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 231, Friday, January 24, 1997. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (January 15-22) Kohl and Klaus Sign Czech-German Declaration Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus and his German counterpart Chancellor Helmut Kohl signed the Czech-German declaration in Prague January 21 after nearly two years of preparations (see Carolina 227 for details). Czech Television (CT) broadcast the signing and the press conference that followed live. Even though the text was to provide a break from the past, many issues are yet unresolved. Kohl said at the press conference that Sudeten German property claims are still open, while in the declaration, both sides claim that "they will not burden their relations with political and legal issues from the past." Czech President Vaclav Havel's announced to CT January 23 that "of course Sudeten Germans will continue to press their property rights as individuals, and German law enables them to do so ... However, for us it is important that the German government will now stop politically supporting these demands." Head of the opposition Social Democrats' Parliament Club Stanislav Gross spoke against the announcements made by the German chancellor. "For me it is a shocking interpretation, which tells those who are partially against the declaration that they are right," he told MF DNES January 22. Even Vice-Chairman of Parliament and the Christian Democrats Jan Kasal said "I do not think that on our side anyone has ever said that we want to re-open property issues in the sense that we want to implement the Benes Decrees (which provided the basis for the expulsion of Sudeten Germans after WW II). I do not know what Mr. Kohl expects, but I can only say that these issues ended for me February 25, 1948. That means that if we returned to restitutions before this date, we don't know when to stop." However, Parliament member for the Civic Democratic Alliance Daniel Kroupa says that Kohl's announcement does not conflict with the the text of the declaration. "The declaration does not touch on these legal issues. It is not possible to find a simple solution for them, because our country interprets the Munich Pact differently than Germany," he told daily MF DNES. Several dozen members of the neo-fascist Republicans demonstrated their disapproval of the declaration in front of the Lichtenstein Palace. After attacking it verbally, members of Sladek's Association for the Republic-Republican Party of Bohemia nad Moravia burned a German flag. The Communist Party collected signatures for a petition against the declaration. Czech daily Pravo reported that former party General Secretary Milous Jakes was a signatory. Organizers expect 250,000 signatures. Marketa Kropacova/Andrea Snyder Church Finance Divides Coalition Czech ministers have conflicting ideas about church funding. Catholic dignitaries are criticizing the cabinet, and Cardinal Miroslav Vlk told Czech Television that some Czech ministers have a similar opinion towards the role of the Church in society as did the communists. Vlk was responding to a proposal made by Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik, to use the so-called Austrian model as an example, where churchgoers would support the church instead of the state completely supporting it. Christian Democrat Minister of Culture Jaromir Talir and some Civic Democratic Alliance representatives supported the church, while ruling Civic Democratic Party members supported their party colleague Kocarnik. Marketa Kropacova/Andrea Snyder President Not to Need Cancer Treatment Seven weeks after President Vaclav Havel underwent an operation to remove a malignant tumor, the president is doing well. An international oncology committee decided that chemotherapy and anti-tumor medication are unnecessary, according to the Czech press. Professor Pavel Pafko was the president's surgeon and a member of the committee. Havel reassured him at a private meeting that he had not wanted to blame anyone for anything in his statement on his weekly radio program, when he said "it seems that my life was really only hanging by a thread. Whether it had to be that way or not is something the physicians should discuss among themselves.". Presidential spokesman Ladislav Spacek said Havel meant "an internal, informal and professional discussion." Both Havel and Pafko have decided that they will no longer publicly comment on the issue. Petra Sevcikova/Andrea Snyder Havel Talks about Zeman's BIS Materials President Vaclav Havel says the materials Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman gave him last week do not prove that a group of people from the Ministry of the Interior and the Security Information Service (BIS) is illegally following politicians. Zeman brought the documents to the president before the November Senate elections, when the BIS affair resulted in Stanislav Devaty's resignation (see Carolina 223) as BIS chief, and the coalition could not decide on anyone to take his place. Havel also said the the documents could give reason to suspect something illegal. Two Czech dailies ran these headlines: "Havel Rejects Zeman's Accusations" from Lidove Noviny and "Havel Confirms Part of Zeman's Suspicions" from Pravo. January 20 Zeman gave the 50-page document to the Parliament Committee for BIS Control. Petra Sevcikova/Andrea Snyder Dlouhy to Leave ODA? ODA Vice-Chairman and Trade Minister Vladimir Dlouhy said this weekend that if the newly elected chairman will not be able to keep the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) in Parliament, he would be prepared to leave the party. ODA just squeezed over the requisite five-per-cent margin in the 1992 and 1996 elections. With 13 seats in Parliament, they are the weakest party there. Parliamentary club boss Ivan Masek indirectly challenged Dlouhy to leave, saying that he is damaging the party in Parliament with his doubts. Party leaders will be voted in at the national party congress in March. Dlouhy said January 17 that ODA should now play the role of the rightist political integrator, and be strong enough. The party should also clearly and more critically define itself against the policies of the opposition Social Democrats and the leftist tendencies Dlouhy clearly sees in some steps of the Christian Democrats. Christian Democrat Chairman and Agriculture Minister Josef Lux called Dlouhy's comment meaningless and not worth attention, and he also recalled Dlouhy's past ("a former Communist should not say such things"). Dlouhy is generally considered a supporter of cooperation with the ruling Civic Democratic Party. At the ODA conference in Olomouc, he said the ODA and the ODS should "strongly and constructively meet over specific problems." Petra Sevcikova/Andrea Snyder Government to Propose Salary Reduction for Public Officials The government wants to propose in Parliament a reduction of 10 per cent to 15 per cent in public officials' salaries. If deputies accept it, the change would affect them, senators, judges, ministers, chairmen of both legislative chambers and also the president. The government started to consider the proposal after they refused a demand from public prosecutors' for a pay raise. Prosecutors wanted their wages increased to 80 per cent of judges' salaries. Besides prosecutors, teachers also want a raise, though Education Minister Ivan Pilip and Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus have refused their demand for a 19-per-cent increase. Teachers have declared a chain strike, which should start January 28. Klaus expressed his dissatisfaction with the high salaries of public officials last summer, but no steps were taken because of the cold reception from deputies. A majority of politicians accept the move. The president makes 112,400 crowns a month plus expenses of up to 104,600 crowns, the prime minister and chairmen of the two legislative chambers 90,500 crowns (plus expenses up to 18,100), ministers 59,300 crowns (plus 9,400 crowns) and deputies make 31,200 crowns (plus 23,800 crowns). The average monthly wage in the Czech Republic is slightly more than 9,000 crowns. Marketa Kropacova/Magdalena Vanova To The Memory of Jan Palach The College of Humanities of Charles University in Prague has awarded the first Jan Palach Prize for extraordinary research work January 21. Alumnus Ondrej Koupil received the prize for his thesis The Translation Of Rosa's Cechorecnost with Introduction and Commentary. The award for extraordinary research work or for an activity which advances the reputation of the school was established by the students of the college and will be awarded annually in the memory of Jan Palach. Palach was a student of the college who burned himself to death January 16, 1969 on Prague's Wenceslas Square near the statue of St. Wenceslas as a protest against the Soviet army occupation of Czechoslovakia. His funeral January 25, 1969 became a massive demonstration for freedom and democracy. On the 28th anniversary of his act, representatives of the school laid flowers at his death mask at the school and at the statue of St. Wenceslas. Less than 400 people took part in the ceremony at the cemetery in Vsetaty this year, while in 1990 about 5,000 people came. Simona Malkovska/Magdalena Vanova Guests from Uzbekistan and France Support Czech Entrance into NATO A joint declaration of development of cooperation between Czech Republic and Uzbekistan was signated by the presidents of both countries January 15. This document should support transformation processes and help with national and regional projects. The two countries will also cooperate in the fight against terrorism and drugs. At a press conference attended by Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov surprised some with his strong support for Czech entrance into NATO. Dagmar Havlova, newly wedded to President Vaclav Havel, played the role of first lady for the first time, during Karimov's visit. Also Herve de Charette, the French Foreign Minister, promised his country's support for integrating the Czech Republic into NATO. De Charette met his Czech opposite number Josef Zieleniec in Prague January 18. De Charette paid honor to Zieleniec for the maturity and ability for political vision which lead the Czech government to the Czech-German Declaration. Lucie Podesvova/Magdalena Vanova FROM SLOVAKIA First Official Czech Parliamentary Delegation Visits Bratislava A seven-member delegation of the Czech Parliament led by Chamber of Deputies Chairman Milos Zeman visited the Slovak Republic January 15-6. Zeman and Ivan Gasparovic, Chairman of the Slovak National Assembly, declared the cooperation of both parliamentary bodies is good, but the frequency of meetings of prime ministers and presidents is not satisfactory, and it is in contradiction to the basic treaty between the countries. Deputies were assured of mutual support in matters of EU and NATO integration efforts. "If the gold that is the property of the Slovak Republic, and which is situated in the Czech Republic, would have ceased to be considered as a deposit or something like an instrument of guarantee, and if this gold would have returned to Slovakia, than it would, in my opinion, have been beneficial to our mutual relations, and would have eased our mutual communication," said Slovak Premier Vladimir Meciar after meeting with the delegation. Zeman reacted by remarking on the fact that the last meeting of the commission on dividing federal property last took place in 1993. Meciar rejected the critical stance of Czech deputy Daniel Kroupa (Civic Democratic Alliance) on the unsatisfactory record of human rights in Slovakia (Kroupa described as problematic the amendment of the penal code, political redistricting and the attitude towards independent media), and stated that Slovak democracy is full-fledged. Miroslav Sladek, chairman of the neo-Fascist Czech Republican Party, a properly appointed member of the Czech parliamentary delegation, organized his own show. He ignored the official program, he did not attended the January 15 reception with Slovak President Michal Kovac, and he went to Slovakia in his own car. Simona Malkovska/Milan Smid ECONOMY 1996 Czech Economy Ends with 1.5 Billion-Crown Deficit The 1996 state budget ended with a deficit of 1.56 billion crowns, said Finance Ministry spokeswoman Ludmila Nutilova January 17. This amount is, according to her information, definitive, and will be presented in the state final account which is to be submitted to Parliament in March. Revenues were 482.8 billion crowns, and expenditures reached the sum of 484.3 billion crowns. The deficit thus represents 0.1 per cent of Gross domestic product and parliament will decide on the method of its compensation. "the standard way of resolving a deficit is the issuing of state bonds and one can assume the government will propose them," said Deputy Finance Minister Miroslav Havel. "It is not possible to consider a deficit which does not even represent 1 per cent of gross domestic product as very significant," said Budget Committee Chairman Josef Wagner of the Social Democrats. Zdenek Janda/Milan Smid Czech Crown Breaks Record January 17 the Czech crown rose to its highest level since last year's expansion of the crown's ability to fluctuate, and reached 5.25 per cent on the revaluation side. Currency traders were selling deutschmarks for less than 17 crowns, the lowest price since devaluation six years ago. Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from January 23) country currency ------------------------------------------ Great Britain 1 GBP 45.945 France 1 FRF 5.018 Japan 100 JPY 23.370 Canada 1 CAD 20.758 Austria 1 ATS 2.406 Slovakia 100 SKK 85.594 Germany 1 DEM 16.919 Switzerland 1 CHF 19.400 USA 1 USD 27.782 ECU 1 XEU 32.959 SDR 1 XDR 39.188 CULTURE Sverak's Kolya Wins Golden Globe In Hollywood January 19 the Czech movie Kolya, written and directed by father and son Zdenek and Jan Sverak, respectively (see Carolina 206 and 218), won the second most important movie award - the Golden Globe - in the best foreign film category. Two Golden Globes - for best director and screenplay - were given to the newest movie by another Czech director - The People Vs. Larry Flynt from Milos Forman (One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus). Lucie Podesvova/Denisa Vitkova Toyen In Vltavin Gallery Prague's Vltavin Gallery has taken advantage of the enthusiasm for surrealism inspired by the fall successful exhibit in Prague's City Library (see Carolina 220). The gallery prepared a collection of works for sale by the most famous Czech surrealistic female painter, Marie Cerminova (1902-1980), known as Toyen. The graphics cost more than 10,000 crowns, the paintings reach prices of more than 100,000 crowns. There is one picture which costs 1 million crowns. The exhibit in Vltavin is open till February 9, and then an exhibit of Czech and world surrealist graphics, drawings and pictures for sale follows from February 11 to March 2. Lucie Podesvova/Denisa Vitkova Matragi Raises Interest at Elegance of the First Republic Exhibit Fifty-thousand visitors have already seen the exhibit Elegance of the First Republic - Czech Fashion 1918-1939, which has been prolonged at the Prague Museum of Applied Arts till January 26. Visitors have been most interested in a model by the designer and painter Blanka Matragi-Kyselova. The author donated this robe, originally made in the author's Beirut salon for Saudi Arabian Princess Latifa, to the museum during her Prague visit in January. The outfit was made last year and costs about 500,000 crowns. Lucie Podesvova/Denisa Vitkova Jezek Revue Will Not Return at ABC Theater Plans to renew the musical performance about Jaroslav Jezek's life, The Dark-Blue Revue, dissolved after the discovery that performance expenses increased from the original 1.5 million crowns almost five times and that indebted producer Roman Wimmer does not intend to pay. From March through June of last year, this Czech retro-musical had 20 performances (see Carolina 195), but almost the same number of performances were cancelled due to lack of fan interest and financial reasons. The producer, who at first said he would cover all expenses, owes 150,000 crowns just for rent at Prague's ABC Theater. When called to pay the debt, according to the ABC Theater secretary, Wimmer moved and changed his phone number. The whole situation is now going to court. The musical, where Jezek's life story is supplemented with music, was created by director Roman Stolpa and young actors and students of at Jezek's conservatory on the occasion of the late Jezek's 90th birthday. Those who bought tickets for performances never given will not get any money back, though they can exchange them for tickets for any performance on the January ABC Theater schedule. Lucie Podesvova/Denisa Vitkova SPORT Czech Hockey Extraleague Results of the 35th round: Plzen - Slavia 2-5, Sparta - Pardubice 6-1, Kladno - Ceske Budejovice 2-2, Vsetin - Litvinov 4-1, Olomouc - Jihlava 3-2, Opava - Zlin 1-7, Trinec - Vitkovice 5-7. Results of the 36th round: Slavia - Sparta 2-6, Litvinov - Kladno - 2-2, Pardubice - Vsetin 2-0, Jihlava - Ceske Budejovice 4-4, Vitkovice - Opava 4-3, Olomouc - Trinec 1-7, Zlin - Plzen 6-3. Standings after the complete 36th round: 1. Vsetin 49, 2. Vitkovice 45, 3. Pardubice 43, 4. Sparta 42, 5. Trinec 40, 6. Kladno 39, 7. Litvinov 38, 8. Zlin 35, 9. Ceske Budejovice 34, 10. Slavia 33, 11. Olomouc 30, 12. Plzen 28, 13. Jihlava 25, 14. Opava 19. Poborsky among World Soccer Elite Karel Poborsky, the Czech soccer player who wears Manchester United's colors and one of the best strikers at the Euro 96 Championships (where the Czech soccer team unexpectedly took second place), was voted the world's 17th-best soccer player of 1996 in the International Soccer Federation poll. The same number of votes as Poborsky received was also given to Alessandro del Piero (Juventus Turin), Zouri Djorkaeff (Inter Milan) and Dejan Savicevic (AC Milan), who all share his 17th position. Two other Czech soccer players, Patrik Berger (Liverpool) and Radek Bejbl (Atletico Madrid), managed to be included into the world soccer elite, Berger 28th and Bejbl 34th on the chart. Votes of 120 national soccer team coaches decided that the 1996 top soccer player's trophy went to Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who plays for Barcelona. Zdenek Janda/Milan Smid WEATHER The warm air and thaw nearly cleaned the Prague sidewalks from the ice of last week. However, the white winter continues, as the snow cover survived at least in Prague's suburban areas. Night temperatures fluctuate around the 0 degrees Celsius/32 degrees Fahrenheit. The recent inversion was the cause of incredible 20 degrees Celsius/68 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures in mountainous areas, in Sumava even 25 degrees Celsius/77 degrees Fahrenheit. The skiers got the sun but lost the snow in mid-January. 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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