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 190, Friday, February 16, 1996. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK (February 8-14) Parliament Declares Legislative Emergency Supported by a majority of deputies, Parliament Chairman Milan Uhde declared the first legislative emergency in the history of the Czech Republic. The emergency was brought on by the December 1995 Constitutional Court decision that Czech citizens without permanent residency in the Czech Republic have the right to demand restitution of land, a right denied to them under previous legislation. The government reacted by proposing legislation in accord with the Constitutional Court decisision. The Constitutional Court decision, which canceled the deadlines to demand restitution but did not establish new deadlines, was to take effect February 9. The original deadlines had already expired, thus it was necessary to approve the amendment by February 9, so as not to cause legal uncertainty. The amendment was approved in Parliament by a vote of 121-36, while 12 deputies abstained and three did not vote. The approved amendment will allow Czechs who emigrated but retained citizenship to demand restitution of land until August 8 and restitution of movable property until the end of 1998. Jaromir Vicari/Andrea Snyder Yes and No in Parliament Parliament February 13 approved a law establishing the ombudsman position. An ombudsman is a public defender who helps citizens solve their bureaucratic problems, and fights for civil rights. The government spoke out against the law, calling it unnecessary, saying that people can call attention to their problems through court. President Vaclav Havel, however, supports the ombudsman function. Parliament turned down the amendment to the criminal law nicknamed "three strikes and out," proposed by the Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL), which suggested that criminals who had been convicted three times of serious crimes would be given life prison sentences. However, Parliament approved the first reading of a law, thus allowing further debate, of another KDU-CSL proposed amendment concerning the drug law, despite the wave of protest rising against it from organizations helping people dependent on drugs. Those opposing the law claim the amendment will catch more drug users than drug dealers. The law would allow criminal prosecution for drug possession, which would criminalize also "experimenters," which include the one-third of high school students having experience with drugs, mainly hashish and marijuana. The KDU-CSL proposal concerning the rectification of injury to property was refused and returned for reformulation. The proposal dealt with church property, religious organizations and other legal entities which lost property after February 25, 1948. Michal Kubal/Andrea Snyder Residents of U Sabotu to Receive Up to 1.5 Million Crowns The government decided February 7 that 38 Czech citizens from the U Sabotu village on the Czech-Slovak border will receive financial compensation. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus announced that "the aid approved by the government will be 50 million crowns. Each adult resident will receive a one-time sum of 400,000 crowns. Those that have not yet reached the age of 18 will receive 200,000 crowns." Financial compensation will be awarded without regard to citizens' desire to remain in U Sabotu after the village is made part of Slovakia. Another form of financial support, with a 1.5 million-crown maximum, is a contribution toward finding a new residence for Czech citizens who do not wish to stay in U Sabotu. Compensation in a proportion of one-third will be received by those who have only a rental or sublease agreement, or do not own their residence. The remaining 10 million crowns will go to the Hodonin County Administration. According to the most recent reports, only a small number of people have refused the payments and demand to remain Czech residents. The Constitutional law about the Czech-Slovak border, by which the village U Sabotu would be handed over to Slovakia, as part of the Javornik township, was already approved by the Slovak Parliament with a record 112-vote majority. The Czech Parliament is just beginning debate on the agreement. David Vozdecky/Andrea Snyder Will Ads and Artists Help Political Parties in Election? About 10,000 billboards of election slogans and political candidates will appear just before the May 31-June 1 parliamentary elections, for a short time taking the place of the usual advertisements for laundry detergents, cars and cigarettes, according to Czech daily MF DNES. The opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) have ordered the most billboards (3,500), while government-coalition leading Civic Democratic Movement (ODS) will use about 3,000, ODS coalition partner Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL) about 2,000 and the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) about 1,200. The price for one month of billboard space fluctuates between 6,000 crowns and 13,000 crowns, depending on the billboard's location. Artists will participate in the election drive as well. CSSD Chairman Milos Zeman will be accompanied by Gilbert Becaud's song Look, the Rose is Blooming (Podivej, kvete ruze) at election rallies (a rose is part of the party emblem), and the party intends to exploit the popularity of Karel Kryl, songs maker. ODS is concealing the names of the artists who should help garner votes. Like in 1992, they are apparently counting on the participation of actors Jiri Bartoska and Jirina Bohdalova. It is expected that the most popular parties want to invest about 250 million crowns in the election drive: ODS less than 100 million crowns, CSSD a maximum of 65 million crowns, ODA and KDU-CSL about 40 million crowns. Lucie Chytrackova/Jitka Motejzikova Nurses Announce Readiness to Strike The Independent Union of Mid-level Healthcare Personnel announced its strike readiness February 13. The union, which has about 5,000 members, has closely worked from its inception with the Physician's Union Club (LOK) of Dr. David Rath, the leading proponent of healthcare overhaul. The union, which demands that nurses' average pay be 20 per cent higher than the average national wage, is hoping other mid-level healthcare personnel, who number about 70,000 in the Czech Republic, will join the group's demands and strike readiness. Barbora Spevakova/Michael Bluhm Havel Undergoes Surgery President Vaclav Havel underwent surgery for a benign polyp inside his mouth February 13. According to the presidential spokesman Ladislav Spacek, Havel will need approximately two weeks to recover from the surgery. Havel has no plans for a public appearance at any time during his recovery period, Spacek said. According to Spacek, it is not certain whether Havel will meet with Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski February 22 in Nachod, as previously scheduled. Neither side has commented regarding rescheduling. Arsen Kocarjan/Michael Wagner FROM SLOVAKIA Witness to Kidnapping of President's Son Testifies Former Slovak Information Service (SIS) agent Oskar F. appeared on Czech television February 13 as a witness to the August 31 kidnapping of Slovak President Michal Kovac's son to Austria. The program was rerun the following day, while the press added that Oskar F. had been questioned by Austrian investigators. Oskar F. is in hiding, and stated in the interview that he and his family feel threatened. He described the course of the kidnapping, which he watched from a distance as part of an SIS detachment. He proclaimed his conviction that the SIS was involved in a plot. The SIS is run by Ivan Lexa, a close friend of Premier Vladimir Meciar, who has long strived to oust Kovac from office. Milan Smid/Michael Bluhm ECONOMY/BUSINESS Skoda and Poldi Cannot Agree Skoda Pilsen (Plzen) boss Lubomir Soudek and Poldi Kladno steelworks owner Vladimir Stehlik concluded their unsuccessful negotiations February 13. Thus an agreement bewteen Stehlik's firm Bohemia Art and Skoda on Skoda's participation in Poldi could not be reached, and, according to Skoda spokesman Jaroslav Hudec, "Skoda definitively will not enter Poldi and its negotiations are finished, as long as Mr. Stehlik does not change his opinion." Skoda proposed the creation of a new company, in which it would hold 49 per cent of the shares. Bohemia Art would have an equal holding, with the remaining 2 per cent belonging to Commerce Bank. Skoda also requested the positions of chairman of the board and general director, while Stehlik would serve as chiarman of the supervisory board and vice-director. Bohemia Art rejected the proposal, and refuses to give up its 54.8 per cent share in Poldi. Stehlik suggested creating two legal agents for the new company, with himself as general director. Soudek and Stehlik informed Minister of Trade and Industry Vladimir Dlouhy that evening. The National Property Fund and Commerce Bank, as Poldi's two biggest creditors (Poldi's debts are estimated at 4 billion crowns), will decide whether a public tender will be held for Poldi. Darina Coufalova/Michael Bluhm Closing of GSM License Tender The accepting of public bids for the Czech Republic's second GSM digital telephone license closed February 14. Two equal licenses will be issued for GSM operations, with one going to EuroTel, which now operates a private mobile telephone network in the 450 MHz band. From the approximately 20, mainly foreign, interested companies, six partnerships evolved and sent bids. Czech firms are participating in three of the six alliances (e.g., Skoda Pilsen, Cekom, Telekomunikacni montaze, Sporitelni investicni spolecnost, Podnik vypocetni techniky). The results of the tender will be announced by the Ministry of Economy by the end of March. Barbora Spevakova/Katerina Zachovalova Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from February 16) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 20.418 Belgium 100 BEF 89.617 Great Britain 1 GBP 41.611 Denmark 1 DKK 4.763 Finland 1 FIM 5.886 France 1 FRF 5.346 Ireland 1 IEP 42.765 Italy 1000 ITL 17.011 Japan 100 JPY 25.536 Canada 1 CAD 19.592 Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.617 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.461 Norway 1 NOK 4.215 New Zealand 1 NZD 18.270 Portugal 100 PTE 17.710 Austria 1 ATS 2.621 Greece 100 GRD 11.136 Slovakia 100 SKK 90.110 Germany 1 DEM 18.426 Spain 100 ESP 21.844 Sweden 1 SEK 3.883 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.612 USA 1 USD 27.015 ECU 1 XEU 33.785 SDR 1 XDR 39.508 CULTURE National Gallery Celebrates Two-Hundredth Anniversary On February 5, 1796, under the initiative of Count Frantisek Schwarzenberg, representatives of the Czech nobility gathered to found the Society of Patriotic Friends of Art. On its basis arose Prague's National Gallery (NG), the world's second oldest institution of its kind, after Paris' Louvre. Today the gallery owns more than 300,000 objects, and has at its disposal far more exhibition space than in the past. Less than 600 works were collected, all in Cernin Palace, at the time of the gallery's founding. The 200th anniversary is being celebrated at the in the St. Agnes and St. George monasteries and in the Sternberg, Kinsky and the newly reconstructed Veletrzni palaces. David Vozdecky/Katerina Zachovalova Slovak Films in Pevnost The network of Prague's art-film theaters recently welcomed the new private Fortress (Pevnost) movie theater in the Palace of Culture. Aside from its usual program, the theater sponsors thematic film cycles. From February 12-21, the showings center on Slovak films made in the 1960's (from February 12 till February 21), which gives Prague's film fans the chance to see lesser known Slovak productions. On the schedule are Party in the Botanical Garden (Slavnost v botanickej zahrade) by Elo Havetta or the surrealistic Virgin Miracle Worker (Panna zazracnica) directed by Stefan Uher and written by Dominik Tatarka. Each feature film is accompanied by a Slovak short film. The Association of Czech Film Clubs, the Association of Slovak Film Clubs, the Slovak Film Archive and the Club of Slovak Culture also participated in the event's organization. Katerina Zachovalova/Katerina Zachovalova 1995 Czech Gramy Nominees Announced Singer Kamil Strihavka and the group Buty (best known for its soundtrack for Jan Sverak's 1994 hit film The Ride (Jizda)) racked up the most nominations for 1995 Czech Gramys, each appearing in six categories. Five nominations were garnered by the mainstream rock group Alice and guitarist/producer Ivan Kral, who has worked with Patti Smythe and David Bowie. The Czech music awards, modeled after the American Grammys, will be handed out March 16 at the Palace of Culture. Michal Kubal/Michael Bluhm SPORTS Ten Seconds to Victory The Czech national hockey team lost their last match with Sweden, 3-2, and thus failed in the last 10 seconds of the game to seize the opportunity to win the international tournament. Three and half minutes before the end of the match, held in Stockholm, the Czech team led 2-0. However, the Swedes tied the score, and won the match on a power-play goal 10 seconds before the final horn. Had the game ended in a tie, the Czech team, which defeated Russia 6-2 and Canada 6-1, would have taken first place. The final standings of the tournament: 1. Sweden, 2. Czech Republic, 3. Russia, 4. Canada. David Sprincl/Milan Smid Davis Cup: After the Hungarians Come the Americans The Czech Davis Cup team defeated Hungary 5-0 in Prague, February 9-11. In the April quarterfinal the Czechs will meet the US team in Prague. Results from February 9: Vacek - Krocsko 3-0 (6-3, 6-3, 6-3), Korda - Noszaly 3-0 (6-2, 7-6, 6-3) February 10: Suk/Vacek - Koves/Noszaly 3-2 (6-7, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4) February 11: Vacek - Noszaly 2-0 (7-5, 6-3), Novak - Krocsko 2-1 (5-7, 7-6, 6-0) Davis Sprincl/Milan Smid Czech Ski Jumpers Take Off at World Championships "We have risen from the dead," said 17-year-old Jakub Suchacek under the mammoth jump in Kulm, and he was right. He, too, contributed to the partial restoration of the reputation of Czech ski jumping. Frantisek Jez closed out the top 10 in the first round, while Suchacek and Jiroutek landed among the top 20. In the second round Sakala finished 7th and Suchacek 8th, Jez took 17th place, Jiroutek 25th and Dolezal 30th. Overall, Suchacek finished 9th, Jez 15th, Sakala 19th, Jiroutek 21st and Dolezal 35th. Goldberger of Austria became the new world champion, Ahohen (Finland) finished 2nd and Franc (Slovenia) third. David Sprincl/Michael Bluhm Hockey Extraleague Playoffs Begin Results: Zlin - Trinec 4:1, Olomouc - Jihlava 2:5, Kladno - Vitkovice 4:2, Slavia - Plzen 4:2. WEATHER Snow fell during the week, the frosts eased up, daytime temparatures occasionally crept above 0 degrees Celsius/32 degrees Fahrenheit, but at night the mercury stayed between minus 5 degrees to minus 10 degrees Celsius/23 degrees to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. English version edited by Michael Bluhm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. The subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated. 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