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 197, Friday, April 5, 1996. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (March 27-April 4) British Royal Couple Visits Czech Republic March 27-29 The Queen's schedule continued March 28 with a visit to Brno. Brno Mayor Dagmar Lastovecka welcomed her Majesty to the city at the New Town Hall, after which the Queen made her way to Freedom Square (Namesti svobody), where thousands of Brno citizens awaited her. After a lavish lunch, Elizabeth II and President Vaclav Havel met with university and justice respresentatives. After returning to Prague, the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, attended a concert at the Rudolfinum. Accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Josef Lux, Prince Philip visited the National Stud Farms in Kladruby nad Labem and the historical town of Kutna hora. On the same day, he opened an exhibition featuring the newest products of British design at Prague's New Town Hall. Elizabeth II visited the Old Town Hall March 29, where Prague Mayor Jan Koukal presented her with the symbolic key to the city gates. At Prague's Freedom Square, Prince Philip honored fallen Czech pilots from World War II, and met with veterans. The royal couple toured the city of Prague until their departure to England in the evening. Darina Coufalova/Andrea Snyder Uhde Explains Why British Queen Did Not Address Parliament At the April 2 meeting of the representatives of parliamentary deputy clubs, head of coalition partner Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) club Ivan Masek accused Parliament Chairman Milan Uhde of damaging Parliament's reputation. This was after the discovery that six months prior to Queen Elizabeth's visit, Uhde responded to the British ambassador's request that the Queen be allowed to address Parliament with worries about insufficient attendance in Parliament and the reaction of extremist parties. Much of the opposition and many of the coalitions reacted in uproar to the announcement. ODA deputy Josef Jezek went as far as to call for Uhde's resignation, a proposal that he later withdrew. Uhde reacted to the criticism with a letter addressed to Parliament, where he writes that, besides speaking with the ambassador, he received neither an official nor an unofficial offer. Michaela Vysoudilova/Andrea Snyder Demonstration for Human Rights in Chechnya Nearly 100 people gathered in front of the Russian Embassy March 28 to protest the Russian military invasion of Chechnya. Most of the demonstrators were young people, but included as well Parliament deputy Zdenek Trojan and the director of the Man in Emergency Foundation (Clovek v tisni) Simon Panek. They presented the embassy with a protest letter addressed to the Russian government and President Boris Yeltsin. Maria Tripoliti/Andrea Snyder 20 Parties and Movements Running for Parliament Seventeen parties and three movements submitted their ballots for Parliament elections by the April 1 deadline. The elections will take place this year May 31 and June 1. In 1992, 23 parties put together ballots. Pre-election polls show that six parties have a chance to win at least 5 per cent from the more than 7.5 million voters; the governing Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL), the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), and from the opposition the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD), the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) and the Association for the Republic-Czechoslovak Republican Party (SPR-CRS). The Left Blok opposition teeters in the balance. Two of the movements are not running in all eight regions. The Movement for a Self-administered Moravia and Silesia - the Moravain National Union is only running in northern and southern Moravia. The Moravian National Party - the Movement of Silesian-Moravian Union is running in northern and southern Moravia, in southern and eastern Bohemia and in Prague. Besides those already mentioned, the Czech Right Wing, the Czech-Moravian Union of the Center, the Democratic Union, the Pensioners for Life Security, the Independents, the Right Wing, the Czechoslovak Communist Party, the Party of the Democratic Left, the Green Party, the Free Democrats - the Liberal National Socialist Party, and the Movement for National Citizens' Assets. Regional election committees are now verifying all ballots to ensure that they are compatible with the law, making sure, for example, that all candidates are over the age of 21. Further, all parties and movements must compile 200,000 crowns for the ballot in every electoral region. Due to this requirement, party involvement is expected to be lower. Zora Kasikova/Andrea Snyder Klaus Criticizes ODS Coalition Partners Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus accused coalition partners of taking advantage of reform shortcomings to improve their positions before elections. The criticism of the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) and the Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL) came at a Civic Democratic Party (ODS) conference in Brno March 31. Klaus said he is bothered by the fact that they take a neutral position toward the activities of the government in which they help rule. He claims not to understand their complaints on putting the brakes on the dynamic of reform, and he does not care for the comments on ignoring the constitution, the unneccessary growth of bureaucracy, or the unfinished privatization. During his speech, he also mentioned that the mistakes mentioned fall under jurisdiction of the ministries, which are filled with ODA members. The ODS election platform was presented at the conference with the title "Freedom and Prosperity." Chairman of the strongest Czech political party, Klaus said the platform can be fulfilled to the letter. Matej Bartosek/Andrea Snyder What's Up for Voters is Down for Politicians Voters see markedly different solutions than the ones offered by political parties, say the results of a poll conducted by the Factum agency for Czech daily MF DNES in March. For example, nearly 70 per cent of the people polled disagree with the healthcare program prepared by Health Minister Jan Strasky of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS). Healthcare is one of the areas which demands the most changes. The greatest paradox remains that 65 per cent of those who voted for Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus disagree with ODS' radical plans for the healthcare system. Jan Herzman, director of Factum, points out a visible contradiction: people demand security in their society, but at the same time want to vote for parties that deem such principles last in their platforms. He also warns that many voters never read their party's election platforms. Seventy per cent of the population wants to give their vote to a party, despite the fact that they do not meet certain needs. Klaus, chairman of ODS, rejected the results, saying he does not trust polls. Factum's statements show that the citizens are beginning to think in a more radical way. Eighty per cent of those polled said they would accept a government that would keep order, even at the price of limiting some of today's freedoms. Rising crime has perhaps brought on the feeling of danger that could cause eight out of 10 citizens to vote for a party that supports the death penalty. Seven out of 10 would imprison those caught possessing drugs. Sociologist Ivan Gabal says Czechs are forced to think radically because the state is incapable of offering a positive solution to the crime problem. Arsen Kocarjan and Klara Schirova/Andrea Snyder Parliament to Discuss Amending Severance Pay Law The Czech government unanimously agreed to change the law concerning severance pay for government functionaries. The problem in the current law is that even those who leave the same position that they will then be voted or appointed into again receive severance pay. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus for that reason announced the cabinet is giving Parliament an incentive to amend the law. Richard Mandelik of the Civic Democratic Party, a member of Parliament's Budget Committee, has worked up a proposal which would allow severance pay to be cancelled completely. According to Mandelik, it would then be replaced with a salary that would continue to be paid to the government functionary for three months after his departure from office. Barbora Spevakova/Andrea Snyder Citizens Could Pay One-Third of Healthcare from January 1998 The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) proposed that patients should pay from 18 per cent to 30 per cent of certain healthcare costs, during the party's March 30-1 conference in Brno. According to the ODS, these costs should include not only common illnesses but also hospital stays, ambulance transportation, spa treatments and visits to the dentist. Treatment of cancer or a heart attack should remain free. Both major physicians' trade union organizations - the Physicians' Union Club (LOK) and Trade Union of Health and Social Care - expressed their disagreement with the proposal. LOK Chairman Dr. David Rath said ODS "will cut off socially weaker citizens and retirees from healthcare" through the individual payment system, and will cause a massive liquidation of healthcare institutions. If patients will have to cover 30 per cent of health care costs directly, the currently mandatory health insurance system (today 4.5 per cent of wages are withheld for insurance) would be eradicated. Citizens would have to maintain special individual accounts for healthcare costs. David Vozdecky/Petra Sevcikova Supreme Court Reverses Babice Verdicts The Supreme Court Senate in Brno invalidated four verdicts April 2 handed down by the State Court and the Supreme Court in 1951 in the so-called Babice case. The April 2 decision came about thanks to a complaint lodged by the minister of justice. At that time, 16 people were convicted as part of a "terrorist group" for taking part in the July 2, 1951 shooting of three communist functionaries in the Babice school. A majority of those convicted were long ago rehabilitated, except Antonin Mityska, Antonin Plichta and Vaclav Drbola, who were condemned to death, and Antonin Roupec, sentenced to life in prison, who died 20 years after being released in 1962. According to the Supreme Court, the process in the 50's was lacking in many respects - the accused were not made aware of their rights, all evidence was compiled by the State Security Service (StB) and the judge was biased. Natasa Hajkova/Petra Sevcikova Report on Migration in the Czech Republic At the end of last year, 159,207 foreigners lived in the Czech Republic, three-quarters of which had resident status, according to a report on the state of migration in the Czech Republic presented by Interior Minister Jan Ruml to the cabinet March 27. The cabinet has ordered Ruml to propose a solution because it is not satisfied with the increase. In the first months of the year, the number of those trying to cross the border illegally also increased. According to the report, most foreign residents are citizens of: Slovakia 40,000, Ukraine 28,000, Poland 23,000, Vietnam 15,000, the former Yugoslavia 5,000, Germany 6,000, Bulgaria, China, Russia and the USA each at about 4,000. Isar A.W., Livia Savelkova/Petra Sevcikova Inspection of the Minister of the Interior with a New Chief. After three months, the Inspection Office of the Interior Ministry has a new director (its fifth), the former director of the Czech Office of Investigation Colonel Dr. Vaclav Picka. His deputy, Colonel Dr. Jan Kubenka, was named to replace him in his former post. Both moved into their new positions on the order of the ministry April 1. The 55-year-old Picka succeeds Vladimir Nechanicky, who was in October relieved from certain functions because of information leaks from the report about the police raid on mafia suspects at the Pigeons (U Holubu) Restaurant. Interior Minister Jan Ruml fired Nechanicky after Christmas. Picka graduated from the law school and has worked for the police since 1967. At first he was researcher, later a detective and investigator. He served in his foremer post since August 1993. Kubenka is also a law school graduated. He has worked for the police since 1972, where he was first a researcher and then an investigator. He served as Picka's deputy since 1994. Matej Husek/Petra Sevcikova Parliament Proposes Narcotics Office Parliament's Defense and Security Committee advised the government March 27 to establish a new Narcotics Office, which would be given executive authority. This would allow the office to give orders to individual ministries in the fight against drugs. The office should replace the inter-ministry antidrug commission, which has no executive authority, and is considered ineffective by many specialists. Specialists and some law enforcement officials have called for the establishment of such an office for four years. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus' cabinet and a majority of parliamentary deputies still oppose it. "We do not want to establish new Offices, there are more then enough of them now. Individual ministries have a clear responsibility in our anti-drug policy, and we do not see it as necessary to take it away from these ministries and gave it to a special office," said Klaus in the March 28 edition of Czech daily MF DNES. Matej Husek/Petra Sevcikova Continuing Legal Education Conference in Prague America's Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Committee as well as the majority of State Bar Associations demand their members participate in the Continuing Legal Education (CLE), regardless of where they live. The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, decided to organize the CLE conferences biannually in Prague, in cooperation with the American Bar Association. The first CLE conference took place March 15-16. R. G. Johnston, the Dean of the John Marshall Law School, professors Bernabe-Riefkohl, Carroll, Votavova, and Seng, the current visiting scholar at the Law School of Masaryk University in Brno, addressed the latest developments and changes in American law. One lecture was dedicated to ethics questions. The CLE conference was open to all lawyers for the price of 500 USD, and it was simultaneously translated into Czech. Olga Huderova/Milan Smid NEWS IN BRIEF * The Christian Democratic Party (KDS) was abolished March 31, according to an approved agreement between ODS and KDS. * Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus was not injured in his March 31 auto accident, where his Tatra 613 collided with a Ziguli. * Minister of Education Ivan Pilip confirmed to the Czech daily Pravo that newly accepted, as well as current students, will pay the soon-to-be-introduced tuition at technical colleges. Olga Huderova, Matej Bartosek/Petra Sevcikova FROM SLOVAKIA Hungary Emphatically Rejects Clauses in Treaty with Slovakia The leader of Hungarian diplomacy announced the sharp rejection of interpretative clauses to the Hungarian-Slovak Treaty approved March 26 by the Slovak National Assembly (see Carolina 196). Budapest threatened that Hungary does not have to agree with the exchange of ratified treaties, because the clauses are in conflict with the treaty's 11th article, as stated in Czech daily MF DNES. In these clauses, the National Assembly states that Slovakia never accepted collective minority rights nor the right to minority autonomy. This right flows directly from the treaty, which includes the Council of Europe's Recommendation 1201, allowing for territorial autonomy. The clauses, as well as approval of the so-called Protection of the Republic Law and the Language Law were conditions for government coalition orthodox nationalists, who tied their approval of the treaty to the above documents. Marketa Skodova/Katerina Zachovalova HZDS Forms Regional Political Organs After approval of the Redistricting Law (see Carolina 196), a new element arose in the governing Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) - regional political organs. The HZDS Republican Presidium Vice-chairman Gustav Krajci confirmed it to the TASR press agency March 30. According to Krajci, regional political organs will, together with regional state administration organs, assure the policies in corresponding regions. According to HZDS Vice-chairman Augustin Marian Huska, HZDS has about 40,000 members and its aim is to increase this number in a very short time to 100,000. Marketa Skodova/Katerina Zachovalova ECONOMY Giant Investment Funds Change into Holding Companies The Harvard Dividend Fund shocked the finance market when it changed into a holding company March 27th. Some small investment companies previously underwent the change, but the Harvard fund is the first of the five biggest funds. The PPF-First Czech Investment Fund took the same step March 29. This way the newly formed holding, or joint-stock companies, will evade all limitations connected with the Law on Investment Funds and Investment Companies, e.g. the inability to hold in portfolio more than 20 per cent of any one company's shares, and limitations on prices of securities trades. "It is an evolutionary process, that creates the basis for a healthy economy," Czech daily MF DNES quoted Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus April 3. However, a majority of experts do not agree with this step. Legal limitations exist to reduce the risk for small shareholders who invested their voucher coupons in the funds. Further, by this step the funds absolutely divests itself of the state supervision which exists for investment funds. Other funds will likely set off on the same path. Karel Bartek/Klara Schirova SPT Telecom Changes Prices April 1 The price for one telephone impulse rose from 1.90 crowns to 2 crowns April 1, while the monthly lump-sum payments for using an individual telephone station rose from 70 crowns to 80 crowns. The length of tariff impulses also changed. One tariff impulse for every three minutes begun (previously four minutes) is charged on local calls at peak times, i.e. weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The length of an impulse changed from eight minutes to six minutes during the slow traffic. Prices of intercity calls linked by an operator rose about 6 per cent, while the length of an impulse stayed the same. The changes will not affect poorer costumers, though they will have to apply for exemptions. Radim Wolak/Klara Schirova NEWS IN BRIEF * Industrial production in the Czech Republic rose by 14.1 per cent in February. * The export of arms from the Czech Republic fell 21 per cent last year in comparison with 1994, cited in the daily Pravo April 2. * The Jihostroj Velesin Company received a 100 per cent share of the Jawa company, the most famous Czech motorcycle producer, for 1.4 million crowns. Lucie Dvorakova, Olga Huderova\Klara Schirova Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from April 4) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 21.303 Belgium 100 BEF 89.476 Great Britain 1 GBP 41.536 Denmark 1 DKK 4.761 Finland 1 FIM 5.877 France 1 FRF 5.400 Ireland 1 IEP 42.815 Italy 1000 ITL 17.439 Japan 100 JPY 25.418 Canada 1 CAD 20.056 Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.476 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.445 Norway 1 NOK 4.244 New Zealand 1 NZD 18.562 Portugal 100 PTE 17.852 Austria 1 ATS 2.615 Greece 100 GRD 11.305 Slovakia 100 SKK 90.424 Germany 1 DEM 18.385 Spain 100 ESP 21.949 Sweden 1 SEK 4.099 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.733 USA 1 USD 27.219 ECU 1 XEU 34.212 SDR 1 XDR 39.699 CULTURE Permanent Guest Conductor for Czech Philharmonic British conductor Sir Charles Mackerras should receive the honored function of permanent guest conductor of the Czech Philharmonic (CF). However, he is not a candidate for the chief conductor's job, which has been unoccupied since Gerd Albrecht left January 30 (see Carolina 188). Mackerras is well known for his sincere appreciation of Czech music. He prefers works of Bohuslav Martinu, Josef Suk and above all Leos Janacek, whose little-known version of Glagol's Mass (Glagolska mse) he studied with the CF and performed in Prague's Rudolfinum March 21-2. Vaclav Talich, head of the CF between the world wars, taught Mackerras a liking for Czech music during Mackerras' stay in Bohemia. His position is simplified by good knowledge of the Czech language. According to information given to Carolina by Jitka Straubova of the CF's press department, Czech conductors Jiri Belohlavek and Libor Pesek will not take the philharmonic's permanent lead. Both have their own obligations. Pesek is committed to work in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Belohlavek will enter the National Theater as chief conductor. Jitka Motejzikova/Jitka Motejzikova Punkers Green Day in Prague Again The American punk band Green Day reintroduced itself to Prague's fans March 26. The California trio filled up Prague's Sport Hall for the second time in half a year - Green Day played in Prague for the first time September 11. In the rainy early evening, an audience consisting of various age groups, in which colored hair-styles were nothing exceptional, occupied the hall. Green Day appeared on the stage at about 8:30 p.m. after the opening band The Mr. T Experience, and although they played only 65 minutes, thrilled the fans. The punkers started with two opening songs from their last album and continued with the most successful compositions from the three albums released here (The Kerplunk, Dookie, Insomniac). The concert was filmed by an American TV company, which is preparing a film about representatives of a new music movement, a so-called "new wave on the new wave," so Czech fans will be able to find themselves in the movie. Adam Kotalik, David Sprincl/Jitka Motejzikova First Multiplex Cinema in Prague The first domestic multiplex - a multi-hall cinema with sidelight services such as fitness centers, casinos and billiard clubs - was festively opened April 3 in the reconstructed Galaxie Theater on Prague's South Side (Jizni Mesto). Galaxie is run by Cinema 2005, which belongs to the Bonton entertianment empire. Bonton director Martin Kratochvil admitted that the conversion of Galaxie cost 100 million crowns. This investment begot eight halls with a capacity of more than 1,100 comfortable seats, in which viewers can assess the quality of the most advanced Dolby Stereo. More than 200 showings per week will take place in Galaxie. Also the Space and AB Barrandov companies want to build their own multiplexes in Prague. Experience from other countries shows the concept of multiplexes has a much better chance to survive than isolated cinemas. Jakub Konecny/Alice Ticha Prague Institute Offers Educational Courses for Foreigners The Prague Institute for Further Education offers visitors from abroad two-month educational courses in the field of art. This institution is a part of the international Prague College of Studies in Art and Architecture, which guarantees a university education for members of the English-speaking community in Prague and other foreigners. From April 15 till June 1, the Institute offers interested people courses on Czech film, Czech composers, Prague, oil painting and fiction writing. Klara Schirova/Alice Ticha SPORT Quick Goal Brings Slavia to Its Knees Slavia Praha - Girondis Boreaux 0:1 (0:1) Soccer players from Prague's Slavia will travel to their return match of the UEFA Cup semifinal with a one-goal deficit. In the April 2 first match, the players of Girondins Bordeaux suprised the Strahov stadium audience with an easy-going game full of great ideas, perfect cooperation of all lines and also great technical kicking. Slavia's players lacked the suspended Penicka and Suchoparek and they were reminded of this fact very soon. After a fast break, Dugarry booted in a goal in the ninth minute. It was a shock for Slavia, who was not able to get over it. In the second half Slavia forced its opponent onto the defensive, which meant only a series of corner kicks. The best chance was had by Poborsky in the 77th minute, even he though did not break down the goalie Huard. David Sprincl/Katerina Zachovalova Soccer League: Sparta Defeated in Liberec Once Again As far as the history of the Czech soccer league goes, Sparta has never won in Liberec. Sparta lost once again 0-1 March 31, when the winning goal was scored by the unhappy Sparta player Plachy into his own goal three minutes before the end of match. Results of the 22nd round: Drnovice - Budejovice 2-0, Liberec - Sparta 0-1, Ostrava - Uherske Hradiste 2-1, Olomouc - Cheb 3-1, Hradec Kralove - Plzen 0-0, Zlin - Viktoria Zizkov 0-1, Boby Brno - Opava 1-1 Slavia - Jablonec (postponed) Make-up from the 16th round: Ostrava - Zizkov 2-2 Make-up from the 18th round: Brno - Olomouc 2-3. Standings after 22 rounds (6 matches still unplayed): 1. Slavia 43 (-2); 2. Olomouc 40 (-1); 3. Drnovice 39; 4. Sparta 38; 5. Jablonec 38 (-1); 6. Opava 32; 7. Liberec 32 (-1); 8. Plzen 30 (-1); 9. Viktoria Zizkov 29 (-1); 10. Ceske Budejovice 28 (-1); 11. Cheb 27; 12. Boby Brno 25 (-1); 13.Banik Ostrava 23 (-1); 14. Zlin 16 (-1); 15. Hradec Kralove 16; 16. Uherske Hradiste 13 (-1). David Sprincl/Milan Smid WEATHER The weather really reminded us this week of a typical April: the clear sky changed suddenly into cloud cover, and snow quickly replaced rain, after which the sun shone for couple of minutes. Passionate skiers have the opportunity this year to thoroughly dedicate themselves to their hobby. There is over one meter/39 inches of snow in the ski resorts located in the highest mountains (Snezka - 148 cm/five feet, Praded - 110 cm/less than four feet, Lysa Hora - 118 cm/four feet). During the night between Saturday and Sunday began daylight savings time in the Czech Republic, which will last this year a month longer - until October 27. Michaela Vysoudilova/Katerina Zachovalova English version edited by Michael Bluhm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. The subscription is free. 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