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 182, Friday, December 8, 1995. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (November 29 - December 6) Cabinet Decides to Send Troops to Bosnia The Czech Cabinet unanimously endorsed the military participation in the NATO-led multinational forces to enforce peace in the territory of former Yugoslavia. Parliament will discuss the issue during its current session. The Czech participation should consist of one mobile battalion of about 850 soldiers. The departure of the first troops is arranged for January, on the condition that the Czech Republic would be invited to participate by NATO in the peace mission. Sources in the press department of the Defense Ministry told Carolina December 6 that the soldiers who have already applied to join the IFOR (Implementation Force) and passed physical and psychological entrance tests represent half the total number of soldiers needed. Training will start and continue until the departure of battalion for Bosnia. Alice Ticha, Livia Savelkova/Milan Smid Havel Visits Japan. President Vaclav Havel finished his visit to Japan December 6. Japanese Emperor Akihita broke strictly observed protocol to receive Havel, who was not on an official visit, and welcomed the president in person in front of the Imperial Palace, where the two also parted. Havel was invited by Akihita to the emperor's box as an honored guest at the evening's gala concert. That day, Havel was the main speaker at the inauguration of the international conference A Future of Hope, which commemorates the passing of 50 years from the end of World War II. Akihita was invited by Havel to the Czech Republic, but a visit depends on the Japanese Foreign Ministry's decision. Olga Huderova/Alida Kassymova Klaus in USA December 5 Premier Vaclav Klaus left the USA after a five-day official visit. The Czech press reported Klaus was the recipient of the James Madison Institute International Prize, an honor for furthering the principles of capitalism. At the Jacksonville, Florida ceremony, Klaus was quoted by Czech daily Pravo as saying, "I believe capitalism is the only system the makes material affluence, as well as political, economical and human freedom possible." At the conservative CATO Institute, Klaus jokingly offered the USA Czech advisors to teach Americans how to create a balanced budget. Natasa Hajkova, Olga Huderova/Andrea Snyder SD + LSNS = SD-LSNS The Free Democrats (SD) and the Liberal Socialist National Party (LSNS) united December 3 as the Free Democrats - Liberal Socialist National Party (SD-LSNS). Leadership congresses of both parties preceded the uniting congress on December 2 in Hradec Kralove, where the unification was ratified. According to earlier statements from both parties' leaders, the integration means the development of a strong central party that should become an alternative to the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD)and the Civil Democratic Party (ODS). Members of the two original parties will split in half the official posts in the new party. Liberal, national, social principles and sustainable growth were declared the party platform, according to approved memorandum. Hitherto chairmen of individual parties - Jiri Dienstbier (SD) and Vavrinec Bodenlos (LSNS) - will serve as co-chairmen of the party until the next parliamentary elections. Jiri Dienstbier was selected as campaign leader for the elections to the lower house of Parliment, and Jaroslav Safarik, a former chairman of the Czech National Council, to represent party the for the Senate. A guest to the unification congress was Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL) Chairman Josef Lux, who did not refuse the possibility of a pre-election coalition of his party with SD-LSNS. Approval of the integration did not confirm fears of some LSNS long-time members that the unification with the much younger SD would not go through. LSNS and SD in brief: The LSNS is a successor of the Czech National Socialist Party, which originated in 1897 and later renamed itself the Czechoslovak Socialist Party, becoming a part of the National Frontier in the socialist era. Its current name came into use in 1993. The SD is a successor of the Civil Movement, one of the branches of the post-1989 Civil Forum. On the basis of the latest public opinion polls, both parties had minimal election preferances that peaked out at two per cent. Radim Wolak/Klara Schirova Miroslav Grebenicek Re-elected KSCM Chairman Miroslav Grebenicek was again voted chairman of the Czech and Moravian Communist Party (KSCM) at the party congress in Liberec December 2. He received 297 of the 316 delegates' votes. Grebenicek said in his address that although he respects the program and personalities of the Civil Democratic Party (ODS), the party will be his main rival in the future, because ODS is the political polar opposite of the KSCM. The main platform aim of the KSCM is a basic transformation of the social system toward socialism, which must adapt to contemporary conditions and possibilities. Lucie Dvorakova/Arsen Kocharian ODS Popularity Rises Again The number of potential Civic Democratic Party (ODS) voters rose by 4 per cent last month, while its main rival, the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD), lost 2 per cent of its popularity, showed a poll taken by Factum and published at the end of November. The gap between the two parties is more than 11 per cent now, while a month ago CSSD was 5 per cent behind ODS, and in September the Social Democrats trailed by 1 per cent. According to the results of the poll, the Czech and Moravian Communist Party (KSCM), at 7.3 per cent, the Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL), the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), both at 6.6 per cent, and Miroslav Sladek's Republicans, at 5.4 per cent, also have the chance to get over the five-per-cent minimum to enter Parliament. Petra Rubesova/Alice Ticha Mlynar Accused Unjustly, Grygarek Said The Office of the Attorney General November 1 confirmed the decision of the Prague district attorney to dismiss high treason charges against Zdenek Mlynar. Attorney General Libor Grygarek claims Mlynar was unjustly accused, and that there were no lawful reason for the accusation. (See Carolina 180 and 181) Lucie Dvorakova/Maria Tripoliti Czechs and Minorities An opinion poll on Czechs' attitudes towards people of other nationalities showed the most popular minority continues to be Slovaks. According to the 1035 answers of respondents older than 15, the highest animosity still belongs to the Romany (Gypsy) population. Results, for positive perception: Slovaks (63 per cent), Polish (39 per cent), Jewish (34 per cent), Germans (33 per cent), citizens of the Balkans (11 per cent), citizens of the former USSR (10 per cent), Vietnamese (9 per cent), Romanies (5 per cent). Klara Schirova, Marketa Hudkova/Maria Tripoliti AIDS in the Czech Republic December 1, proclaimed the world Day against AIDS, was marked by several public actions supporting the campaign against the incurable illness in the Czech Republic. By October 31, 242 bearers (including 39 women) of the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, were recorded in the Czech Republic (about 1.17 million people infected by AIDS are registered in the world, of which 140,000 live in Europe). AIDS has reached later stages in 68 case, and 44 pacients have already died. Specialists judge the real number of the infected in the Czech Republic to be 10 times the number of confirmed cases. Thirty-one people were infected by blood transfusion before 1987, including two children under the age of nine, though blood samples are now controlled. Jitka Motejzikova/Jitka Motejzikova LOK - Strike Emergency Continues Delegates of the Physician's Union Club (LOK) decided a date for eventual continuation of the doctors' strikes - March 11, 1996. If the government raises salaries by 40 per cent in January, and an additional 20 per cent in April, LOK will call off the strike. If all goes as planned, LOK will raise an assistent's monthly pay to 8,000-17,000 crowns, a doctor's monthly salary will increase to 25,000 crowns, and a surgeon will receive 27,000 crowns per month. LOK will decide February 29 whether to strike. Until that time, the government and the Ministry of Health have time to meet the union's demands, and to convince physicians of the merits of Minister Jan Strasky's long-term program. Petr Mrzena/Andrea Snyder Zdenek Sverak Works to Make Things Right Actor, author and screenwriter Zdenek Sverak was awarded the Pangea Foundation's annual prize for Efforts for Betterment of Humanity December 3 in the Vinohrady Theater. Preceded by writer Jaroslav Foglar, entertainer Jiri Suchy, and contact lens inventor Otto Wichterle, Sverak is the fourth recipient of the prize. Sverak is president of the Paraple Foundation, which helps paraplegics live normally and learn to be as independent as possible. Many of Sverak's friends and colleagues attended the event, including Sverak's writing partner, actor Ladislav Smoljak, director Jiri Menzel, composer Jaroslav Uhlir and members of the Jara Cimrman Theater. Alice Ticha/Andrea Snyder FROM SLOVAKIA Irregular Slovak Parliament Committees Unconstitutional The Slovak Constitutional Court ruled November 29 that the creation and activities of certain Slovak Parliament investigative committees are unconstitutional. Parts of the parliamentary rules of order enabling creation of irregular committees, passed by lawmakers last year at the infamous "night meeting," were also ruled unconstitutional. Most of the investigative committees are made up of members of the ruling coalition. As a result, the opposition refuses to acknowlege their decisions. One investigative committees is trying to determine whether unconstitutional activities ocurred during the forced resignation of Premier Vladimir Meciar's cabinet last year. A second team is checking the validity of petition signatures for the Democratic Union (DU) from the last parliamenty elections, and consequently the validity of DU's parliament madates. Two other committees are investigating former Minister of Defense Pavel Kanis and the fatal car accident of former Czechoslovak Parliament Chairman Alexander Dubcek. Marketa Skodova/Andrea Snyder President Kovac Pardons His Son's Kidnapper Slovak President Michal Kovac November 30 granted a pardon to Slovak Information Service (SIS) ex-first lieutenant Oskar F., who confessed to participation in the abduction of Kovac's son. Oskar F. said in the confession that SIS Chief Ivan Lexa led the entire operation personally, and that Premier Vladimir Meciar knew about the operation. Oskar F. is now under federal protection and his whereabouts are not publicly known. Kovac's spokesman said the president appreciated the sincerity of the former agent's confession and his effort to help investigate the crime. Marketa Skodova/Jitka Motejzikova Slovak Credit Fund Prosecutes Czech Central Securities Registry An unknown individual, using falsified personal documents, transfered stocks worth 80 million crowns from the Slovak Credit Fund account at the Jihlava Branch of the Central Securities Registry (SCP) to another company's account this August. As a result, Credit Fund is prosecuting the SCP in Prague's Trade Court for not upholding contract conditions. Credit Fund legal representative Ernest Valko said the SCP didn't do all that it could have to stop the theft from taking place. He claims that SCP Director Jiri Sedlacek and Deputy Minister Of Finance Vladimir Rudlovsky advised Credit Fund to sue, pointing out that the Czech Republic has no procedure for handling such cases, and that the unknown individual carries the blame. At about the same time that Credit Fund's stock was stolen, two other Slovak funds, Casiova Fund and Slov-Kupon, lost stocks worth 360 million crowns in a similar fashion. Valko reports that neither of the other funds are prosecuting, and are instead working with the Czech Police. Marketa Skodova/Andrea Snyder ECONOMICS Industrial Production Grows The Czech Statistical Office (CSU) reported yesterday that industrial production this October is up 18.8 per cent from last year at the same time. Industrial production grew nine per cent in the first 10 months of 1995, a record pace for the Czech Republic. Matej Bartosek/Andrea Snyder Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from Dec. 1) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 19.742 Belgium 100 BEF 89.881 Great Britain 1 GBP 41.001 Danemark 1 DKK 4.769 Finland 1 FIM 6.194 France 1 FRF 5.359 Ireland 1 IEP 42.393 Italy 1000 ITL 16.750 Japan 100 JPY 26.331 Canada 1 CAD 19.520 Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.881 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.492 Norway 1 NOK 4.213 New Zealand 1 NZD 17.241 Portugal 100 PTE 17.593 Austria 1 ATS 2.627 Greece 100 GRD 11.220 Slovakia 100 SKK 89.519 Germany 1 DEM 18.476 Spain 100 ESP 21.681 Sweden 1 SEK 4.033 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.826 United States 1 USD 26.668 ECU 1 XEU 34.057 IMF 1 XDR 39.649 CULTURE Three-Year Quarrel About Bojnice Altar Resolved At a November 30 meeting, Czech Minister of Culture Pavel Tigrid and Slovak Ambassador Ivan Mjartan decided the Altar of Bojnice will find its home in Bojnice Castle from mid-December. A polyptych of the Virgin Mary with child by Florencian painter Narda di Cione, the Altar of Bojnice will be received by the Prague National Gallery, in exchange for 10 Gothic paintings of Slovak provenance, from the Slovak National Gallery. The October meeting of Czech Prime Ministers Vaclav Klaus and Slovak Premier Vladimir Meciar played the main role in concluding the drawn-out culture conflict. Klara Schirova, Marketa Hudkova/Klara Schirova Atlantis Publishing House Celebrates 6th Anniversary The 6th anniversary celebration of the founding of Brno's Atlantis Publishing House took place in Prague's Viola wine cellar November 30. By unpleasant coincidence, the funeral of critic, translator and Atlantis founding partner Sergej Machonin ocurred the same day. (See Carolina 181.) Among the guests who came to commemorate the founding of Atlantis, and also to honor Machonin, were Parliament Chairman and former dissident Milan Uhde, Minister of Culture Pavel Tigrid, writer Ludvik Vaculik, translator Zdenek Urbanek and critic Milan Jungmann. The occasion opened with Atlantis Director Jitka Uhdeova (the Parliament chairman's wife) presenting the history and activities of the publishing house. The original editiorial strategy, focused on former "undesirable" authors has, step by step, changed into a specialization in Czech prose and essay writers. Foreign literature was and will be a minority interest. Uhdeova explained the predominance of French authors by the existence of the French-funded F.X. Salda Project, through which the French Foreign Ministry supports publishing activity in the former Czechoslovakia. Viktorie Reschova/Jitka Hejtmanova Benefit Concert at Prague Castle A benefit concert for the Czech Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired was held December 3 in the Spanish salon at Prague Castle. The money collected went to The Czech Union for blind andbadsighted. The event went on under the patronage of Prague Mayor Jan Koukal (ODS) and was organized by Mathilda Nosticova. Blind artists Olga Stepankova, a Czech mezzosoprano, and Alberto Colombo, an Italian pianist, performed works by Martinu, Mahler and Beethoven. They were accompanied by the Prague Symphony Orchestra, led by conducter Petr Vronsky. A number of diplomats and renowned politicians and businessmen were in attendance. Petra Rubesova/Katerina Rus An Original Show of Unoriginal Fashions The satirical Second-Hand Fashion Show took over the runways at Prague's Belmondo Club December 1. The event was inspired by designer Simona Rybakova and directed by brothers Michal and Simon Cabanova of the Krec (Cramp) ballet group. About 60 people took part in the show, displaying the used wares supplied by Texpress, a Prague second-hand shop. The whole anti-show was done in a farcical manner, underlined by the presence of "models" known to the public from the Sklep Theater and Krec (e.g., Tomas Hanak, Jaroslav Rona and Vaclav Marhoul). The whole evening ended with an auction of the most attractive items, with the proceeds going to the Chantal Poullain Foundation for improving childrens' hospitals. Matej Bartosek/Katerina Rus CULTURE IN BRIEF * Josef Sudek's photographs made with pigment technology during 40's and 50's are being exhibited in Sudek's former Prague atelier until March 10. * Nativity scenes by 80 different artists made from such materials as wood, ginger bread, paper, plaster, corn leaves, glass, tiles and painted tin are being shown in Prague's Palace of Culture till December 20. * The four-volume History of Charles University's first part, describing the years 1347-1622, was introduced in the renowned graduation hall in the university's Karolinum building November 30. * Luciano Pavarotti will perform in Prague during the Prague Spring music festival December 22, 1996, said festival Director Oleg Pokorny November 29. * The first internet cafe in Prague, called Cybeteria, opened on Stepanska street; 30 minutes riding the Infobahn there costs 50 crowns (about two USD). Klara Schirova, Marketa Hudkova, Katerina Zachovalova/K. Zachovalova Giant St. Nicholas on Old Town Square On the evening before St. Nicholas' Day at Old Town Square, where masked Nicholases, devils and angels traditionally gather, a giant St. Nicholas appeared, measuring about nine feet (274 centimeters), according to daily MF DNES. Zdenek Jires, the most well-known Czech stilt-walker, was hidden behind the giant Nicholas mask (Jires has walked on stilts across the Czech Republic, and to the top of the highest Czech mountain, Snezka). He gave away presents and ginger bread, often given by Nicholases in the past, from his eight-foot (2.4-meter) tall basket (said to be the world's largest). The cult of St. Nicholas came to this country around the 13th or 14th century, worshiping him as the patron of marriage, trade, sailors and children. Lucie Chytrackova/Katerina Zachovalova SPORT Slavia Is Fall Champion of Soccer League The last two matches of the Czech soccer league's autumn schedule were on last week's program. Slavia won in Hradec Kralove 3-0, and leads the standings at the end of the fall schedule. Plzen surprisingly defeated defending champion Sparta 2-1. Standings after the 15th round: 1. Slavia (31 points), 2. Olomouc (27), Liberec (27), 4. Sparta (26), Drnovice (26), 6. Plzen (25), 7. Opava (24), 8. Jablonec (23), 9. Zizkov (22), Cheb (22), 11. Ceske Budejovice (20), 12. Brno (17), 13. Ostrava (15), 14. Uherske Hradiste (11), 15. Hradec Kralove (9), 16. Zlin (8). Jan Palicka/Jan Palicka Season's Second Half Kicks off in Extraleague The 26th round of hockey's Extraleague ended the first part of the season, with the first games of the supplementary part taking place December 5. Teams at the top of the standings faced off against the squads from the bottom - league-leading Vsetin played a 1-1 tie against the last-place side from Brno, and 13th place Pardubice defeated second-place Litvinov. Results from the 25th round: Sparta-C. Budejovice 2-2. Results from the 26th round: Slavia-Jihlava 5-5, Kladno-Litvinov 3-5, Vitkovice-Brno 3-3, Olomouc-Vsetin 1-5, C. Budejovice-Trinec 3-0, Zlin-Plzen 7-1, Sparta-Pardubice 6-5. Results from the 27th round: Brno-Vsetin 1-1, Pardubice-Litvinov 4-3, Sparta-Trinec 4-2, Plzen-Zlin 6-3, Olomouc-C. Budejovice 2-3, Jihlava-Kladno 1-4, Vitkovice-Slavia 4-4. Jan Palicka/Jan Palicka Mary Jo Fernandez Wins KB Open Tennis Exhibition America's Mary Jo Fernandez (USA) won the Commerce Bank Open Tennis Exhibition, held from November 28-30 in Prague's Sport Hall. Fernandez fought off a match point against 15-year-old Kosice native Martha Hingis in the semifinal, and withstood a set point against Anke Huber in the final. Semifinal: Fernandez (USA)-Hingis (SWI) 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, Huber (GER)-Sanchez-Vicario (SPA) 6-3, 6-4. Final: Fernandez-Huber 7-5, 7-6. Jan Palicka/Jan Palicka Cyclocross Holidays on Strahov Hill The 4th part of Cyclocross World Cup took place December 3 in Prague's Strahov Stadium. Reigning world champion Runkel (Switzerland) came out in first, second place went to Pontoni (Italy) and third belonged to local Jiri Pospisil (Czech Republic). The top Czech cyclist of recent years, Radomir Simunek, finished sixth. Jan Palicka/Jan Palicka Czech Handball Players into European Championship December 29 the Czech handball team bested Hungary 34-28 in Zubri, ensuring the team of a spot in the 1996 European championships in Spain. In the final match of the group, Hungary defeated the Czechs 23-17 in Veszprem. Result of the Czech Republic's group: 1. CR, 2. Hungary, 3. Macedonia, 4. Slovakia. Jan Palicka/Jan Palicka WEATHER December's first week started with drizzle and ended in a blizzard. The temperatures hovered around zero during the days, and sank below zero at nights, in some places as low as minus 15 degrees Centigrade. 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