk Becomes a Cardinal Czech Archbishop Miroslav Vlk was among 30 new cardinals installed by Pope John Paul II in the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican Saturday. Vlk became the twentieth cardinal in Czech history. The main symbol of cardinal power -- the biretta -- was given to Vlk and to a second appointee. This priviledge for the Czech cardinal archbishop, granted by the Pope, fueled further speculations about Vlk's possible appointment as a curial cardinal directly involvement in Vatican affairs. The cardinals were assigned churches, Vlk receiving the Basilica of the Saint Cross of Jerusalem, one of the most important tabernacles of Rome. The cardinal ring -- another important symbol of a cardinal -- was given to the newly appointed cardinals during a ceremonial mass in Saint Peter's Basilica. The same day, the Pope received the Czech goverment delegation, led by the Christian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovakia People's Party Chairman Josef Lux. The delegation participated in the appointment ceremonies cardinal appointment. After Saturday's appointment, the overall number of cardinals is 167, of which 120 under the age of 80 are eligible to vote for popes. Tereza Hadravova Driver's Death In Traffic Stop Is Fourth Such Case A 42-year-old man died November 27 of internal injuries following a scuffle with police who say he failed to stop for a routine traffic control. Josef Soltys, a farmer from Tesnov, became the fifth man to die at the hands of Czech police in the last half year. Four of those deaths invovled traffic patrols. According to police reports, Josef Soltys, a farmer from Tesnov, Rokycany area, did not react to a "STOP" sign and tried to escape. He allegedly turned onto a small track and locked himself in his car. Half an hour later, police said, he got out of the car and tried to beat the policemen. Soltys drew the uniform of one of the officers over his head, but the other officer kicked Soltys in the back, according to police. Finding no visible injury to Soltys, the officers transported him to a police station for a blood alcohol test. The doctor who administered the test ordered Soltys taken to a hospital, where he later lost conciousness and died. An autopsy showed that he died of bleeding from the spleen and other organs caused by the officer's kick to the back. Soltys' neighbours said the dead man was not agressive when drunk. A forester from Tesnov said Soltys sometimes drove drunk but always stopped along small roads, where he was occasionally found sleeping. Jiri Chvojka 42 have died of AIDS in Czech Republic Since 1985, 42 people have died of AIDS-related illnesses, and 202 people -- 126 in Prague alone -- have been diagnosed as HIV-positive. The statistics were released December 1 -- International AIDS Day -- by the Foundation for Life. Foundation For Life, a non-governmental organization, was set up in January 1992. In cooperation with the Medicine Faculty of Charles University, the foundation organizes conferences on AIDS for elementary and high school teachers. The foundation has created three public service announcements for television and established an AIDS hotline. Jana Maruskova Northern Moravian Jesenik Gains Region Status From 49 applications for the creation of new regions, the goverment accepted only one November 23. Jesenik will be divided from the Sumperk Region. Regions in the Czech Republic are roughly equivalent to counties in the United States and England. Eftychia Damianidou Man Accused of Murder, Torture, Fraud Associated with Political Elite A 41-year-old Turkish businessman who published books by and associated with the Czech Republic's political leaders has been accused of two murders, torture and blackmail. Dr. Yekta Uzunuglu, director of the firm Meridian, was arrested in September, but police kept the arrest secret, TV Nova reported Monday. Uzunoglu allegdly arranged the murders of two Czech businessman and tortured a Turk. After an interrogation November 29, authorities added accusations of fraud. Uzunoglu, a Turkish businessman of Kurdish origin who advocates greater freedom for the Kurds in Turkey, finished his medical studies 15 years ago in Czechoslovakia. Recently, he edited a book, "Economic Perspective of the Czech Republic," which included articles by Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik, Agriculture Minister, and Czech National Bank Governor Richard Salzmann. Uzunoglu also published a book by Economics Minister Karel Dyba. Uzunoglu also published a book he wrote, "A Look at the Czech Economy with a Foreign Businessman's Eyes." Uzunoglu regularly met with top-ranking political representatives. He has been among the most influential foreign businessman in the Czech Republic. He also has enterprises in Germany and France, Pakistan and Columbia. Stepanka Kucerova Mercedes Dealers Helbig Brothers Dodge Police In a development sure to please anyone who has ever dealt with stamp-happy Czech bureaucrats, the Helbig bothers, official dealers of Mercedes-Benz automobiles in the Czech Republic, avoided arrest November 23 because of a missing stamp. The brothers were to have been arrested on the request of the German sate atorney from Weiden. But when two policemen tried to serve papers on the Helbigs in their Prague home, the Helbigs' attorney pointed out that the police document was missing a necessary stamp. Police left to get the necessary stamp, but when they returned the Helbigs were nowhere to be found. Police are now searching for the dealers. They are wanted in connection with alleged tax and insurance fraud in Germany. The Helbig company surfaced earlier this fall as the one that had provided a free car for the use of Civic Democratic Party Vice-chairman Petr Cermak. (See Carolina Issues 133 and 134.) Martina Krizkova Svarc Released from Custody Miroslav Svarc, an entrepreneur from Benesov and owner of first-league football team, Svarc Benesov, has been release from jail after nearly two months. Since On October 30, Svarc has been under investigation for embezzlement and an attempt to harm a creditor. Allegedly, he deducted insurance and social security money from his employee's wages, but did not submit the money to the state. He allegedly used it for his own purposes, depriving the state of 8.7 million crowns. Although Svarc was released, the investigation continues. Jiri Chvojka Republic's Christmas Tree Lighted The Christmas atmosphere appeared in Prague's Old Town Sqaure Sunday, with hundreds of people turning out for the lighting of the National Christmas Tree by Prague Mayor Jan Koukal. Traditional stalls with handicrafts filled the square. The Association for Renewal and Development of Handicraft Skills, will present Christmas and Advent customs under the tree until Christmas Eve. On December 24, the Czech Christmas Mass by Jakub Jan Ryba, a composer of the early 19th Century) will be performed under the open sky. Andrea Rihova CORRECTION Due to a translating error, a mistake appeared in last week's Carolina article concerning the Constitutional Court's ruling on eligibility for property restitution. The decision applies only to those people who were permanent residents of the Czech Republic. Carolina regrets the error. FROM SLOVAKIA European Union Concerned About Slovak Developments The Ambassadors of France and Germany handed on demarche from the European Union to Slovak President Michal Kovac November 23, calling for economic reform and adherence to democratic norms. The Slovak daily SME reports that the demarche criticized the slow process of transformation, and expresses expectations that Slovakia will follow democratic rules. The European Union views with alarm some political developments since recent elections. Two parties of the parliamentary coalition, the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia and the Slovak National Party, rejected the demarche as biased, unsubstantiated and interfering with the internal affairs of sovereign state. Opposition parties, however, have marked it as very significant. Lukas Zentel,Michal Vynohradnyk Did HZDS Find a New Partner? The Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) has expressed its willingness to cooperate with members of the Democratic Union (DU), who weren't previously members of HZDS. It is a radical turning point in HZDS strategy on forming a goverment, because DU was expelled from the first negotations. If there was this cooperation, it would mark a real chance to form a goverment. Prime Minister Jozef Moravcik is chairman of DU, and Milan Knazko is a member. Both are former close associates of Meciar who broke with him. Michal Vynohradnyk,Lukas Zentel ECONOMY Phone Company Will Reach Out and Touch Someone -- In the Wallet The cost of phone service in the Czech Republic is going up. Phone charges are going to increase from 1.60 to 1.80 crowns for each unit in January. Monthly charges for a separate line will increase from 52.50 to 85 crowns. SPT Telecom, which is the monopoly operator of the telephone network in the Czech Republic, initially requested an increase to 2.40 crowns per impulse, but the Finance Ministry rejected going so high. The changes will most affect those now on the digital network, whose calls are charged according to length. Between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., an unit, costing 1.80 crowns, will last three minutes, from 4 p.m. until midnight the same-priced unit will last six minutes, and between midnight and 7 a.m. it will last twelve minutes. So a half hour call in the afternoon on the digital network will cost 18 crowns instead of current eight. The duration of charged units will stay the same for long distance calls, and international phone rates will be reduced about 5 percent. Petr Hosek Use of Main Highways Will Require Toll Stamp From the beginning of next year, there will be a toll for using the main highway network in the Czech Republic. Tolls will not be collected on main highway entrances or exits as they are for instance in France, but with the aid of stamps. This system will allow use of the main highway network all year for one sum. Stamps printed in Swiss Aarau will be divided in three categories according to weight of the vehicle. Car owners will pay 400 crowns for a one-year stamp, owners of vehicles up to 12 tons will pay 1,000 crowns and those who operate trucks above 12 tons will pay 2,000. Owners who don't have the stamp displayed in their window will face fines up to 5,000 crowns. Stamps will be on sale in post offices and at all border crossings. Foreigners wishing to use the main highway network will also be obliged to use the stamp. Money raised from the sale of stamps will be used for development of the motorway network in CR. In 2005, the length of the main highway network should be nearly three times longer than today. Petr Hosek Second Wave Sells Nearly 150 Billion The second wave of coupon privatisation sold 149 billion crowns worth of property, 99.33 percent of the shares offerred in the second wave. However, only 268 of 861 stock companies were completely sold out. Shah Muhammad Volkswagen Approves Contract with Skoda Volkswagen approved November 25th a clause to its 1991 contract with Skoda, confirming that it will invest in the Mlada Boleslav auto factory. The clause will be valid after it receives approval of the Czech government by December 14. Jakub Knezu CULTURE TV Series "Gallery of Elite of the Nation" Comes to an End A portrait of tennis player Martina Navratilova by director Karel Smyczek ended the 100 program cycle "Gallery of the Elite of the Nation" November 28. The production company Febio portrayed various luminaries in 15-minute films. Nearly 70 directors collaborated with the project, producing the films for less than 20 million crowns. The production firm is working on a similar project, to be called Genus. Karolina Polakova SPORT Autumn Half of Football League Finishes Results of 15th round: Viktoria Plzen - Slavia Prague 1:1, Hradec Kralove - Sigma Olomouc 2:0, Boby Brno - Union Cheb 6:0, Svit Zlin - Viktoria Zizkov 0:5, Slovan Liberec - Banik Ostrava 2:1, Bohemians Prague - Svarc Benesov 5:2, SK Ceske Budejovice - Petra Drnovice 2:0, Sparta Prague - FK Jablonec 3:0. Slovan Bratislava Leads in Slovakia Fall football finished in Slovakia with SK Slovan Bratislava at the top of the standings, undefeated and 11 points ahead of FC Kosice and Spartak Trnava. Rudolf Cernik One Half of Extraleague Finishes With Olomouc Ahead Hockey players from Olomouc established themselves atop the standings after the 22nd round. Postponed match of the 17th round: Pardubice - Sparta Prague 2:2. 22nd round: Jihlava - Vitkovice 2:5, Ceske Budejovice - Pardubice 4:1, Litvinov - Vsetin 4:5, Olomouc - Slavia Prague 3:0, Sparta Prague - Plzen 3:1, Zlin - Kladno 2:2. Tomas Kopecny Jana Novotna a Karel Novacek - Best Czech Tennis Players Jana Novotna and Karel Novacek were honored as the best Czech tennis players, with Novotna winning the Gold Canary, given to the best player. But behind the scenes , people talked about the situation in the Czech Davis Cup team more then about the Gold Canary. New coach Vladislav Savrda, who replaced Vladimir Zednik at the request of the players, including Petr Korda and Novacek, was unpleasantly surprised that Korda and Novacek withdrew from the team. Mirek Langer Navratilova Starts Farewell European Tour in Bratislava In the Bratislava exhibition "Bye, Bye, Martina", Martina Navratilova defeated French player Mary Pierce 6:2, 6:4. The match was attended by about 3,600 fans of Navratilova. Her photographs topped Czech and Slovak newspapers for the second time in two weeks, with the daily Sport devoting a four-page enclosure to her career. Martina Navratilova will play in Prague later. Mirek Langer Karel Gut Became New President of Czech Ice Hockey Union Karel Gut, coach of the world champions in 1976 and 1977, has become president of the Czech Ice Hockey Union. Although faced by Ceske Budejovice players president Jaroslav Pouzan, and former coach Augustin Bubnik, Gut won 49 of 59 votes. Tomas Kopecny WEATHER Biting cold weather set in this week, with hard frosts under generally clear skies. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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@cuni.cz To subscribe to CAROLINA news you send an e-mail message to the address LISTSERV@earn.cvut.cz The text of message for subscription of the English version must be: SUBSCRIBE CAR-ENG First name Last name or for the Czech version SUBSCRIBE CAR-CS First name Last name To delete your subscription from the list of subscribers you send the following message to the address LISTSERV@earn.cvut.cz: SIGNOFF CAR-ENG or SIGNOFF CAR-CS We ask you not to send automatic replies to our list. 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