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 180, Friday, November 24, 1995. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (November 15-22) Czech Politicians React to Results of Polish Presidential Elections President Vaclav Havel hopes that the newly elected Polish President Alexander Kwasniewsky will continue the democratic changes introduced by his predecessor, Lech Walesa. Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus supposes the landslide victory of the new Polish president will not mean "any essential changes in the foregoing exceptionally good relations between the Czech Republic and Poland." The newly elected Polish leader was welcomed by almost the entire Czech political opposition. Social Democratic Party Chairman Milos Zeman believes in the prosperity of Poland and improvement in Czech-Polish relations. "The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) considers the election results a natural response to the preceding activities of the rightist government,"said KSCM spokeswoman Vera Zezulkova. Victorie Reschova, Michaela Vysoudilova/Kassymova Alida. Celebrations of the November 17th Anniversary November 17 the Czech Republic marked the sixth anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which reopened the nation's doors to democracy. The highest state representatives, including President Vaclav Havel, Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus and Chairman of the strongest opposition party, the Social Democrats, Milos Zeman, came to pay tribute at the statue of St. Wenceslas in Prague. Klaus said the events of six years ago were a break in our lives and a revolution of all that we had experienced and were experiencing today". After laying flowers at the Narodni trida site of the fatal demonstration that led to the revolution, Zeman said "on the occassion of the sixth anniversary of November, this government gave university students tuition." President Havel invited 20 participants of the November revolution to an informal meeting. The Czech press also reacted to the significant anniversary. Saturday's edition of the daily Pravo published a page-long interview with President Havel and an article on Civil Forum, the first democratic political group on the Czech political scene after November 17. The daily Denni Telegraf published the anniversary speech of Parliament Chairman Milan Uhde. The fact that November 17 is not only an anniversary of 1989 but also a rememberance of the events of 1939 was remembered by friends and former classmates of Jan Opletal in front of Hlavka's student dormitory in Prague. Natasa Hajkova, Jaromir Vicari/Klara Schirova Josef Zieleniec Calls on Bonn for Compensation for Czech Victims of Nazism Minister of Foreign Affairs Josef Zieleniec addressed the audience November 16 at the series of lectures "On Coexistence" (about Czech-German relations) organized by Charles University and the Bertelsmann Foundation. He again spoke for the compensation of Czech victims of German Nazism. The compensation should be a part of a common "future fund" that both governments would support financially, he said. The Czech press noted in connection that the current government paid Czech victims more than one billion crowns as a humanitarian gesture. Zieleniec proposed that both sides in the future would eliminate steps that could cast doubt on the political and legal systems of the other country. The minister refused the posibility of uncovering the absolute truth about the Czech-German past and recommended instead concentrating on the present and future. He also credited the constructive approach of both countries' political opposition, especially the active participation of the Czech Social Democrat, which has showed a sense for partyless national interest, he said. The speech met with sharp disagreement from Communist Party Chairman Miroslav Grebenicek, who called the politics of the Czech government "neo-collaboration." Zbynek Vicar/Klara Schirova Zdenek Mlynar Charged With Treason Zdenek Mlynar, a leading activist in the 1968 Prague Spring, was charged with treason November 16. According to the Bureau of Documentation and Investigation of Communist Crimes (UDV), Mlynar was to take part in the August 1968 organization of the so-called labor-agricultural party, which was to have come to power with the support of invading armies. Mlynar, in a written press statement, calls the charges "political revenge." He said the charges are based on a the testimony of Vasil Bilak, who was recently tried by the UDV in Slovakia. Mlynar refuses to testify before the UDV because he doesn't trust them, and he said Vaclav Benda is politically biased. Benda is the head of the Christian Democratic Party, which runs UDV. Mlynar, current honorary chairman of the Left Block, is only another in the line of high party officials that have been accused of treason in relation to the Augusst invasion. Others include Milous Jakes, Josef Lenart, Karel Hoffmann, Zbynek Sojak and Jan Piller, who died this October. The sentence for treason is from 12 years in prison to life. Michal Kubal/Andrea Snyder Czech and Slovak Border to Be Shorter Parliament November 15 approved a proposal to negotiate a border agreement between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The agreement must still be approved by Parliament as constitutional law. The border will be shortened from the original 285 km to 251 km by straightening. The small village of Sidonie will become Czech and U Sabotu will be turned over to the Slovaks. The land exchange will total 450 hectares. The Czech Press Agency reported the Mayor of Javornik (in the U Sabotu region) as marking the Czech government's decision impudent. He says that of 37 homes, approximately 20 will want to move to the Czech Republic. The government has declared its readiness to aid these, and similar cases, in their move to the Czech Republic. Matej Husek/Andrea Snyder Physician's Strike Takes a Break Following a meeting with President Vaclav Havel, the leadership of the Physician's Union Club (LOK) called off the administrative strike November 17. The strike had lasted for nearly three weeks. Havel met with LOK Chairman Dr. David Rath and other LOK representatives, because conditions had made it impossible to discuss and develop health reforms. Rath said Havel was the only politician to ask the doctors to end the strike. At a November 30 meeting, LOK will decide whether to end the strike entirely, and what further steps should be. Rath said the decision depends on the proposals offered by the Ministry of Health. Klaus said the meeting with the president was something Rath had been desperately awaiting a long time as a way to get out of the strike. Radim Wolak/Andrea Snyder Government Approves Proposal of New University Law The bill passed by the government November 15 would require students to pay school fees from the start of the 1996-7 school year. The state's share of room and board would be decided by availability and need. School fees for the 1996-97 school year would range from 2,500 crowns to 11,000 crowns, which is 5 per cent to 20 per cent of the average per-student cost. Students would be able to receive state-guaranteed loans. They could begin repaying it one year after finishing school, over the same number of years they studied. Most rectors estimate tuition will be about 6,000 crowns. The bill must be passed by Parliament. Parliament School Committee Chairman Frantisek Kozel said Parliament should approve the law before students start applying to universities at the end of February. In Parliament, the voices of those opposed to the tuition law are growing louder. Objections have been aired by members of the government's coalition partners, the Civic Democratic Alliance and the Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party, who either reject the proposal outright or claim the proposed fees are too high. Marketa Skodova/Andrea Snyder Klaus Voted Chairman at ODS Party Congress Negotiations between the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and the Christian Democratic Party (KDS) peaked with the approval of an integration contract proposal. All party positions remained the same. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus was re-elected as chairman, and Libor Novak stays on as acting vice-chairman. Josef Zielienec, Jan Strasky, Jiri Vlach, and Ivan Pilip are vice-chairmen. The congress also approved the existing ODS long-term platform. ODS electoral leaders for regional party associations were also chosen at the meeting. Candidates will be lead by Foreign Minister Josef Zielienec in Prague, by Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik in central Bohemia, by Transportation Minister Vladimir Budinsky in northern Bohemia, by Interior Minister Jan Ruml in western Bohemia, by Health Minister Jan Strasky in eastern Bohemia, by Parliament Deputy Chairman Jiri Vlach in southern Bohemia, by Parliament Chairman Milan Uhde in southern Moravia and by Klaus in northern Moravia. Barbora Spevackova and Petr Mrzena/Andrea Snyder KDS to Merge with ODS in Spring The Christian Democratic Party (KDS) will merge with the governing Civic Democratic Party (ODS) in March 1996, decided KDS delegates at the November 18 party congress in Svitavy. The merger contract secures KDS at least four places on the ODS candidate slate in the next parliamentary elections. Minister of Education Ivan Pilip was re-elected as KDS chairman. Spokesman for the Preservation of the KDS platform Rostislav Gargulak (see Carolina 178) called the move "dishonorable", during the extensive discussion that preceded the ratification of the contract. Gargulak claims that, within ODS, the former KDS will not have the possibility to implement its program. Gargulak would not rule out future cooperation between his group and the Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL) or the Club of Committed Non-Party Members (KAN). Petra Rubesova/Petra Rubesova KAN Doesn't Want To Merge With ODS By a one-vote margin, members of the Club of Committed Non-Party Members' (KAN) congress voted against a merger contract with the Christian Democratic Party (KDS) and a subsequent merger with the Civic Democratic Party (ODS). KAN chairman Emil Dejmek and a part of the KAN leadership resigned after the vote, and left the negotiations to join KDS. (It is estimated that about one-third of KAN's members will join KDS.) Merger adversary Pavel Holba was elected as the new KAN chairman. Congress delegates also decided that KAN will not participate in next year's parliamentary elections. Petra Rubesova/Petra Rubesova Cafe Slavia to Open in One Year The conflict which has kept Prague' s famous Slavia Cafe closed might have been settled by the Prague City Court's decision November 17 that the rental contract between the Academy of Music Arta (AMU) and Boston firm HN Gorin is invalid. The court claimed the contract was closed without the approval of the Prague 1 District Office. The AMU's lawyer had asserted the contract's invalidity from the beginning of the argument (said AMU financial officer Tamara Curikova, according to Lidove noviny), leading to AMU's announcement one year ago of a public tender for a new rental contract on Lazansky Palace, where Slavie is located. The Parnas company had the winning bid then, and it will likely become the tenant. One of Parnas' owners, Filip Sedivy, said the cafe should open within 8 months after beginning reconstuction. He also said the cafe should return to its original 1930's look, and will become a place frequented mainly by students and teachers. The campaign to reopen the cafe, where Czech intellectuals and artists used to gather, has been joined by a wealth of well known Czech. "It is a nice gift for Czech culture and intelligentsia for November 17," said President Vaclav Havel. Zora Kasikova/Katerina Zachovalova FROM SLOVAKIA Slovak Government Approves Language Law The Slovak Parliament November 15 approved the government's national language proposal. During debate, Minister of Culture Hudec said that "the second-rate position of Slovak in a mixed-language land, today represses communication in this language." Hungarian coalition Deputy Rosza claimed the law to be "an instrument for the assimilation of minorities, which is in contradiction to a number of international documents." According to one of the accepted proposed amendments, the whole official agenda and the health agenda must be carried out in the official language. On the other hand, weddings will not have to be conducted in Slovak. The part concerning education allows exceptions in which university lectures and textbooks could be in a foreign language. The maximum fine for those who do not obey the law was decreased from 1 million crowns to 500,000 crowns. The law does not specify the obligation of dubbing or putting subtitles in Czech movies, it is only necessary to assure their comprehensibility. The deputies of the Hungarian coalition suggested the prompt creation of a law dealing with minority languages. The entire debate took place in an exceptionally excited atmosphere. In front of the Parliament building about 200 people gathered at the invitation of Matice Slovenska, the century-old Slovak national promotion organization, to demonstrate their support of the law. At the suggestion of the ruling Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) the members voted individually - every deputy had to stand up after he was called upon and proclaim yes or no. The voting was broadcasted live by Slovak public television. The session ended with a version of the patriotic song "Hey Slovaks!". Petr Pabian/Katerina Rus European Parliament Warns Slovak Government The European Parliament addressed the Slovak government November 16 with a sharply-fomulated invitation to uphold the principles of democracy and a legal country. This is the third recent demarche that expresses discontent with internal political development in Slovakia. Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) press spokesman Haber reacted by saying "Concerning the European Parliament resolution to Slovakia, HZDS reminds you of a recent story, when the leaders of Nazi Germany first sent countries demarches, and then occupied them with tanks...Also the leaders of the Soviet Union sent Czechoslovakia a demarche in 1968, and then occupied our land with Warsaw Pact armies." However, HZDS representatives distanced themselves from Haber's remarks. Haber then said the public announcements were his own personal opinions and not the official HZDS party standpoint. During his regular Friday interview on Slovak radio, Premier Vladimir Meciar said he would like to meet with the EU chairman as soon as possible and clarify all things concerning the EU demarches and the European Parliament resolution. Petr Pabian/Andrea Snyder Velvet Revolution Celebrated with Demonstrations The Slovak public celebrated the sixth anniversary of the November 17 Velvet Revolution, the birth of democratic change in what was then the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Reminders of the revolution were, however, often accompanied by criticism of the current developments in Slovakia. About 10,000 people demonstrated in Bratislava November 17, and heard, among others, former premier Jozef Moravcik. In his speech, he charged current Premier Vladimir Meciar with misusing the police and secret service for his own personal goals, and with influencing public television and radio. "He wants to make both the state and the nation his," said Moravcik. Petr Pabian/Andrea Snyder Investigators of Michal Kovac Jr. Kidnapping Did Not Break Law The Inspection Service Office closed its investigation of Ivan Lexa's charges aginst Jaroslav Simunic and Peter Vacok, investigators of the kidnapping of Michal Kovac Jr. (see Carolina 173). The inspection did not discover any illegal activities on the part of the investigators and the policemen will not be prosecuted. Petr Pabian/Katerina Zachovalova Peter Weiss Refuses to Run for Chairman of SDL Peter Weiss, current chairman of the Party of the Democratic Left (SDL), decided not to candidate again for the position. That does not mean he wants to leave politics, he would in fact like to work in SDL's leadership in the future, he said. Weiss gave reasons for his refusal in the daily Pravo November 15 - he cited Slovakia's internal political developments, saying, "Everything has gone too far. I am getting scared." Petr Pabian/Katerina Zachovalova ECONOMY Russia Begins Paying Debt to Czech Republic in Goods Czech Minister of Finance Ivan Kocarnik and Russian Vice-Premier Yuri Yarov signed a contract November 17 in Prague to prevent double taxation and tax evasion. At the same time a program of the scientific and technical cooperation was signed. During the following press conference, Kocarnik called the signing very positive. Yarov said Russia will pay in goods 130 million USD of the debt owed to the Czech Republic. "The type of goods, and partners, are still being sought for another 70 million USD," Yarov said. The payment of the remaining Russian debt of 3.5 billion USD depends on the interest of Czech businessmen and Russia's conditions, Kocarnik said. Marketa Skodova/Aresn Kocharian NEWS IN BRIEF * The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD) has officially declared that in November it will accept the Czech Republic as the first country from Central and Eastern Europe to become a member. * November 15 the government announced an 8 per cent cost-of-living increase to take effect January 1, which will mean the automatic increase of a number of various subsidies under the new social security system. * Representatives of the IOC foreign petrochemical firms and the domestic Unipetrol holding signed a contract November 15 for foreign participation in the Czech refineries Kaucuk Kralupy and Chemopetrol Litvinov. * A November 15 extraordinary general shareholders' meeting of Pilsen Bank voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new nine-member board reflecting Motoinvest's shareholding majority in the bank (see Carolina 179). David Sprincl/Arsen Kocharian Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from Nov. 24) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 19.388 Belgium 100 BEF 90.558 Great Britain 1 GBP 41.059 Danemark 1 DKK 4.805 Finland 1 FIM 6.234 France 1 FRF 5.403 Ireland 1 IEP 42.281 Italy 1000 ITL 16.518 Japan 100 JPY 26.096 Canada 1 CAD 19.413 Luxemburg 100 LUF 90.558 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.622 Norway 1 NOK 4.224 New Zealand 1 NZD 17.126 Portugal 100 PTE 17.808 Austria 1 ATS 2.645 Greece 100 GRD 11.257 Slovakia 100 SKK 89.479 Germany 1 DEM 18.613 Spain 100 ESP 21.749 Sweden 1 SEK 4.029 Switzerland 1 CHF 23.071 USA 1 USD 26.271 ECU 1 XEU 34.163 IMF 1 XDR 39.363 CULTURE Czech Book Receives American Award The book Je moji vlasti hradba ghett? (Is the Wall of Ghettos My Fatherland?) by three Czech authors was honored by the Jewish Book Council in New York. National prize for Jewish book of the year 1995 was awarded in the category publications inspired by theme of holocaust. The book was already published with English title We Are Children Just the Same, subtitled VEDEM - The Secret Magazine by the Boys of Terezin, in Philadelphia. In the name of authors - Marie Rut Krizkova, Jiri Kotouc and Zdenek Ornest - a former child prisoner of the Terezin concentration camp, Canadian businessman Jiri Brady, accepted the prize in Boston November 16. Prague publisher Aventinum was represented by Rabbi Michael Monson. The book is a collection of documents about the weekly magazine VEDEM written from 1942-4 by 13- to 15-year-old boys in Terezin (Theresienstadt). Among the contributors to the magazine were both male authors and Jiri Brady. Selected items from the magazines include drawings, interviews and commentaries from the boys. The book, with introduction by President Vaclav Havel, is to be published in Czech and German by the end of November in Prague. Klara Schirova, Marketa Hudkova/Jitka Hejtmanova Divadlo Za Branou Is Dead Citing financial crisis, Members of Theater Divadlo za branou III announced end of the group during the premiere performance November 16 of the play Letni byt (The Summer Apartment) by Carlo Goldoni. Theater Divadlo za branou was established in 1965 (it might celebrate its 30th anniversary in a few days). Among its founders, aside from director Otomar Krejca, were actors Jan Triska, Marie Tomasova, playwright Josef Topol and producer Karel Kraus. The theater was known especially for the excellent performance of its actors, good direction and dramaturgic preparation and its unique staging style. The theater was closed by the Ministry of Culture in 1972 for "technical reasons." The legendary theater opened again five years ago with the name Divadlo za branou II. Financial problems arose from the very beginning of theater activity. Last year Otomar Krejca closed and reopened the theater to gain public funds during the transformation of state culture subsidies.The group resumed performing under the name Divadlo za branou III. Jitka Motejzikova/Jitka Motejzikova Jazz Heaven at Eden The Wayne Shorter Sextet performed November 17 in Prague's Eden club. The concert of the 62-year-old saxophonist (who performed with the late Miles Davis and founded Weather Report) and his band took place as part of the European Teacher's Jazz Festival, organized by the AghARTa Foundation and the Assembly DIRECT company. The concert was inspired exclusively by the album High Life, which Shorter produced after an eight-year hiatus. This master of modern jazz, in response to a question from daily Lidove Noviny, said that playing jazz is like touching eternity. Klara Schirova, Marketa Hudkova/Jitka Motejzikova Smok's Ballet Celebrates 20th anniversary The Prague Chamber Ballet celebrated 20 years of existence November 18 with the premiere of Jeden zivot (One life). The ballet group was established in the year 1975 and its history is joined foremost with the name of choreographer Pavel Smok. Today, the most meaningful Czech modern dance group has financial problems, which prevented it from realizing the project Don Juan. Smok's ballet premiered five works and performed a total of 120 times last season. Klara Schirova, Marketa Hudkova/Jitka Motejzikova Christmas Present - Miracle by Karel Gott Czech music legend Karel Gott debuted his third album with a Christmas theme November 15. He received a gold record for the album, entitled Zazrak vanocni (Christmas miracle), because the number of preliminary orders exceeded the barrier of 29,000. Not only classical Christmas compositions appear on the new album, but also modified melodies by Bach, Tchaikovsky, Suchy and Slitr. Klara Schirova, Marketa Hudkova/Jitka Motejzikova SPORT Slavia Scoreless at Home In UEFA Cup The first match of 3rd round of the UEFA Cup between Slavia Prague and Racing Lens (France) ended without goals or chances. Slavia's Smicer had the best possibility, but failed to score. Slavia head coach Cipro said, "I am not satisfied." Karel Bartek/Jan Palicka Liberec Leads Czech Soccer Standings The biggest surprise of the last round of Czech soccer league played out in Prague, where Sparta was played to a 1:1 tie by Jablonec. Liberec defeat Hradec Kralove 3-2 with goal in the last minute and leads the standings. Results of the 14th round: Brno-Slavia 0-2, Zizkov-Ceske Budejovice 4-0, Liberec-Hradec Kralove 3-2, Sparta-Jablonec 1-1, Olomouc-Drnovice 2-0, Zlin-Ostrava 0-0, Cheb-Plzen 1-2, Opava-Uherske Hradiste 2-0. Adam Kotalik/Jan Palicka Hockey Players Make Three Rounds in One Week Defending champion Vsetin has followed its successful performance in the European Cup with a crisis. Vsetin defeated Zlin but then lost its matches with Slavia and Vitkovice. On the programme was Prague's great "S" derby - Sparta defeated Slavia 4-3 after a hard struggle. Results of the 21st round: Vsetin-Zlin 5-1, Trinec-Jihlava 7-2, Olomouc-Vitkovice 3-3, Pardubice-C. Budejovice 3-4, Litvinov-Slavia 9-3, Sparta-Plzen 6-2, Brno-Kladno 2-3. The 22nd round: Slavia-Vsetin 2-1, Zlin-Sparta 4-1, C. Budejovice-Olomouc 1-3, Kladno-Pardubice 2-1, Plzen-Trinec 6-3, Jihlava-Brno 1-4, Vitkovice-Litvinov 4-4. The 23rd round: Brno-Plzen 1-1, Sparta-Slavia 4-3, Vsetin-Vitkovice 2-5, Olomouc-Pardubice 2-2, Litvinov-C. Budejovice 2-2, Jihlava-Kladno 4-4, Trinec-Zlin 2-3. Adam Kotalik/Jan Palicka Edited by Michael Bluhm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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