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 CZECH REPUBLIC 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 177, Friday, November 3, 1995. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (October 25 - November 1) Doctors Strike for the First Time in Czech History This was the title used by Czech daily Mlada Fronta DNES announcing the November 1 strike. Strikers are protesting against the current health care system and doctors' wages. Five thousand to eight thousand supporters demonstrated in front of the Ministry of Health in Prague at the invitation of the Physician's Union Club (LOK). Doctors are demanding wages equal to those of college graduates in state administration and the police and justice departments. The protest was supported by most state health care institutions. Many doctors supported the strike symbolically by wearing arm bands and ribbons, and making information accessible to the public in their offices. Some even gave up their pay for the day. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus spoke for the government, vehemently disagreeing with the strike and the demands of the doctors. Prsidential spokesman Ladislav Spacek said President Vaclav Havel understands the unrest amongst physicians, but believes the strike is not the proper solution for the health care system. Following the demonstration, the LOK decided the strike would continue administratively. Health care centers and hospitals will resume normal operation November 2, but striking doctors will perform abortions only in the event of health complications, and will send documents verifying deaths and inability to work to the Ministry of Health. Dr. David Rath, the LOK chairman who initiated the strike, appeared against five opponents on Czech television program Arena to defend the strike. Rath obviously convinced viewers that the strike was necessary. When asked to call in answers to the question "Has Dr. Rath convinced you that government health care policy endangers health care to such an extent that a strike is necessary?," 3,843 viewers said no, while 8,675 viewers replied yes. Lida Truneckova/Andrea Snyder Health Minister Strasky wants Patients to Pay More Minister of Health Jan Strasky presented doctors with a new short-term program at a special meeting of the Czech Physicians Chamber October 30. Strasky said the program should go into effect as soon as possible, at latest by the end of May. The program should focus on eliminating health insurance companies' inability to pay, and finalizing the privatization of heath care equipment. A new price list for health care services should be prepared, and the new List of Medicines should be completed to prevent doctors from prescribing unneccesary medications. The value of the points in the system that sets health care wages is to go up in January. Beginning next year, the Ministry of Health expects patients to contribute more to the financing of their health care. For example, patients will pay fees for hospital stays and trips to the dentist. The chamber board, which had been briefed beforehand, supported the proposal. Representatives of unions, hospitals and insurance companies reacted positively. Dr. David Rath of the Physician's Union Club (LOK) protested. Although he later signed it, the acceptance of the short-term program did not stop the strike. Matej Husek, David Vozdecky/Andrea Snyder Czechs Celebrate National Holiday The Czech Republic celebrated on October 28 the 77th anniversary of the foundation of the former Czechoslovakia. President Vaclav Havel, accompanied by Prague Mayor Jan Koukal, laid a bouquet at the statue of St. Wenceslas on Wenceslas Square. The statue was also honored with bouquets by representatives of the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), the Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL), and the Free Democrats (SD). Neither Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus nor any representatives of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) attended the celebration. To honor this national holiday, the opera Libuse was performed in the National Theater. Later in the afternoon at Prague Castle, the traditional celebratory military oath was taken. And again this year Miroslav Sladek's Republicans made themselves known - after Sladek's speech in the Old Town Square, he and and his supporters relocated to Wenceslas Square, where they nearly got into a fight with skinheads. Natasa Hajkova/Sofia Karakeva First New Czech Honors Bestowed President Vaclav Havel awarded the highest state decorations at Prague Castle on the 77th anniversary of Czechoslovakia's founding on October 28. The new distinctions - the Order of White Lion, the Order of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, and medals For Merit and For Heroism - were awarded for first time to 54 individuals, mainly participants in domestic and foreign resistance, dissidents and artists. Twenty-three people received the award posthumously - for example, founders of Osvobozene Theater Jiri Voskovec and Jan Werich, writers Karel Capek, Karel Polacek and folk singer Karel Kryl. Among the 14 decorated artists were also film director Milos Forman, writer Milan Kundera, singer Marta Kubisova and co-founder of Semafor Theater Jiri Suchy. Vera Caslavska, the most successful Czech female athlete in history, took the Medal For Merit. Twelve politicians were honored, including current Minister of Culture Pavel Tigrid. Among the 10 soldiers honored were two participants of the UNPROFOR mission killed during the Croatian offensive in Krajina. The first recipients of the distinctions also include 10 foreigners, mostly German, who were honored for the development of Czech-German relations. Zora Kasikova, Michaela Vysoudilova/Jitka Hejtmanova Ostrava's Town Hall Tower Didn't Disappear The all-day festivities of the October 28 state holiday in Ostrava should have culminated with the disappearance of part of the town hall tower. However, Hungarian magician Richard Rafael didn't fulfil his promise - the tower stayed in place. "I will make the tower disappear for 40 seconds," declared Rafael. This magnificant show, prepared by a team of 150 people, cost almost 2 million crowns. The advertising campaign attracted a large number of spectators, many of whom came a long way for the show. According to the program, the tower should have disappeared just after 9 p.m. and Rafael said a helicopter would be able to fly through the "free" space. But the public just saw the artist's assistants covering the tower with black canvas. Angry spectators, who futilely called for the magician, were sent home by police forces there to control downtown traffic. Richard Rafael, who disappeared immediately after the fiasco, strongly denied the following day that a fraud had taken place. He claimed the public came too close and damaged the sound equipment and lighting. Jitka Motejzikova/Jitka Hejtmanova Reaction to Havel's Speech in the UN President Vaclav Havel's speech on October 25 evoked a wave of response on the Czech political scene. "Taiwan is a democratic and prospering country. It is sad that it is not a member of the UN," Czech daily Mlada Fronta DNES quoted October 26 from the Havel's statement for journalists in New York. Minister of Foreign Affairs Josef Zieleniec immediately called this statement into question, with its unilateral support of Taiwan unexpressed by any other European head of state. China openly objected to Taiwan Prime Minister Lein-Chan's June visit to Prague. Havel provided more controversy with his invitation for PLO chief Yasser Arafat to visit Prague. Government coalitian politicians in particular did not welcome the invitation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesman Vit Kurfurst said Arafat has been invited for a year and that the president only repeated his invitation at the UN summit in New York. Arafat, winner of a Nobel Peace Prize, has already visited the Czech Republic on Havel's invitation, in April 1990. Livia Savelkova/Jitka Hejtmanova Silence of the Romanies under the Government's Windows Representatives of 28 Romany civic and political groups from the entire republic gathered in front of the government building on October 25 to demonstrate against racial intolerance and violence towards the Romany minority. A few dozen people stood for about an hour in silent protest facing the office where a meeting of the government had been taking place. The Romanies held candles and banners with the names of victims of racial attacks. After the protest they handed Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus' office and the press a communique warning about the constant physical threat to Romany citizens. The premier didn't meet the protesters because he hadn't been aware of the demonstration. "If I had known they were presidents of Romany associations from the whole republic, I certainly would have met them... It was a coordination mistake," Klaus said at a press conference November 1. The government is going to meet to discuss acting agaist rising extremism. Klara Schirova/Alice Ticha Vaclav Klaus Appointed to a Professorship On October 31 in the Carolinum (the ancient assembly hall of Prague's Charles University), Minister of Education Ivan Pilip presented decrees to 52 educators, granting each the academic title of professor. Among them was Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, who is now a professor in the field of finance, and actor Radovan Lukavsky. The media noted the average age of the 48 men and four women was 55. Four years ago, the average age of those appointed was 63. After the presentation of decrees, Klaus told the press he had always hoped to gain the professorship. Barbora Spevakova/Alice Ticha NEWS IN BRIEF * A new, 70-km expressway has been opened between Prague and Pilsen. * Miroslav Sladek, chairman of the Republican Party, took part at the Brno meeting of the Republicans October 24, although he did not come to a court hearing that morning, explaining his absence with health reasons. * A part of presidium of the Green Party decided October 30 to become members of the Social Democrats. They thus follow their former president, Jaroslav Vlcek, who is already a party member and is about to join the Social Democrats' parliamentary club. * The Charter 77 Foundation conferred the Frantisek Kriegl Prize to singer and journalist Karel Kryl, ecologist and politician Josef Vavrousek and journalist Vlado Cech during the last weekend in October. All the prizes were conferred posthumously. Petr Mrzena, Radim Wolak/Alice Ticha FROM SLOVAKIA EU and USA Displeased with Situation in Slovakia Slovak Premier Vladimir Meciar received a demarche from four European Union diplomats October 25. The EU expressed discontent with the current tension among Slovak official institutions, and adds that Slovakia is going to have to work harder to meet the criteria for being accepted into the EU. American Ambassador to Slovakia Theodore Russell submitted a similar demarche to the Slovak government October 27. The USA standpoint holds that progress in the transformation to democracy and a free market is the basis for the US government support and the key to Slovakia's entry to NATO. Premier Meciar replied that "unlike the interest in partnership negotiations proclaimed many times by the USA... an inability to hold an equal dialogue at the highest level with all representatives of the Slovakia persists." Chairman Emeritus of the Slovak National Party (SNS) M. Andel called the demarche the work of the opposition and the president, who continue to shame the young Slovak Republic abroad. Andel is convinced Slovakia is developing best in comparison to other post-communist countries. The SNS said the West's evaluation of the Slovakia is untrue, one-sided and biased. President Michal Kovac, however, warned the government coalition that the Slovakia can possibly expect isolation, should the politics that called forth the demarches continue. Petr Pabian/Andrea Snyder Slovak Government Approved Bill on Official Language The Slovak Government approved the proposed law on official language October 24, and intends to submit it to Parliament next month. The bill's provisions should cover language use in official communications and activities of state organs, in the educational system, mass media and cultural activities. The bill is also concerned with the use of Czech in Slovakia. For example, Czech movies will have to be dubbed or provided with Slovak subtitles. Use of the Czech language and other languages in instructional texts will be prohibited. Violating the law carries a fine of up to 100,000 crowns for individuals and up to 1,000,000 crowns for legal entities. Alice Ticha/Alida Kassynova Opinion Research Shows Loss in Voter Support for Coalition Parties According to the latest voter preference polls taken by Focus, four opposition parties would get into Parliament, while from the parties of government coalition only the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) would have a place in Parliament. HZDS is still the strongest party, with the backing of 29 per cent of voters polled. A place in Parliament would also be waiting for: Christian Democratic Movement (KDU) - 14.2 per cent Democratic Union (DU) - 11.3 per cent Green Party - 5 per cent. The present government parties - the Slovak National Party (SNS) and the Federation of Slovak Workers (SDS) - with 4.7 per cent and 4.1 per cent, respectively, wouldn't reach the 5 per cent minimum necessary to enter Parliament. Petr Pabian/Maria Tripoliti Vladimir Meciar is the Most Trustworthy Politician In a Focus public opinion poll taken in early October, a majority of people consider Premier and HZDS Chairman Vladimir Meciar the most trustworthy politician. Each respondents had the possibility to give three names. Twenty-nine per cent of the people named Meciar and 19.2 per cent named President Michal Kovac. Petr Pabian/Maria Tripoliti Three-Quarters of the Population Think: Life Was Better Before 1989 According to an opinion poll taken by the Institute of Sociology at the Slovak Academy of Science, 73.3 per cent of the people are convinced that they had a better life before 1989. On the other hand 25.7 per cent say that life was not better before 1989. At the same time, 73 per cent of the people think that they will have a better life in five years. When comparing today's situation with the situation in 1988, 90.9 per cent think that the gap between different social classes has gotten wider and 52.8 per cent think that social justice is not as good as it used to be. 55.9 per cent are convinced that the individual freedom has increased. But 17 per cent still consider the situation to be the opposite way. According to 54.3 per cent, the possibility of self-realization has gotten bigger for most people, though 25.8 per cent think the possiblity is smaller now than seven years ago. Petr Pabian/Katerina Rus BUSINESS/ECONOMICS The Pilsen Bank The activites of Pilsen Bank, which claims it gained from 10 per cent to 50 per cent interest in the country's largest investment funds through a massive buyout over the last two years, has evoked an uneasy feeling among the largest Czech banks. That activity enables Pilsen Bank to control one-fourth of the Czech economy, according to some sources. An important Pilsen Bank stock share holder - The Czech Insurance Company - organized a shareholders' meeting for the last October 28, where it recalled the board of directors responsible for the buyouts. The original board rejected the recall at a second shareholders' meeting, organized by the second-biggest shareholder in the bank - Motoinvest. Motoinvest also claimed big banks want to prevent Pilsen Bank from buying up their funds' stocks through the Czech Insurance Company. The courts will likely decide which shareholder meeting is valid. The Czech National Bank prohibited Pilsen Bank from continuing the buyouts, indicating the extreme risk connected with such trades. The Commerce Bank took a few unusual steps to keep control over its investment fund, asking the Ministry of Finance to restrict the tradeability of the fund's shares Zbynek Vicar/Klara Schirova Czech Bank Refuses to Help Domestic Financial Institutions Czech Bank, which recently closed all its branches (see Carolina 176), did not accept the offer of Enterprise Bank and Hana Bank to give them a majority of small savings deposits. The vice-chairman of Czech Bank's board said this act would not solve the bank's financial problems and only complicated its position in negotiations with potential investors. In spite of all this, both rejected financial institutions plan to give Czech Bank another offer in the near future. The new offer should include all Czech Bank clients except for banking institutions. Darina Coufalova/Klara Schirova Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from Nov. 3) country currency Australia 1 AUD 19.997 Belgium 100 BEF 90.357 Great Britain 1 GBP 41.687 Danemark 1 DKK 4.789 Finland 1 FIM 6.162 France 1 FRF 5.376 Ireland 1 IEP 42.666 Italy 1000 ITL 16.516 Japan 100 JPY 25.453 Canada 1 CAD 19.516 Luxemburg 100 LUF 90.357 Netherland 1 NLG 16.574 Norway 1 NOK 4.213 New Zealand 1 NZD 17.326 Portugal 100 PTE 17.622 Austria 1 ATS 2.639 Greece 100 GRD 11.278 Slovakia 100 SKK 89.287 Germany 1 DEM 18.580 Spain 100 ESP 21.512 Sweden 1 SEK 3.968 Switzerland 1 CHF 23.039 USA 1 USD 26.384 ECU 1 XEU 34.117 IMF-SDR 1 XDR 39.423 CULTURE Milan Kundera Gives Czech Radio Interview For the first time since the early 1980s, Czech writer Milan Kundera granted an interview to the Czech press. To guarantee accuracy, Kundera wrote the answers to all of his questions. The interview was granted to Czech Radio; the daily Lidove noviny published it October 30. The questions were oriented towards Kundera's relation with his homeland. The Czech native, who has been living in France since 1975, wrote : "The relationship to the counrty of your birth in which you no longer live is always an issue... New obligations, new friendships are born, the place of emigration becomes a new home, even a loved home... The return is made difficult because of psychological reasons... Is it possible to continue a conversation that was interrupted long ago?" When asked if, after having published a novel in French, he will ever write again in Czech, Kundera answered, "To start an absolutely new life in another country at the age of 45 costs a person all, listen well, all of his strength... During the past 20 years, I've read very few Czech books... Even though I speak exclusively Czech with my wife, I am surrounded by French books, I react to the French world, to French sentences, just as you in the Czech Republic react to the Czech world and Czech sentences. One day it had to surface in the language in which I write. I was just as surprised as you were. Will I ever return to Czech? Will I return at least partially to Bohemia? I don't know. I'll allow myself to be surprised. Everything that has happened to me since the time I left Bohemia was one great surprise that I haven't gotten out of yet." Lucie Chytrackova/Andrea Snyder Slovenska Kniha (Slovak Bookstore) Again in Prague Slovak and Czech readers from the Czech Republic can after four years visit Slovenska kniha again. The new literature center at Slezska street 13 was opened on October 23 by Gejzir Company and Slovenske pedagogicke nakladatelstvi (Slovak Educational Publishing). Slovenska kniha prepares, in addition to the direct selling of books, discussions with authors, sale exhibitions of Slovak artists or interesting Slovak firms and projects. Center Manager Viera Strouhalova pointed out for Carolina the most important function of Slovenska kniha, the possibility of the distribution of Slovak literature to libraries, cultural centers, Czech bookstores or directly to individuals. Czech customers and Slovak publishers will not have to deal with international transport problems anymore. The center has by now made contacts with about 40 Slovak publishers (including Archa, Elita, Fragment, Hevi, Mlade leta, Osveta, Slovensky spisovatel). Katerina Zachovalova/Katerina Zachovalova The Residents in Prague On November 1, the world premiere of the theater performance Freak Show by the American band The Residents took place in the Prague's Archa Theater. During this month, the performance will have 19 subsequent shows. It will be presented in English with Czech subtitles. The Freak Show is the biggest project in the short history of Archa. The album, which had the same title, preceded the theater performance, and was produced on interactive CD-ROM three years later. The Residents, who have saved their anonymity for 20 years (they had their usual eyeball masks at their press conference, too) will not appear in the performance, especially not as the band. They chose other musicians, who are good enough not to need a supplement. The basis of The Freak Show Orchestra is built by members of the band Uz jsme doma, and musicians from other Czech bands supplement them. American Wayne Dobb has the role of host, while British and Czech actors have other roles in the performance. A unique exhibition of the history of The Residents will be shown in the hall of the theatre after every performance. Computers with the CD-ROM version of The Freak Show will be in the hall too. Matej Bartosek/Jitka Motejzikova Havel's Zebracka Opera After 20 Years On November 1, the play Zebracka opera by President Vaclav Havel opened in Prague's Theater Na Zabradli. The date of the premiere is not random. The play had its world premiere in the theater hall of the pub U Celikovskych in Horni Pocernice November 1, 1975. It was realized by the amateur company of Divadlo na tahu. Andrej Kroba directed the play. He decided to introduce it again on the 20th anniversary of the world premiere. The company of Divadlo na tahu changed itself a little, allowing a professional actor to help them: the lead role of Macheath belongs to Ladislav Smoljak, a director and actor from Jara Cimrman Theater. Minister of the Interior Jan Ruml has the little (but important) role of a drunken man. Havel, director Milos Forman, actor Jan Triska and other personalities from Czech culture took part in the premiere night celebration Theater Na Zabradli. Alice Ticha/Jitka Motejzikova Death of Director Zbynek Brynych Director Zbynek Brynych died at the age of 68 October 24. His name is joined with the film Zizkovska romance (1958), which showed the everyday life of people of the Prague quarter Zizkov. His most meaningful film is Transport z raje (1962), in which the atmosphere of the Terezin (Theresienstadt) ghetto is featured. He received numerous prizes for both these films at international festivals. Later he was engaged in the production of espionage and detective films and he cooperated in the German detective serial Derrick as well. Viktorie Reschova/Jitka Motejzikova Death of Actress and Singer Nelly Gaierova Nelly Gaierova, star of the pre-war film scene, died October 30, soon after her 87th birthday. She was called the first lady of the Czech operetta. Her film roles include: Stribrny vitr, Dita Saxova, Zkroceni zleho muze - her operetta roles: the lead role in the legendary musical Hello, Dolly! Viktorie Reschova/Jitka Motejzikova Oscar Nominee Decided The Czech nomination for the Oscar for best foreign film goes to the comedy Diky za kazde nove rano (I Thank You for Each New Morning) directed by Milan Steindler and written by Halina Pawlowska. This film won four Czech lions and the Silver Saint George at the Moscow Film Festival. Klara Schirova, Marketa Hudkova/Katerina Zachovalova Sigourney Weaver in Prague Hollywood actress Sigourney Weaver flew into Prague airport on October 28. The next day she began acting in the new film Black Forest. The male film partner of the fourty-six-year-old Weaver, who became famous in the sci-fi Alien, will be Sam Neill, popular thanks to the Oscar-winning film Piano. Director Michael Cohn is working on this project from the beginning of October in Barrandov film studios. Klara Schirova, Marketa Hudkova/Katerina Zachovalova Legend Bulat Okudzava Sang in Brno and Praha Russian folk singer Bulat Okudzava performed October 27 in Brno's Husa na Provazku Theater and the next day in Prague's Komedie Theater.Both places were sold out entirely. The last words to the audience, which included all ages, were: "If you find yourself in any situation always stay humans!" Klara Schirova,Marketa Hudkova/Katerina Zachovalova SPORTS Third Round UEFA Cup - Slavia and Sparta Victorious Sparta defeated Zimbru Kisinev in Moldavia 2-0, with goals by Koller (44), Vonasek (66). First match in Prague: Sparta vs. Zimbru 4-3. Slavia, after its victory in Switzerland (2-1), defeated FC Lugano 1-0 in Prague with a goal by Smicer in the 62nd minute. Karel Bartek Sparta and Liberec Changed Their Positions in the Chart Sparta lost its top position in the premier football league chart after drawing a match in Cheb. Liberec is the leader and Olomouc stepped up to third place. Results of the 12th round of the football premier league: Olomouc-Uherske Hradiste 2-0, Brno-Hradec Kralove 2-0, Opava-Plzen 2-0, Zlin-Ceske Budejovice 1-0, Zizkov-Jablonec 1-0, Liberec-Ostrava 3-0, Cheb-Sparta 3-3, Slavia-Drnovice 1-2. David Sprincl Hockey Extraleague 16th round: Sparta-Vsetin 1-2, Zlin-Vitkovice 2-2, Trinec-Litvinov 5-5, Kladno-Slavia 6-5, Jihlava-Pardubice 4-2, Brno-Olomouc 4-3. 17th round: Sparta-Kladno 3-1, Vsetin-Trinec 5-4, Ceske Budejovice-Zlin 3-5, Vitkovice-Slavia 3-2, Litvinov-Brno 6-0, Pardubice-Plzen 3-1, Olomouc-Jihlava 1-1. The chart after 17th round: 1. Vsetin 29, 2. Litvinov 26, 3. Sparta 25, 4. Zlin 24, ... 13. Brno 10, 14. Plzen 8. Adam Kotalik WEATHER The weather is getting cooler, night temperature are sinking to zero, afternoon temperature 10 to 15 degrees Centigrade, the first snow appeared in the higher altitudes. 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