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 213, Friday, August 16, 1996. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (August 2 - 14) Zieleniec Sparks Discussion within ODS Foreign Minister and Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Vice-Chairman Josef Zieleniec criticized certain elements within the country's strongest political party in an interview printed August 5 in the country's largest newspaper, MF DNES. The interview was presented under the headline: "ODS should no longer have only one voice", and Zieleniec commented in the article on June's parliamentary elections. The interview provoked a sizeable reaction in the Czech media and speculation about ODS internal conflicts. Robert Dengler, a commentator for the daily Pravo, wrote that Zieleniec's appeals are, three months before Senate elections, "utterly an expression of desperation over (Prime Minister and ODS Chairman Vaclav) Klaus' stubbornness, which may prove fatal for ODS." After a summer hiatus the ODS Executive Council met August 12 and labeled the interview a normal part of ODS policy discussion, which does not mean a personal confrontation within ODS. At a press conference where Zieleniec was also present, Klaus said, "It is important for us to discuss (the post-election situation)." Klaus also expressed his disagreement with some of Zieleniec's opinions, foremost rejecting the possibility of the creation of ideological fractions within the party. Justice Minister Fires Two Prosecutors New Justice Minister and Civic Democratic Alliance Chairman Jan Kalvoda August 9 recalled High State Attorney Libor Grygarek and Prague State Attorney Josef Kredba. In the past the two attorneys had come into conflict with one another, and both supervised the most serious criminal cases, some of which had political overtones - e.g., the Jaroslav Lizner case (see Carolina 136, 176, 188), the police raid at the U Holubu restaurant (see Carolina 163, 173), or the prosecution of former Communist leaders for treason (see Carloiina 169, 180-2). The recall of Kredba, in his 60s, was not a surprise, but Grygarek was considered a new and dynamic personality in Czech justice. Interior Minister Jan Ruml expressed his disagreement with Grygarek's firing, and August 12 on TV NOVA Ruml called Grygarek a very capable official and criticized Kalvoda for not consulting with his coalition partners before the firings. The Government's First Meeting After a summer vacation the cabinet August 14 held its first regular meeting since receiving a vote of confidence from the new Parliament. The government rejected the proposal of the neo-Fascist Republicans to cut parliamentary deputies' pay in half, and rejected the Communists' proposal to abolish the Senate. The Communists' proposal to rewrite laws concerning party financing was also rejected, because the cabinet is working on its own revision. Ruzickova on Communist Ballot Actress Helena Ruzickova accepted the offer of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia to appear on the party's ballot as a non-party candidate in November's Senate elections. "I do not feel my decision is something treasonous," said Ruzickova, known best for her roles in numerous Czech film comedies and television serials. She explained the reason for her decision by saying, "I took the Communists' offer because they contacted me first." Czech Savings Sells Share of TV NOVA Czech Savings (Ceska sporitelna) is selling its share in the Czech Independent Television Company, which handles the broadcasting of TV NOVA, to the bank's partner, the American-owned Central European Media Enterprises (CME), according to Czech reports taken from the Financial Times. From its original 22 per cent share Czech Savings will keep 2 per cent, while CME's share will grow to 86 per cent; the remaining 12 per cent is owned by CET 21, which holds the broadcasting license (see Carolina 212 for the question of the legal relationship between CET 21 and the Czech Independent Television Company). A Czech Savings representative confirmed the Financial Times story, including the 1 billion crown price for the 20 per cent share. It was supposedly one of Czech Savings' most successful transactions. Czech Drug Smuggler Sentenced in London The Southwark Crown Court in London sentenced Tomas Honz, 27, a bus driver for the Tinbus company in Liberec, to 26 years in prison August 2 for smuggling 50 kilograms/110 pounds of heroin, worth about 10 million English pounds. Honz was sentenced along with the three Turks from London who were to receive the package. ECONOMY Statistics Office Adjusts Prognosis Czech economic indicators will be somewhat lower than expected, the Czech Statistical Office announced August 1 with the publication of corrections to its April predictions. In April the Office predicted 1996 GDP growth of 5.4 per cent, while August's correction estimates growth at 5.1 per cent. The trade deficit should reach 81 billion crowns, i.e. about 5.7 per cent of GDP, foremost because of reduced exports. Inflation will not fall to 8.7 per cent, as was predicted in April, but should remain at 9 per cent. On the other hand, unemployment should be lower than originally estimated, at 3 per cent instead of the 3.3 per cent prognosis. The Office announced August 8 that July consumer prices rose 1 per cent, creating the danger that annual inflation may be higher than the predicted 9 per cent. The Crash of Credit Bank The Czech National Bank revoked Credit Bank's (Kreditni banka) banking license August 7. The financial problems of Credit Bank, which date to 1992, came to a head one month ago, when estimates of the banks' losses were made public. In June the estimates ranged from 4 billion crowns to 6 billion crowns, but today are believed to be 10 billion crowns to 12 billion crowns, which would mean a Czech record for business losses. Bank clients will be returned deposits of up to 4 million crowns, while the largest burden of the losses must be borne by Credit Bank's majority owner, Czech Insurance (Ceska pojistovna), after the country's largest banks, including the Czech National Bank, refused to help in the rescue. Some experts consider the bankruptcy of Credit Bank a chapter in the fight for control of the nation's largest insurer, Czech Insurance, which has 68 per cent of the insurance market. In December 1995 the PPF investment group gained a 20 per cent share of Czech Insurance and spots on the company's boards, PPF being known as the administrator of billions of crowns of property gained in voucher privatization and a large investor in Russia. The Investment and Postal Bank, which wanted to increase its share in Czech Insurance by rescuing Credit Bank, abandoned its plan and left the problems to PPF, which will soon become the controling shareholder in Czech Insurance, according to a report in daily MF DNES. Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from August 16) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 20.823 Belgium 100 BEF 86.980 Great Britain 1 GBP 41.357 Denmark 1 DKK 4.636 Finland 1 FIM 5.969 France 1 FRF 5.246 Ireland 1 IEP 42.816 Italy 1000 ITL 17.568 Japan 100 JPY 24.678 Canada 1 CAD 19.399 Luxemburg 100 LUF 86.980 Netherlands 1 NLG 15.972 Norway 1 NOK 4.151 New Zealand 1 NZD 18.347 Portugal 100 PTE 17.473 Austria 1 ATS 2.548 Greece 100 GRD 11.285 Slovakia 100 SKK 87.920 Germany 1 DEM 17.924 Spain 100 ESP 21.147 Sweden 1 SEK 4.016 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.047 USA 1 USD 26.677 ECU 1 XEU 33.753 SDR 1 XDR 38.884 CULTURE Czech Music Legend Dies Rafael Kubelik, 82, conductor and composer, co-founder of the Prague Spring music festival and former chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic, died August 11 in Lucerne, Switzerland. After the Communist takover in February 1948 Kubelik decided to leave Czechoslovakia. He returned home after 42 years when, in 1990, he conducted the opening concert, Smetana's My Homeland, of the Prague Spring festival once again. According to family wishes, Kubelik's remains will be transferred to the Czech Republic, where the Ministry of Culture offered to bury them in the Slavin National Cemetery at Prague's Vysehrad. American Soloist Attraction at Dvorak Music Festival Soprano singer Renee Fleming, New York Metropolitan Opera soloist, performed August 14 at the courtyard of Nelahozeves Castle where the 3rd annual Dvorak's Musical Summer Festival took place. The soprano Fleming's repertoire includes the title role of the Dvorak opera Rusalka, which she sings in Czech. BRIEFS * Arnold Schwarzenegger visited Prague August 11 to publicize his Planet Hollywood restaurant, which should open on Prague's Na prikope street this fall. * Miki Volek, a Czech rock star from the 1960's, was found dead in his Prague apartment August 14. Volek, 53, lived alone and evidently died some days before being discovered, though police rule out foul play. * Jana Robbova, one-time temperamental pop singer, died at age 46 in Prague after a short illness. Robbova stopped singing in 1985. SPORT Final results of the Czech Republic in Atlanta (continued from Carolina 212) The Czech Republic claimed 17th place in the medal count of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta: 4 golds, 3 silvers, 4 bronzes. Gold medals: Jan Zelezny - track and field: javelin 88.16 m Martin Doktor - track canoeing: C-1, 500 m Martin Doktor - track canoeing: C-1, 1000 m Stepanka Hilgertova - rapids canoeing: K-1 Silver medals: Lukas Pollert - rapid canoeing: C-1 Jiri Rohan/Miroslav Simek - rapids canoeing doubles: C2 Jana Novotna/Helena Sukova - tennis, women's doubles Bronze medals: Sarka Kasparkova - track and field: triple-jump 14.98 m Tomas Dvorak - track and field: decathlon 8,664 points Miroslav Janus - shooting: running target 678.4 points Jana Novotna - tennis, women's singles Zelezny Defeated for First Time in 1996 Jan Zelezny, Atlanta gold medalist, finished only fifth at 86 meters at the first important post-Olympic track and field event, in Monte Carlo August 10. After his first 1996 defeat Zelezny canceled his appearances in the next two big track and field meets, in Zurich and Lahti, due to a minor arm injury. Dream about Champions League Disappears Slavia Praha, the 1995-6 Czech soccer champion, was defeated by the Swiss champ Grasshopper Zurich 5-0 in qualification for the Champions League in Zurich August 7. Slavia has practically lost the chance to advance into the most prestigious team soccer competition in Europe, even before the return match in Prague. Czech Soccer League Starts Again Results of the 1st round August 9-12: Jablonec - Hradec Kralove 2-0, Drnovice - Karvina 4-0, Liberec - Olomouc 1-1, Plzen - Teplice 1-1, Bohemians - Ceske Budejovice 1-1, Ostrava - Zizkov 3-0, Slavia - Opava 1-1, Boby Brno - Sparta 2-1. WEATHER Very erratic, temperatures of 18 degrees to 24 degrees Celsius/64 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. When the sun shines, it's summer, but there probably hasn't been one day in August when it didn't rain. Those who pick mushrooms praise the weather highly. Today's Carolina was written by Milan Smid. 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