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 STUDENTS' 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 203, Friday, May 17, 1996. EVENTS FROM THE PAST WEEK (May 8-15) Havel Welcomes Hockey Champions President Vaclav Havel welcomed the Czech hockey team back from the Ice Hockey World Championships May 10. At Prague castle, team Captain Robert Reichel presented Havel with a team uniform, signed by all the players, and a cap with World Champions and the president's name embroidered into it. The president admitted he had watched the final match with Canada in throes of anxiety. "I know that I am spoken of as not being an athlete, but the reputation is not very true. I was interested in hockey mainly when I was young, and I well remember your current Coach Ludek Bukac (who coached the Czech team to another world championship in 1985)," said Havel in the May 11 edition of daily Svobodne slovo (for hockey coverage see Carolina 202). Jaromir Vicari/Andrea Snyder Anniversary of World War II's End On May 8, the 51st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, soldiers from the Prague castle guard presented President Vaclav Havel with a salutory oath. At the celebration, the president also named two new generals upon the recommendation of Defense Minister Vilem Holan. Havel asked the two new generals, Jiri Sedivy and Jiri Martinek, to remember during the rest of their careers those who laid down their lives for freedom. About 200 veterans of World War II met at the Ministry of Defense for the anniversary. V-E Day celebrations took place in Prague's Vitkov, at the Olsany Cemetery, and at Terezin, a concentration camp about 90 km/55 miles from Prague. Lucie Chytrackova/Andrea Snyder Press Sees Thatcher's Visit as ODS Support Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher arrived May 10 in Prague for a meeting of the New Atlantic Iniciative (NAI) and to meet with Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus. The press, however, saw her visit more as an expression of support of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and Klaus, a big fan of British conservativism. Neither Klaus nor Thatcher make any secret of their friendship and shared opinions. Current British Prime Minister John Major paid a short visit to Prague in April. During his lightening-fast visit he met only with ODS Chairman Klaus, for which he apologized to the heads of the other coalition parties. Already at that time, the press was putting Major's visit into the context of ODS support in light of approaching elections. In her NAI Congress speech, Thatcher called the idea of a united Europe a "nightmare." According to the former prime minister, a federal Europe would become a rival for the USA. It "would be bad for America, Europe, and the whole world," said Thatcher, as quoted by Czech daily Pravo May 13. David Vozdecky/Andrea Snyder Havel Proposes Easier Access to NATO At the opening ceremonies of the three-day New Atlantic Iniciative (NAI) Congress, Czech President Vaclav Havel challenged representatives of the EU and NATO to have greater courage in expanding their organizations to Central Europe. In the same speech, Havel said NATO should maintain ties of partnership with Russia, but NATO alone should decide who would be granted membership in the future. The NAI was created in 1995 to improve trade and security cooperation between Europe and the United States. David Vozdecky/Andrea Snyder Czech Defense Minister Visits Bosnia Czech Defense Minister Vilem Holan visited the Czech military base in Donja Ljubija in Bosnia May 11. Holan awarded 20 soldiers from the Czech IFOR unit watches for preventing a bloody conflict between the Serbs and the Muslims. Olga Huderova/Andrea Snyder PRE-ELECTION SERVICE (Czech Parliamentary elections will take place May 31-June 1, the official pre-election campaign started May 15) *** Foreign Policy in Election Platforms A majority of significant political parties are expressing support of the effort for the fastest possible admission of the Czech Republic into the EU and NATO in their pre-election campaigns. The parties of the governing coalition: the Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL), the Civic Democratic Union (ODA) and the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), and even the strongest opposition party, the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) consider the Czech Republic a part of Euro-atlantic civilization and endorse its values of democracy and human rights. Differences exist in opinions on the new form of the EU. Only the CSSD identified itself with the Maastricht Treaty's principles. According to the ODS, national states should form the future base of the EU and its sovereignty should derive from the sovereignty of individual states. On the other hand, the ODA does not reject the strengthening of the authority of the global EU organs, which should, though, be limited to "maintaining the Union's ability to negotiate and decide effectively in areas important to life." KDU-CSL and CSSD insist on a referendum to decide about Czech admission to the EU. The four parties agree that "Czech membership in NATO is the only real way how to increase Czech security," (KDU-CSL) because "the allied defense is more effective and cheaper than individual defense" (ODS). At the same time they understand the membership in the NATO as an act on responsibility for euroatlantic civilization's security. The Social Democracy wants to pursue the no-nuclear status within the NATO, the coalition parties are for the membership "with all the rights and duties coming from it" (ODS). The CSSD insists that a referendum about Czech membership takes place. KDU-CSL and CSSD also warn that "European security would be seriously threatened if the states formed as a consequence of the fall of the Soviet Union stay isolated" (KDU-CSL). All parties want to develop the possible best relationships with the neighbor states. In the relationship with Germany they refuse "any doubts about results of the WWII" (CSSD). ODS sees importance in economic cooperation within the Central European Free Trade Zone CEFTA, while the CSSD wants to "develop contacts primarily with Slovakia." The difference between the coalition and the opposition CSSD lies in the opinions on liberalization of international trade. While the CSSD does not rule out import duties, coalition parties "refuse all the acts of protectionism" (KDU-CSL) because, according to the ODS, "by no means is limited trade not only an economic advantage but it also creates shared interests and helps mutual understanding". From the parties that according to a research have a chance to get over the 5 per cent limit to enter Parliament, the proto-fascist Association for the Republic-Republican Party of Czechoslovakia (SPR-RSC) and the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) oppose Czech membership in NATO. The basic objection of the KSCM's foreign policy is "a strengthening of the bases of our state sovereignty and of national existence against the constantly growing dependence on Germany and the US". The SPR-RSC plans to "limit state extravagance in the form of support to the bankrupt UNO, UNESCO, European Bank for Renconstruction and Development...etc." Petr Pabian/Klara Schirova Safety Policies in Election Platforms The majority of election platforms are based on the idea that citizens are feeling endangered by crime and at the same time do not trust police. Crime has for a long time occupied one of the top places in the roster of burning issues. However, the rapid growth of crime has stopped in the last two years. Eighty-four per cent of Czechs would welcome basic changes in crime policy, according to a poll conducted by the Factum Agency and printed in Czech daily MF DNES May 11. Only Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) and Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) offer clear solutions how to contribute to the feeling of security. ODA would create patrol micro-areas, where police would always be present. There would be one policeman for every 5,000 citizens. The Social Democrats propose the enlargement of active police forces in counties and municipalities and they would try to merge state and city police. Olga Huderova/Katerina Zachovalova Pre-election Party Behaviour through Voters' Eyes An April opinion poll done by the Institute for Public Opinion Research showed that 6 per cent of citizens are thoroughly satisfied with the behaviour of political parties and movements, while an overall dissatisfaction was felt by 27 per cent of respondents. People have the greatest reservations about the far-right Association for the Republic-Czechoslovak Republican Party (29 per cent) and the ruling Civic Democratic Party (24 per cent). Then follow the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia with 11 per cent, the Czech Social Democratic Party (4 per cent), the Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party with 3 per cent and 2 per cent of citizens have reservations about the Civic Democratic Alliance and Left Blok. Olga Huderova/Katerina Zachovalova Constitutional Court Upholds Election Commission Decision The Supreme Court dismissed the Right Blok's appeal of the Central Election Commission's (CEC) decision not to print Blok ballots because the party did not pay the obligatory election collateral in accordance with election law (See Carolina 201). The Supreme Court Chairman Otakar Motejl told the press May 10 the Court did not even deal with the matter since it is entitled only to review CEC decisions on registration of ballots or challenges to legality of ballots. Instead of 200,000 crowns for each electoral district (eight in the Czech Republic) the Right Blok (RB) paid 6,500 crowns per district with the promise that the remainder would be paid later. According to RB spokesman Premysl Vachalovsky, the CEC actually legalized the RB election participation when it accepted the money. "The Central Election Commission received money on April 27 and did not give it back till now," Vachalovsky said to the press. The provision on the obligatory election collateral in the election law remained valid when the Constitutional Court rejected May 15 the complaint of 41 opposition deputies against the "discriminatory and unconstitutional" nature of the provision. Eight judges were for the elimination of the collateral article from the law, seven judges were against. However, for passage of a Constitutional Court decision, nine yes votes from the 15-member body are needed. The media mentioned this was the first time such a close vote had taken place. In addition to the Right Block, another three of the 20 registered parties did not pay the election collateral: the Nationwide Citizens' Union, the Party of Czechoslovak Communists and the Green Party. Zora Kasikova/Milan Smid *** Politicians in the News Prime Minister and ODS Chairman Vaclav Klaus was the most frequently seen politician on radio and television during the past four months. His appearances on Czech television, the Nova and Premiera private networks and on Czech Radio total nearly 12 hours (708 minutes). Excluding President Vaclav Havel's 434 minutes, Josef Lux of the Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak Peoples' Party takes second place with 317 minutes. He is followed by Jiri Dienstbier of the Free Democrats - Liberal National Social Party, with 281 minutes. From the opposition, Milos Zeman of the Czech Social Democratic Party is the most visible and audible with 242 minutes of on-air time. Jaroslav Ortman of the Left Blok trails with 165 minutes, while Miroslav Sladek of the rightist Association for the Republic-Czechoslovak Republican Party brings up the rear with 143 minutes. The Council for Radio and TV Broadcasting made these facts public this week. Lida Truneckova/Andrea Snyder FROM SLOVAKIA Meciar Criticizes Czech Foreign Policy Slovak Premier Vladimir Meciar criticized Czech government policy for its refusing closer cooperation with central European states on the way to the European Union and NATO. Expanding NATO without considering the concerns of Russia would lead to the creation of a Russian-Chinese-Arab block, said Meciar to foreign journalists at a press conference in the Slovak capital Bratislava. However, he avoided once again giving a direct answer to the question whether Slovakia is ready to place nuclear weapons on its territory if accepted by NATO: "Slovakia wants to become a full member of NATO, but at the same moment we say a project of total European security from which no one is excepted must exist." Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, in reaction to Meciar's criticism, told reporters Czech government policy towards Slovakia is friendly and tries to uphold bilateral cooperation. Olga Huderova/Pavel Vondra ECONOMY April Inflation at 6 Per Cent The Consumer Price Index increased in April 6 per cent in comparison to March, and in comparison to April 1995 increased by 8.5 per cent. The average inflation on the sliding scale (the average of the past 12 months compared to the average of the 12 months preceeding them) was 8.9 per cent in April. The bi-monthly increase on the Consumer Price Index was brought about by the rise of food prices (3.2 per cent in baked goods, 17.2 per cent in eggs and in fruit by 3.1 per cent), drinks and tobacco. Prices are also going up in the service industry, as shown in both telephone and telegraph bills. Lucie Chytrackova/Andrea Snyder Foreign Partnership in SPT Telecom in Doubt The Prague District Commercial Court invalidated May 10 the results of an SPT Telecom general shareholder's meeting. The February 1995 general shareholder's meeting approved the entry of a foreign strategic partner, the Dutch-Swiss-American consortium TelSource. This entry was made possible by a change of the company statute, where the small shareholder's option right on newly issued shares was abolished. Martin Mosinger, chief of the SPT Telecom Small Shareholder's Association, based his legal case on the fact that Economy Minister Karel Dyba had an invalid power of attorney at the meeting. Minister Dyba attended the meeting as representative of the majority shareholder, the National Property Fund. Minister Dyba considers the court ruling unfounded, insisting the course of the general shareholder's meeting was legally correct. Dyba also ruled out the court's ruling having any effect on the decision as to the foreign partner's entry into SPT Telecom. Nor should the functioning of the company have been influenced. SPT Telecom is to install 400,000 new phone lines this year, and investment in research and development should total 33 billion crowns. SPT legal representative Lubos Tichy also considers the verdict on the power of attorney's validity mistaken, and he said SPT will appeal the decision. He also attacked the accuracy of Mosinger's claim the general meeting eliminated small shareholders' purchase option - small shareholders did not have any such right, and therefore it was impossible to eliminate, Tichy said. Parliament Budget Committee Chairman Tomas Jezek considers it a gross error that small shareholders were pushed out of the share sale because of the entry of a foreign partner, according to Czech daily Lidove noviny. Jezek added that the recently approved revision of the commercial code makes such a decision illegal. Jaromir Vicar/Milan Smid First Silesian Bank Bankrupt, Clients Not to Lose Deposits The Opava-based First Silesian Bank (Prvni slezska banka) lost its bank license May 13. The verdict to end the activities of one of the smallest financial institutions in the Czech Republic was announced by the Czech Banking Council May 10. The Czech National Bank thus took the toughest possible measure against the bank. Former Silesian Director Tomas Bojda, who resigned in early April, declared the bank's serious economic problems began in the first years of the bank's activity (Silesian was formed in early 1993). Investigators are looking into allegations that the bank's problems were partially created by frauds perpetrated by bank employees. It is probable that bank employees knowingly granted several loans not sufficiently covered by collateral. The bank's clients will not lose their deposits. Deposits up to 4 million crowns will be paid out from April 15-28 in the bank's Opava and Prague centers. The withdrawals of higher amounts will be processed individually. David Vozdecky/Michael Bluhm Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from May 15) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 22.137 Belgium 100 BEF 87.496 Great Britain 1 GBP 41.729 Denmark 1 DKK 4.660 Finland 1 FIM 5.827 France 1 FRF 5.312 Ireland 1 IEP 43.041 Italy 1000 ITL 17.762 Japan 100 JPY 25.847 Canada 1 CAD 20.169 Luxemburg 100 LUF 87.496 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.092 Norway 1 NOK 4.193 New Zealand 1 NZD 18.967 Portugal 100 PTE 17.495 Austria 1 ATS 2.556 Greece 100 GRD 11.342 Slovakia 100 SKK 88.943 Germany 1 DEM 17.987 Spain 100 ESP 21.529 Sweden 1 SEK 4.090 Switzerland 1 CHF 21.979 USA 1 USD 27.590 ECU 1 XEU 33.841 SDR 1 XDR 39.878 CULTURE 51st Prague Spring Music Festival Opens The three-week international music festival Prague Spring was inaugurated May 12 in an untraditional way - with a foreign orchestra and foreign conductor for the first time in history. The London Classical Players performed Smetana's My Country (Ma vlast) conducted by Roger Norrington. The audience in the Rudolfinum's concert hall, as well as TV viewers, could witness the unique approach to this traditional Romantic composition. Norrington tried to reproduce the original interpretation of the work. He has studied Smetana's writings, scores, letters, period paintings and other sources for several months, according to the press. The orchestra had the same number of musicians (72) as the Vienna Philharmonic had in Smetana's time (the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra consists of 100 musicians). These musicians used instruments similar to those of the last century. The intention was to attain the color of tone typical for an 1870's orchestra, when the composition was performed first time. Zora Kasikova/Milan Smid SPORT Sparta and Drnovice Will Meet in Czech Soccer Cup Finale Results of the Czech Cup semifinals May 15: Sparta Praha - FK Teplice 4-1, Petra Drnovice - Jablonec nad Nisou 2-1. The finale will take place May 22 at Prague's Strahov stadium. Soccer League - Everything Is Decided After the penultimate round of the Czech soccer league, not only the winner but also the losers are clear. Slavia is the champion, while Uherske Hradiste and Zlin will lose their membership in the top soccer league. Results of the 29th round: Budejovice - Zizkov 1-1, Drnovice - Olomouc 1-2, Hradec Kralove - Liberec 0-0, Jablonec - Sparta, 1-0, Uherske Hradiste - Opava 0-1, Ostrava - Zlin 3-1, Slavia - Brno 2-1, Plzen - Cheb 1-0. Standings after 29 rounds: 1. Slavia 67; 2. Olomouc 58; 3. Jablonec 53; 4. Drnovice 48; 5. Sparta 46; 6. Liberec 44; 7. Opava 43; 8. Brno 40; 9. Plzen 39; 10. Zizkov 36; 11. Ceske Budejovice 36; 12. Ostrava 35; 13. Cheb 32; 14. Hradec Kralove 29; 15. Zlin 24; 16. Uherske Hradiste 16. Sparta Prague to Be Sold to Eastern Slovak Steel Mill? For several days speculations have circulated in the Czech press on the possible sale of the indebted Sparta Praha, the most famous Czech soccer team in post-war times. The most probable buyer is considered to be one of the co-owners of the mammoth eastern Slovak steel mill VSZ Kosice. Several meetings have allegedly taken place, howvever, Sparta Soccer President Petr Mach refuses to make the new owner's name public. Lida Truneckova/Milan Smid WEATHER Nature Rages, Rivers Overflow Banks From the first day of May has been rain. Small showers are followed by heavy rains and the other way around. During the day the temperature is only between 15-20 degrees Celsius/59-64 degrees Fahrenheit. Gardeners should prepare themselves for early-morning frost, according to meteorologists' forecasts. Inhabitants of some southern Bohemian and northern Moravian villages had to be evacuated because of the amount of water falling from the sky. The flooding caused the death of a 51-year-old man from northern Moravia. David Vozdecky/Katerina Zachovalova 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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