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 227, Friday, December 13, 1996. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (December 4 - 11) President's Health on the Mend After eight days of recovery, doctors announced that Czech President Vaclav Havel's post-surgery health is satisfactory. In order to remove a malignant tumor, half of the president's right lung was removed at the General Faculty Hospital December 2. Due to an infection in his left lung, though, the President spent his weekend breathing with the help of a machine. Three days after the initial surgery, a tube was surgically inserted into Havel's windpipe in a tracheotomy. "The condition of his health is better now. (His) temperature does not exceed 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit), which is what we had wished. The president is now showing interest in his surroundings and was even thirsty for a beer," Emergency Care Hospital Director Jarmila Drabkova told Czech Television (CT) December 10. Havel's post-surgery condition had forced doctors to expand his medical team. American surgeon Robert Ginsberg flew in from New York as a consultant. "I am glad that Mr. Ginsberg confirmed both our diagnosis and care procedure," said Dr. Pavel Pafko to CT. Pafko, the head of surgery at the university hospital, operated on the President. "I expected a very sick man, but I was pleasantly surprised," said Ginsberg to Czech daily MF DNES. Diagnosis of the removed tumor shows the President will most likely fully recover. The tumor was removed in an early phase, and doctors found no signs of spreading in the lungs or surrounding area. The president cannot speak, and was not able to hold his weekly radio program. He was replaced by his spokesman Ladislav Spacek, who read get-well letters and cards addressed to the president. Thousands attended the mass conducted by Cardinal Miroslav Vlk for Havel at the Saint Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle. Jakub Prochazka/Andrea Snyder Czech-German Declaration Published The long awaited Czech-German Declaration, the contents of which had carefully been kept a secret, was printed by Czech and German media December 9. Although the document has not yet been officially approved, the official release was to have been December 20, but the German ARD television station broadcast the contents due to an alleged indiscretion in Bonn. Czech Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec and Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus confirmed the validity of the document. The declaration serves to place a thick dividing line between the present and the past of the war. Both sides say that they will not "burden their relations with political and legal questions from the past." The key part of the declaration, which was long the cause of conflict, concerns World War II and its consequences. The German side admits responsibility for the historical development leading to the war, and apologizes for "the suffering and wrongs committed toward the Czech people through the national socialist crimes of the Germans," and goes on to say "the national socialist policy of violence towards the Czech people contributed to creation of the grounds for post-war escape, expulsion and forced resettlement." The Czech side expressed regret "that by the post-war expulsion and forced resettlement of the Sudeten Germans from what was at that time Czechoslovakia" and the loss of citizenship caused much suffering to innocent people. Both sides say they are prepared to consider requests to live and work in each country, especially in light of blood relations and family ties. Czech daily Pravo wrote that the declaration is a way for the Czech state to approve the requests of former Czechoslovak Germans to live in the Czech Republic, which Interior Minister Jiri Ruml denied. Germany also supports the Czech Republic's entry into the EU and NATO. Both sides will arrange a Czech-German Fund of the Future to finance common-interest projects. The German side will contribute 140 million DM and the Czech will give 20 million DM to 25 million DM. The full text was published by the CTK press agency December 10. Jiri Fremuth/Andrea Snyder Czechs and Germans Approve of Declaration Both Czech and German politicians view the Czech-German Declaration positively. The text was unexpectedly published December 9, and Czech Communists and right-wing Republicans attacked the document, though opinions of the opposition-leading Social Democrats vary. Havel was unable to express an opinion due to his health (he cannot speak), but Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus said the government views the early publication as disadvantageous and unnecessary. The government will officially meet to consider the declaration December 18. Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec said that here and in Germany groups of people are interested in maintaining the tension in Czech-German relations, and says that the quality of this document will be their greatest barrier. Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman refused to comment on the text, but one of his party's highest functionaries was heard to say "surely no one thinks that we (Parliament) will approve such a text without revision proposals." The Germans' acceptance of the text was positive. German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel said the premature media publication was indiscreet, but then told the press that both governments would like to finish talks by the end of the year. He believes that only the Sudeten German Regional Association (Landsmannschaft) had major reservations, as expected. The group called the published text "one-sided" and announced that Landsmannschaft would not accept the document. Jiri Fremuth/Andrea Snyder ODS Congress Says Change a Necessity The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) congress was held December 8-9 in Brno, where Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus was re-elected chairman, though he was criticized surprisingly sharply for his political style. Four vice-chairmen were also elected, including Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec, Health Minister Jan Strasky and Education Minister Ivan Pilip, as expected. However, one surprise was that controversial Miroslav Macek also gained the position. Macek, secretary to the Minister of Health, returns to the position for the first time since 1992, when he was involved in the Wholesale Book scandal. ODS delegates see this congress as a marker of the political change that the party was crying out for. For the first time, Parliamentary club members do not hold the position of party vice-chairman. Former vice-chairmen Jiri Vlach and Jiri Honajzer were not re-elected. Petr Cermak, former executive vice-chairman, was the least successful in the election. Many delegates presented speeches on the necessity of directing ODS policies towards the people, and to be open to new opinions and ideas. Committees of experts will be formed for individual issues, thereby diluting what was one the executive board's all-inclusive powers. Even party non-members can participate in the committees. Also, the controversial position of executive vice-chairman was deleted, replaced by head manager and a head treasurer positions. The chairman and vice-chairman terms were extended from one year to two. Jaroslav Schovanec/Andrea Snyder Czech Politicians Pleased with Albright's Naming Czech politicians positively evaluate the naming of Madeleine Albright as new U.S. secretary of state particularly because of her ties to the former Czechoslovakia and her respect for Czech President Vaclav Havel. Some politicians believe she could help the Czech Republic become a member of NATO. Havel and Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus expressed satisfaction after Albright was named. "It's good news for us," Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandr Vondra said. "Albright has great awareness of European events. Naming her secretary of state means strong continuity for American foreign policy." Czech UN attache Karel Kovanda said it is naive to believe Albright will influence US politics in order to make it advantageous for the Czech Republic. Albright was born in Prague in 1937 as the daughter of Czechoslovak diplomat Josef Korbel. Her original name was Marie Jana Korbelova. She lived in Great Britain during World War II and in Yugoslavia after 1945. The family moved to the USA in 1948. Marketa Kropacova/Jan Majer Number of NATO Opponents in Czech Republic Increases The number of advocates and opponents to Czech membership in NATO is becoming more even, according to research performed by the Institute for Public Opinion Research in November. Thirty-eight per cent of Czech inhabitants agree with the republic's joining NATO, while 35 per cent do not agree. The number of those who want the Czech Republic become a member of NATO has been stable for the last two years, but the number of those with the opposite opinion has slowly increased. November's research indicates there are less Czech people without a clear opinion in comparison to previous months (27 per cent). With higher levels of education among respondents follows greater support for joining. Joining NATO is supported more by supporters of governing coalition parties than those who vote for the opposition, said the poll. Only 12 per cent of Czechs would agree with placing nuclear weapons on Czech territory. Eighty-two per cent would not agree. The greatest advantage to NATO membership is seen as better security guarantees. Twenty per cent of Czech people see no advantage in being a member of NATO. Matej Cerny/Jan Majer BIS Documents Falsified Investigators of the Security Information Service (BIS) scandal - see Carolina 224 - confirmed the BIS falsified documents about spying on the government Vice-Chairman Josef Lux. The civil counterespionage unit exchanged certain pages from the secret document called Iceland with problem-free data. Other details should be made clear in the forthcoming investigation, where one of the witnesses is Stanislav Devaty, former director of the BIS, who is suspected of ordering the falsification. Devaty denies the accusation, arguing the destruction of unnecessary materials is standard procedure at the BIS. He did not explain, however, why unnecessary materials had been changed, why they had not been officially destroyed and why the parliamentary commission had not been informed. Michaela Klevisova/Petra Sevcikova Social Democrat Parliamentary Club Asks Noveska to Surrender Mandate Social Democrat Parliamentary deputy Marie Noveska, who was revealed to have used the title of lawyer falsely for two years, refused to give up her parliamentary mandate December 10, in spite of the recommendation of the party's Parliamentary club. Her party colleagues have criticized her, but they have no legal right to take away her mandate. The only thing they agreed on was that Noveska will give up all her party functions. Although Noveska unsuccessfully tried to graduate from law school twice (in 1978 and 1990), and falsely used the title of lawyer, she intends to remain in Parliament and clear her name with honorable legislative work. Jana Weisnerova/Petra Sevcikova FROM SLOVAKIA Deputy Gaulieder Removed from Mandate Former Parliament club member of the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) Frantisek Gaulieder had his mandate removed during a National Assembly session December 4, although voting on mandate removal is unconstitutional. Gaulieder was mainly under the pressure from HZDS, which controls his declaration that he binds himself to resign from his position in case he leaves the HZDS deputy club (see Carolina 226). Legal experts from the coalition and opposition state that this declaration itself is against the Constitution of the Slovak Republic. Gaulieder remains a deputy, in spite of the loss of his mandate. At night of December 6 a bomb had exploded near Gaulieder's house in Galanta. The opposition adds this obvious terrorist act to HZDS' account, but it is hard to say if the movement would do something like this while its approval ratings are continually decreasing. The legality of the mandate removal will be judged by the Constitutional Court, led by Chairman Milan Cic. On the day the Galanta explosion took place, Cic received in his Kosice court office a letter threatening him with death. According to SME and MF DNES, Jan Potucek/Katerina Zachovalova Coalition Deputies Approve the State Budget Proposal The state budget proposal for 1997 was ratified by 80 coalition deputies December 7 shortly after 4 a.m.. Besides coalition deputies, only deputies of the Party of the Democratic Left were present during the budget negotiations. They did not support the proposal. The rest of the opposition refused to vote about the proposal, and to protest they left the National Assembly building. The 1997 Slovak budget plans on income of 171.1 billion Slovak crowns income and expenses of 208 billion crown. Institutions such as the government, the National Assembly and particularly the Slovak Information Service, which operates with more money than the Office of the Presidential, are expecting to get more finances. On the day of the National Assembly's opening session, demonstrations against the proposal were held by representatives of the Union of Slovak Cities and by students from Pavel Jozef Safarik University in Kosice. According to SME from December 5 and 9, Jan Potucek/Katerina Zachovalova Pavel Jozef Safarik University Will Be Divided The Act on Dividing Pavel Jozef Safarik University (UPJS) was approved by 75 votes of National Assembly deputies December 10. It happened over President Michal Kovac's veto. The opposition pointed out the coalition's disrespect for student and staff opinion. According to Christian Democrat deputy Marie Sabolova, the act was missing statements from the University Council, Accreditation Committee and also documents from the Ministry of Finance about expenses related to founding the new Presov University. Opposing a petition signed by 3,000 university students, Igor Urban (HZDS) read a text written by professors of Presov University departments, which argued for founding a university in Presov independent from Kosice's UPJS. According to daily Narodni obroda December 11, Jan Potucek/Katerina Zachovalova ONE-SENTENCE NEWS * Igor Kubis, the moderator of STV (Slovak Television) News became the new Central Director of Slovak Television, replacing Jozef Darmo (according to a National Assembly vote December 10). * The government put aside 26.5 million Slovak crowns for celebrations of the fourth anniversary of the creation of an independent Slovak state (Slovakia came into being January 1, 1993). The right of its organization was given to the Donar Agency. Jan Potucek/Katerina Zachovalova ECONOMY MARKETS/COMPANIES * The Prague Stock Exchange's PX 50 index did not show any remarkable swings, its value remained at 518.1 points after the December 12 session. The only bright point in the darkness of indifference was represented by shares of the well known SPIF Cesky fund, which drew a lot of attention last week. Trading with these securities on the central market, as well as direct trades, made a considerable part of the capital market's turnover every day. The steep rise of SPIF Cesky is remarkable, and its price remains above its nominal value of 400 crowns. * Bayerische Landesbank got preliminary approval from the Czech National Bank for the purchase of 55 per cent shares of the ailing Interbank. The remaining 45 per cent is to be acquired by the Hungarian institute Magyar Kulkeresdelmi, where the Bavarians also have a majority. This move should be the starting point for economic expansion in the Czech Republic for Bayerische Landesbank, a financial institute chaired by Franz Neubauer, head of the Sudeten German political body. * Christmas presents are likely to be given to all clients of the bankrupt Czech Bank (Ceska banka). Their clients got only part of the value of their lost savings in the bank, but the Parliament, cabinet and the Czech National Bank are discussing the possibility to grant them damages. * The consortium of Czech companies headed by Skodaexport, the Skoda Plzen exporting arm, won the tender to supply the power station for the Chinese Schen-tchou. Skoda Plzen took part also in the energy engineering trade fair in Canton, with an offer to supply coal, water and nuclear power stations. * Pilsen brewers are conquering the Baltic states, when Pilsener Urquell (Plzensky prazdroj) became majority owner of the Lithuanian brewery Ragutis. This investment cost 2.8 million USD. * The Sokolov Coal Company (Sokolovska uhelna) signed a five-year contract with CEZ (Ceske energeticke zavody). The CEZ power stations are supplied by about 2 million tons of Sokolov coal every year. * The Dutch company Devro, now the majority owner (92 per cent) of the casing company Cutisin, decided to withdraw the northern Bohemian company's shares from public trading on the Prague Stock Exchange. * The Czechoslovak Elbe Shipping Company (Ceskoslovenska plavba labska) in Decin is going to build a sea fleet with 2,000- to 3,000-tonnages for the North Sea. Martin Cermak/Milan Smid Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from December 12) country currency ------------------------------------------ Great Britain 1 GBP 45.193 France 1 FRF 5.228 Japan 100 JPY 24.192 Canada 1 CAD 20.074 Austria 1 ATS 2.515 Slovakia 100 SKK 86.773 Germany 1 DEM 17.689 Switzerland 1 CHF 20.689 USA 1 USD 27.311 ECU 1 XEU 34.119 SDR 1 XDR 39.252 CULTURE Czech Literature Fund Awarded Prizes The Czech Literature Fund Foundation annually awards prizes for best original works, and the names of this year's winners were announced December 4. Only works published between October 1995 and September 1996 could be nominated. The committee was made up of 11 literary personalities, headed by Hana Belohradska. The prizes bring each laureate not only prestige but also 20,000 crowns. In the fiction category, Vladimir Tresnak's book The Key Is Under the Mat wins the prize, while also garnering the award Book Of The Year 1996 in a poll conducted by daily Lidove Noviny. Poetry was best represented by the collection Behind The River by Miroslav Cervenka. The book Literature and Fictive Worlds by Ruzena Grebenickova won the prize for literary criticism. The prize for short stories was received by Lubomir Martinek for the work Palmset. Premie Bohemica, awarded to the writer who best presents Czech literature abroad, was not awarded. The winner will be announced on April 23, International Book Day. Ondrej Slavik/Magdalena Vanova Prague Chamber Ballet Introduces Two Premieres The Prague Chamber Ballet, a troupe with more than 20 years of tradition and an excellent reputation, has introduced two premieres at the same time. The Estates Theater (Stavovske divadlo) was filled by modern dance afficionados to see three masterpieces of three great Czech choreographers December 10. Pavel Smok, who is also the art director of the group, created a game-like performance using a Bach piece. Petr Zuska, who returned to his original ballet from the National Theater Ballet, tried to reflect somehow the division and unbalance of humans. This part, with only two female dancers, is performed to the music of Leos Janacek - In Fogs (V mlhach). Jiri Kylian, a choreographer living and working in the Netherlands, reminds us of the period around 1968 through music (Solitaire by Arne Nordheim) and dance expression. After three days of dancing in Germany, the ballet was expecting another show opening December 7. It was a performance by Dutch choreographer and dancer Pieter de Ruiter called Zero Time. The choreography was created specially for the Prague Ballet. Zero Time was performed on the as part of the New Testament in Art festival, which is following the last year's similar event inspired by the Old Testament. Ondrej Slavik/Katerina Zachovalova Sepultura Plays Prague's Sport Hall The famous trash-metal band Sepultura came to Prague December 6 on their world tour Roots 96. Their concert started shortly before 10 p.m., after the performance of the New Orleans group Floodgate. Sepultura hails from Brazil and is known for their friendship with the Indians of Xavante. That is also where they took the inspiration for their last album, Roots. "Indians live much more well-balanced and peaceful lives than we all do," said Max Cavalera, Sepultura's singer. Originally for Carolina David Vlk/Magdalena Vanova Laibach Marches on Prague The controversial Slovenian group Laibach played in Prague's Sky Club Brumlovka December 6. This was their fourth performance in Prague since 1990. A massive number of people of various ages came to the concert. In a two-hour long exhibition, all songs from the NATO and Jesus Christ Superstar albums were played, along with some older songs. Laibach never performs emotionally on stage, they are known instead for their omnipresent march rhythm and remaking songs from famous groups like The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Queen. Originally for Carolina M.Cermak, J. Schovanec/M. Vanova SPORT Hingis the Best in Brno The third-annual KB Open exhibition tennis tournament KB in Brno was won by 16-year-old Martina Hingis, who has a Czecho-Slovak origins. She defeated Slovak Karina Habsudova in the final 6:2, 7:6 and confirmed her flawless play of this season. "The final was my last game this year, so I put all my power in it," says Hingis, who beat Habsudova for the first time. Hingis was born October 30, 1980 in Kosice, Slovakia, but most of her childhood was spent in Roznov pod Radhostem, in the present Czech Republic. When she was eight years old, she moved to Switzerland with her parents, where she lives today, in Trubach, St. Gallen. Zdenek Janda/Petra Sevcikova Czech Hockey Extraleague Results of the 27th round: Zlin - Ceske Budejovice 7-0, Sparta - Trinec 1-5, Pardubice - Jihlava 1-4, Slavia - Litvinov 1-6, Opava - Plzen 3-2, Olomouc - Vsetin 4-1, Kladno - Vitkovice 5-5. Results of the 28th round: Sparta - Opava 3-1, Vsetin - Trinec 5-2, Litvinov - Zlin 5-3, Jihlava - Plzen 0-0, Kladno - Olomouc 5-3, Pardubice - Slavia 5-1, Ceske Budejovice - Vitkovice 3-1. Standings after the 28th round (not complete because of postponed Sparta matches - see Carolina 220) : 1. Vsetin 36, 2. Vitkovice 35, 3. Trinec (-1) 34, 4. Pardubice 32, 5. Kladno 31, 6. Sparta (-4) 28, 7. Budejovice 28, 8. Litvinov 28, 9. Slavia 25, 10. Zlin 24, 11. Olomouc (-1) 22, 12. Plzen (-1) 22, 13. Jihlava 21, 14. Opava (-1) 18. Zdenek Janda WEATHER The temperature stayed around 0 degrees Celsius/32 degrees Fahrenheit all week and thus the turnover in the glove trade. The gray color of the sky predetermines the mood of the citizenry (some people like it that way), though Christmas is, fortunately, on the way. Merry Christmas from Batyr Gaparov/Petra Sevcikova P.S. Carolina will be published next week. English version edited by Michael Bluhm xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ANNOUNCING: The International Study Program of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Beginning in February 1997, a one-semester English-language program will be offered twice a year in Central and Eastern European Studies, with a selection of courses in modern history and recent political and economic developments in the region. Some courses are also available in German. For further information contact Cyril Simsa at: E-mail-- svoz@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz Phone-- 42/2/2481 0804 Fax-- 42/2/2481 0987 When e-mailing, please include a regular mailing address so an information packet can be sent without delay. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. The subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated. 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