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: (+4202) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+4202) 24810987 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 243, Friday, April 18, 1997. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (APRIL 9-16) Budget-Aid Package Under the title Correction of Economic Policy And Other Transformation Measures, the government passed a package of steps to shape up the flagging Czech economy. Short-term measures include decreasing budget expenditures by 5 per cent - 25.5 billion crowns, and slowing growth in wages in the state sector to 7.3 per cent this year, instead of the originally planned 11.9 per cent, a step that saves 4.2 billion crowns. The government has also decided to decrease investments by 20 per cent or 7.7 billion crowns, excluding investments for the army. Pensions will not increase with the rate of inflation, and imports will slow. Long-term steps to be taken include completing privatization of larger companies and banks, improving conditions for business and exports and a tougher stance against financial crime. These measures should improve the trade and payment balances, they should balance the state budget, keep economic growth from stagnating and maintain the current tendencies of price development. Deputy Prime Minister and Christian Democrat Chairman Josef Lux proposed that specific members of the government should hold political responsibility for the current state of the economy. It was not passed. Michaela Klevisova/Andrea Snyder Heads Roll over Economy The first head rolled April 10 as a result of the domestic economic situation, when Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir Rudlovcak decided to resign. Rudlovcak headed the Capital Market Supervision department at the the Ministry of Finance. The deputy's staff was unable to stop the transfer of the C.S. Fond's property out of the country. In the transfer, the fund lost more than 1 billion crowns (see Carolina) 239. The former deputy says he is ready to prove that the Finance Ministry acted correctly. He explained that his resignation was due to a media campaign against him, which would have, in the long run, damaged the ministry. Chairman of the Exchange Chamber Tomas Jezek (Civic Democratic Party) has been one of Rudlovcak's sharpest critics. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus and Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik support Rudlovcak, and say his only mistake was his inability to communicate with aggressive journalists. Opposition leader Milos Zeman of the Social Democrats welcomes his resignation, and has asked for the head of Kocarnik, as well. David Simonik/Andrea Snyder Teachers to Old Town Square Teachers organized by the Czech Moravian Union (CMOS) demonstrated on Old Town Square April 12 for higher wages and less teaching hours. The government increased required teaching time to 24 hours per week (see Carolina 239). Reports on the demonstration vary. Police present reported 6,000 to 7,000 demonstrators; union leaders say there were twice as many present. Demonstrators were mainly elementary school teachers. Union leader Richard Falbr was also present, as well as union leaders from other divisions. The neo-Fascist Republicans crashed the party, handing out leaflets left and right. Education Minister Ivan Pilip (Civic Democratic Party) spoke to Czech Television about the demonstration. He stated that only 2 per cent of teachers were on the square, and repeated that talks under pressure are impossible. After a series of strikes in February (see Carolina 233-5), the demonstration was the next step in reminding the administration that problems continue and to push for a 19-per-cent wage increase. CMOS Chairman Jaroslav Rossler says there will be no more teachers protests in April, because Pilip has promised that he will submit a new teachers' salary proposal to the government. Karolina Cebrovska/Andrea Snyder Railway Unions Stand Firm Railway Union Chief Jaromir Dusek refuses to consider changing the collective contract between Czech Railways management and the union, as recommended by Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus. The contract promises 17-per-cent growth in wages to railway employees. Klaus says that this is too high, in light of the government's new cutbacks. Dusek says that contract was not signed with the government. Deputy Transport Minister Michal Tosovsky has invited the railways to reconsider. Jakub Prochazka/Andrea Snyder Medicine Supply War Over Medicine wholesalers and the Ministry of Health finished their 10 days of battle (see Carolina 241) without affecting hospital patients. Health Minister Jan Strasky (Civic Democratic Party) and The Association of Medicine Wholesalers (AVEL) reached an agreement April 11. When AVEL stopped supplying hospitals with medicine April 1, the minister tried to circumvent wholesalers by approaching small distribution companies. None of the hospitals reported that supplies were low, so AVEL only managed to refuse to negotiate for one week. Strasky promised to aid in obtaining loans for the hospitals to pay off half of their debts by the end of June and the remaining 1.3 billion crowns by the end of the year. The General University Hospital and the Motol University Hospital will pay their loans off according to a different schedule. Wholesalers resumed medicine supplies and, for the time being, rid themselves of competition. Lucie Podesvova/Andrea Snyder Zdenek Mlynar Dies Zdenek Mlynar, one of the most important figures in the 1968 Czechoslovak reforms, died April 15. The 66-year-old succumbed to lung cancer in a Vienna hospital. Mlynar signed the human-rights document Charter 77 in 1977 and then emigrated to Austria. He returned to the Czech Republic after the events of 1989. He was known as a left-wing politician and a critic of the government. He was an honorary chairman of the far-left Left Bloc party, but was not elected to Parliament. Along with other former prominent communists, Mlynar was charged with treason in 1995 for having signed the Moscow Protocol after Warsaw Pact countries invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968. The Attorney General later dismissed the charges. He was respected by his colleagues. Parliament Chairman Milan Uhde said that although their opinions differed, "he was a noble counterpart." He and his old schoolmate Mikhail Gorbachev published a book together in 1995, Reformers Are Not Usually Happy, about 1968. Mlynar's book A Frost Comes from the Kremlin, published in 1978, has been translated into 11 languages. Jakub Prochazka/Andrea Snyder Cabinet Begins to Address Drug Problem The drug situation in the Czech Republic has been labeled "critical" in a document approved by the cabinet April 9. The report about the state and development of the drug problem in the Czech Republic is the first detailed study in several years. The cabinet approved the report, which included a proposal for urgent action by the Inter-Departmental Anti-Drug Commission, whose secretary Pavel Bem is the report's co-author. According to Bem, the report stresses the need to ensure funding for preventative and treatment projects, as well as financial controls to prevent waste and ineffective anti-drug activities. The emphasis on prevention is expressed in the specific tasks assigned to the individual ministries in the battle against drugs. For example, primary prevention is the job of Education Minister Ivan Pilip (Civic Democratic Party), who is to introduce a systematic drug education program in every school. In the course of its discussion of the drug problem, the cabinet did not, however, address the Interior Ministry's proposal to change the pertinent law. The proposal would allow for the criminal punishment of not only dealers, but also of those possessing smaller amounts of drugs for their personal use, i.e. consumers. They would be threatened with fines, confiscation of driver's licenses and incarceration. Due to the controversy surrounding the proposal, Interior Minister Jan Ruml (also Civic Democratic Party) decided that he will present it to the cabinet after consulting with experts. Jaroslav Schovanec/Andy Faust Votobia Publishing Found Innocent in Precedent-Setting Case The Olomouc County Court ruled that the publishing of Adam Gottlieb's book Cooking with Cannabis was not a crime, and found the three owners of the Votobia publishing house not guilty. Votobia published the book in May 1995. The publishers were accused of propagation of drugs in October, which can carry a punishment of one year in prison, a publishing ban and fine. The court found them innocent then, but Tomas Kudela, one of the publishers, called a state prosecutor a "communist hangover." The case was renewed and Kudela was accused of an attack on a state official. The county court confirmed the original decision after a fiery trial. The publishers are satisfied with the acquittal, as they were afraid of being sentenced because of "populist hysteria." Jan Potucek and Vit Bartek/Jan Majer First Czech Sociological Dictionary Published After four years of searching for a publisher, the Big Sociological Dictionary, the only one of its kind on the Czech sociological scene, has finally been published by the Karolinum publishing house. One of the authors of the dictionary is Miroslav Petrusek, former dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University. The dictionary has two parts and 1,600 pages. The dictionary contains 2,500 interpretive entries and also a biographical supplement where the reader can find information about 2,700 personalities from the sociology field. Jan Potucek/Sofia Karakeva FOREIGN AFFAIRS Klaus Meets with NATO and EU Representatives in Brussels During his two-day visit in Brussels March 13-14, Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus gave a speech at the seat of the Council of NATO, where he warned the Alliance against an appeasement policy toward Moscow. He also visited the office of the European Commission, where he expressed the Czech Republic's will to become a member of the European Union. In his speech at NATO, Klaus reaction to the NATO General Secretary Javier Solana's request that the Czech Republic participate more in discussions with Russia, and Klaus clarified the Czech Republic's intention to become an equal partner of the Alliance. Klaus informed the commissioner of the EU in Brussels and also Czech President Vaclav Havel, who is on vacation (see Carolina 242), about planned economic measures in the Czech Republic. Jana Wiesnerova/Sofia Karakeva Antje Vollmer Given Commemorative Charles University Medal In her acceptance speech for the commemorative Charles University Medal, given for her role in the German-Czech Declaration, Vice Chairwoman of the German Federal Assembly Antje Vollmer quoted Nietzsche's comment about the smallest shortfall being the hardest to overcome. The official act took place in the Patriots' Hall of the newly reconstructed Carolinum April 11, where university personalities and a few politicians, like Vice Chairwoman of the Czech Chamber of Deputies Petra Buzkova (Social Democrat) and German ambassador to the Czech Republic Anton Rosbach were present. Vollmer spoke mostly to students, who she called the hope for future mutual relations. She also led a short discussion with students as well. Vollmer has been vice chairwoman of German Federal Assembly for two years, and she has appeared on the Prague academic scene twice in that time. The first time, in November 1995, she began to strive for the reconciliation of the Czech Republic and Germany with the past. It was in the period when the election campaign culminated in Germany and most local politicians refused to discuss the matter. exclusively for Carolina by Libuse Kolouchova/Magdalena Vanova ONE-SENTENCE NEWS * Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec visited the United States, where he discussed NATO expansion and the Alliance's relations with Russia with his opposite number Madeleine Albright and other US politicians. Magdalena Vanova FROM SLOVAKIA TASR Report Blames Carnogursky The Slovak press agency TASR made an announcement April 8 indicating Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) Chairman Jan Carnogursky is responsible for the bomb found at the meeting of his party. Four kilograms of the plastic explosive danubit with a remote-control detonator were found at a KDH meeting near Bratislava March 24. The Christian Democrats expressed suspicions that the incident was connected with the coalition (see Carolina 240). TASR reported that the incident was staged by KDH and Carnogursky. The press agency, as is customary, released the report without the name of author, with only a referral to the Regional Investigation Office of the Bratislava Police Department, which does not want to disclose any specific information or evidence. Carnogursky considers the report of TASR a provocation and an attempt to discredit his party and himself, and called for a formal investigation. Ondra Provaznik/Magdalena Vanova Meciar Marries off Son Vladimir Meciar Jr., the son of the Slovak premier, and Andrea Fabianova, a first-year medical student, were married in the Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary in Banska Stiavnica April 12. Meciar the younger, a 24-year-old electrical engineer, met his bride in this very town five years ago, in high school. On the way to the altar, the wedding couple were accompanied by the singing of the world-famous Lucnica ensemble. Libuse Kolouchova/Milan Smid ECONOMY Interests Will Rise Since May The Czech National Bank (Ceska narodni banka), criticized by the government for a restrictive monetary policy, lowered minimum required reserve rates for banks. Bringing the rate down from 11.5 to 9.5 per cent will enable banks to increase interest rates for deposits while maintaing the interest rate for loans. Czech National Bank Governor Josef Tosovsky announced the measure will come into effect May 8. The largest domestic banks (Commerce Bank, Czech Savings Bank, Investment and Postal Bank and the Czechoslovak Trade Bank), which rule three-quarters of the deposit market, are ready to raise the attractiveness of deposits from that date. Increased deposits is the goal of the measure. The reduction of minimal reserves should cause a revival of the economy and business activity, but financial experts have called the move insufficient. Vit Bartek/Jan Majer Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from April 18) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 23.266 Belgium 100 BEF 84.426 Great Britain 1 GBP 48.957 Denmark 1 DKK 4.572 Finland 1 FIM 5.807 France 1 FRF 5.178 Ireland 1 IEP 46.370 Italy 1000 ITL 17.672 Japan 100 JPY 23.937 Canada 1 CAD 21.501 Luxemburg 100 LUF 84.426 Hungary 100 HUF 16.601 Netherlands 1 NLG 15.498 Norway 1 NOK 4.257 New Zealand 1 NZD 20.742 Poland 1 PLN 9.572 Portugal 100 PTE 17.376 Austria 1 ATS 2.475 Greece 100 GRD 11.064 Slovakia 100 SKK 89.639 Germany 1 DEM 17.415 Spain 100 ESP 20.654 Sweden 1 SEK 3.898 Switzerland 1 CHF 20.492 USA 1 USD 30.081 ECU 1 XEU 34.026 IMF 1 XDR 41.120 CULTURE Jose Carreras Visits Prague Famous Spanish tenor Jose Carreras received a golden record April 13 in Prague for the more than 25,000 copies sold of the 1994 recording Three Tenors in Concert. April 14 in Prague's Congress Center, he performed a solo recital, accompanied by pianist Lorenzo Bavaj. The concert repertoire consisted of lesser-known songs from famous opera composers like Bizet, Verdi and Puccini. Michaela Klevisova/Denisa Vitkova European Film Days on for Fourth Time On April 4 at the 64 U Hradeb Theater, the latest picture by German director Volker Schloendorff, The Ogre, opened what is now the fourth installment of European Film Days in Prague. The festival, which originally provided only a small glimpse of the world of European film, has gained in significance in recent years and has been favorably received by critics and the general public. This is proven by both the sold-out showings and by the workshops held during the festival for filmmakers and producers, where they meet and debate the current state of European cinematography. As can be seen from the structure of the production of most European films, the wave of the future is international co-production, which allows even more financially demanding pictures to be made and additionally facilitates their release in individual EU countries. The program for this year's European Film Days again offers a representative cross-section of productions largely made within the last year. Audiences can see, for example, the award-winnning picture Breaking the Waves by Danish director Lars von Trier, the new Godard film Mozart Forever or one of a number of subtle comedies by Finn Aki Kaurismaki, Hold On to Your Scarf, Tatyana. Many filmmakers come to present their works in person, such as Kaurismaki, who is very popular in the Czech Republic, or Swedish dramatist Per Olov Enquist, author of the screenplay of the film Knut Hamsun, in which Max Van Sydow played the lead. The Czech films participating in the festival are Marian (see Carolina 223), The Wonderful Years of Lousy Living (Bajecna leta pod psa, see Carolina 242) and The Conspirators of Pleasure (Spiklenci slasti, see Carolina 220). The overview of European film will last two weeks in the Czech Republic. After it has finished in Prague April 13, it will move to the movie theaters of Brno. Ondra Provaznik/Andy Faust New Shepherdess Successful The premiere of the new adaptation of Czech composer Leos Janacek's Her Shepherdess (Jeji pastorkyna), also known as Jenufa, was a great success in Prague's National Theater April 13. The same work has been playing in another Prague opera house - the State Opera - since autumn. Spectators now have the opportunity for direct comparison, which has not been possible for a long time. The performance was directed by Josef Pludek and conducted by National Theater Opera Director Jiri Belohlavek. There was quite a controversy over this new adaptation even before it went before the public. Three leading stars - Eva Randova, Gabriela Benackova and Stefan Margita - left rehearsals several weeks ago to protest the inclusion of the monologue which Janacek himself scratched out in 1908. The particular aria takes place in a dramatic part of the opera, which is why critics point out the monologue slows down the whole production. The producers argue that the monologue fits exactly into their conception of the work. "We tried to produce the highly realistic theme through realistic means, but we also wanted to consider the third dimension, above this realism, and that's Janacek's music," said Pludek to the Denni Telegraf daily. Matej Cerny/Matej Cerny Echoes of the Female Soul Concert - Celebration of the Cult of Woman Various nationalities gathered together at the April 8 recital of ethnic music under the angels' wings at St. Simon and Judah Church. The concert, in which only women performed, was directed by Ida Kelarova. This Czech singer, who lives by turns in Bohemia and Wales, decorated the evening with stars such as are Iva Bittova, Vera Bila, the Bulgarian Cosmic Voices Trio, African musician Stella Chiwese and Nasrin Puohosseini from Iran. Typical folk melodies from the individual countries represented filled the church to the accompaniment of an international choir of 40 female voices. Slavic folk songs, African ballads and Spanish flamenco could be heard throughout the evening, which was not composed of solo performances but from resourcefully combined folk songs and melodies. The pure African rythms Chiwese played on an old African string instrument accompanied the Slovak nationalist song The Falcon is Sitting on a Maple Tree. The concert was a celebration not only of the liberty of soul but also of the liberty of the female body, and so the space in front of the altar sometimes resembled an African ritual or a meeting of witches. Though the performances of the foreign musicians undoubtedly had an original quality, they were not able to catch up with Bittova and Bila. However, it was Kelarova's voice which dominated the concert, organized by the musical publishing house Lotos. That evening she succeeded in breaking down cultural barriers and showing female mutuality not only through a harmony of tones but a spiritual harmony as well. Klara Schirova/Klara Schirova Sound of Pine Envelops Prague British saxophonist Courtney Pine, one of the leading figures in the acid jazz movement, performed with his band in Prague's Lucerna Music Bar April 9. The packed club was treated to a two-hour show in which Pine showed, thanks to his mastery of circular breathing and perfect chops, that he comes closer than any other contemporary player to capturing the intensity of the late John Coltrane. The key to Pine's approach, however, lies in his accompaniment - he has eschewed traditional jazz styles (with the exception of a Wes-Montgomery influenced guitarist and stand-up bass) for other traditional elements of modern black music: his band, aside from a live drummer, includes a DJ while another band member mans the drum machine and raps. An organist and female soul singer were also part of the ensemble. Ethnic Festival in Prague On April 4-5, an ethnic music festival took place on the grounds of the Bohnice Psychiatric Home in Prague. The festival was organized by the civic association the Sun of the Arts, Radio 1, and the Theater between the Fences. The festival, called Walks and Smiles - Welcoming the Spring was packed with exotic rhythms of domestic and foreign groups. Gypsy music, Samanic Band's drums, but most of all the Fontomfrom ensemble's performance combining African dance and music brought the festival visitors to a boil. On the contrary, the Hare Krishna band's performance, the medieval music of the Gothard group and the chamber style of the Indian instruments and acoustic guitar of the group Amoeba were of a soothing and relaxing character. The rock bands Tata bojs and King Size played for modern music supporters; the Czech group After-Death Experiences (Posmrtne zkusenosti) attempted an interesting mix of ethnic music and rock. There were oriental fashion shows and a Cabaret of Bubbles performance to complement the festival, and a program of readings of Korean fairy-tales, painting and ethnic music for children. The Theater between the Fences area in Bohnice was decorated with amateur photographs and mystic pictures by Zdenek Hajny and the Srajner brothers. Neither vegetarian refreshment or the trendy tearoom and incense sticks were missing. Simona Malkovska/Denisa Vitkova Actor Milan Nedela Dies Stage and film actor Milan Nedela died April 14 at the age of 63. After he graduated from Prague's Theater Academy of Musical Arts, he started acting in Kolin. He performed in many plays, but the golden period of his carrier was his eight-year stay in Prague's Rokoko Theater. From 1973 he was a member of the Karlin Musical Theater. As a film actor and singer, he performed in films like The Adventures of the Good Soldier Schweik (Osudy dobreho vojaka Svejka), Honzik's Trip (Honzikova cesta) and The White Lady (Bila pani). On television he hosted the show The Comedian and His World (Komik a jeho svet). Gaparov Batyrbek/Sofia Karakeva SPORT No Surprises in Soccer League's 23rd Round Sparta Praha held on to first place with a 3-0 win in Hradec Kralove, with two goals scored by Horst Siegl. For the season he has scored 11 goals and he moved into second place in the scorers table. Radek Drulak is still in first, although he has been playing for Austria's FC Linz since being transfered there by Drnovice in the winter break of the season. Also Slavia Praha did not hung back and after 4-0 win over Brno it is second in the standings. Defender Farsky's goal meant the first win for Opava this spring and they moved into the ninth place in the standings ahead of Ostrava, which tied its match with Drnovice 1-1. Bohemians failed also in their 12th attempt to win on their own field and had to be content with 2-2 tie with Plzen. The match between Jablonec and Liberec was postponed. Jablonec is now third and Liberec fourth in the standings, but Slavia and Jablonec have to play one match and Liberec two matches more then first-place Sparta. Results: Opava - Karvina 1:0, Zizkov - Teplice 0:0, Ceske Budejovice - Olomouc 3:1, Hradec Kralove - Sparta Praha 0:3, Slavia Praha - Brno 4:0, Ostrava - Drnovice 1:1, Bohemians Praha - Plzen 2:2. Zdenek Janda/Mirek Langer Two Wins for Czech Hockey over Germany In the first of two preparation matches before the World Championships in Finland, Czech hockey players, under new coaches Hlinka and Lener, beat Germany twice. After series of flops following the Czechs' world championship won in Vienna, which led to the former coach Bukac's resignation, the national team regained its confidence. "We needed it," Ivan Hlinka said to the daily MF DNES. In the first match April 11, Czech players did not start well and were losing 1-2 after two periods. Lang, Vujtek and Zelenka's goals in last two minutes gave the Czechs the win. "We had good luck for the first time this season," Lang said. Nor in the second match did the Czechs play too well, and the 2-0 win means more psychic encouragement. Zdenek Janda/Mirek Langer Results of two preparation matches with Norway April 16-17: Czech Republic-Norway, 6-1 and 4-2. WEATHER The cold front which moved into the Czech Republic with strong winds more than a week ago continues to reign over the entire country. Freezing temperatures at night have made roads treacherous and contributed to many traffic accidents, and in southern Moravia there are fears that this year's apricot, peach and grape harvest may have been adversely affected. The days have been chilly with periodic snowfall alternating with sunshine. In the mountains this has produced great skiing conditions but few skiers, as all schools have already had their spring break. So the April Fools' joke which has been spring continues beyond the first of the month, and the calendar hangs on the wall mocking us. Spring, where are you? Andy Faust English version edited by Michael Bluhm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. The subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated. Send them please to the address: CAROLINA@cuni.cz To subscribe to CAROLINA news you send an e-mail message to the address LISTSERV@listserv.cesnet.cz The text of message for subscription of the English version must be: SUBSCRIBE CAR-ENG First name Last name or for the Czech version SUBSCRIBE CAR-CS First name Last name To delete your subscription from the list of subscribers you send the following message to the address LISTSERV@listserv.cesnet.cz: SIGNOFF CAR-ENG or SIGNOFF CAR-CS We ask you not to send automatic replies to our list. You can temporarily stop receiving of Carolina by sending the command: SET CAR-ENG NOMAIL All Listserv commands should be sent to the address: LISTSERV@listserv.cesnet.cz Please, don't send commands SUB, SIGNOFF, NOMAIL etc to the address CAR-CS@listserv.cesnet.cz or CAR-ENG@listserv.cesnet.cz!