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 247, Friday, May 16, 1997. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (May 7 - 14) President Pays Tribute to Victims of World War II Commemorative ceremonies in the Czech Republic marking the end of World War II culminated at the National Memorial on Zizka Hill in Prague May 8. By placing flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier, tribute was paid to victims of the war by President Vaclav Havel, chairmen of both houses of Parliament, Defense Minister Miloslav Vyborny, Prague Mayor Jan Koukal and Czech Union of Freedom Fighters Chairman Jakub Cermin, among others. Honza Mazak/Mirek Langer May Session of Lower House Begins The 11th session of the Czech Parliament's lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, began on the afternoon of started May 13. On the agenda were the government's report on the state of the economy, debate on the new Waste Management Act, and amendments relating to the Penal Code, television and radio licence fees, tax laws and the Social Security Act, including proposals for welfare as compensation for rent increases. The Republicans and the Communists did not succeed with their proposal to put confidence in the government to a vote, because they did not get the necessary number of signatures for the proposal. The Social Democrats refused again to sign the proposal. Lucie Podesvova/Mirek Langer Trade Minister Dlouhy Considers Resignation Trade Minister Vladimir Dlouhy, vice chairman of the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), announced he is contemplating leaving the Cabinet, during the political debate program of TV NOVA "7 or Seven Days" May 11. He cited fatigue from eight years of work in the government and the feeling of partial responsibility for the economic situation in the Czech Republic. ODA Chairman Michael Zantovsky understands Dlouhy's possible departure in the course of Cabinet restructuring as "taking inventory of the government program declaration agreed upon by the coalition parties." He made his statements to the press May 12 after the regular meeting of the coalition party chairmen, the so-called "coalition breakfast" in Kramar villa. At the same time, the ODA chairman rejected the opinion that Dlouhy's prospective resignation would serve him as a lever for his own advance into the Cabinet ranks. "I have already had plenty of opportunities to join the Cabinet, and I could have used them before if I had wished," argued Zantovsky. Prime Minister and Chairman of the Civic Democratic Party Vaclav Klaus admitted after the coalition breakfast that Dlouhy had mentioned the idea of leaving the government three weeks ago. "I have understood, and I still understand this idea as his personal contemplation, and not as a immediate political decision," said Klaus. Dlouhy remarked on published opinions by recalling the fact that he had already announced his voluntary departure, planned for the end of 1997, last autumn. At the same time he emphasized he would leave his ministerial post only within a context of overall Cabinet restructuring, and not because of blame for the poor economic situation and demands for his resignation. Bohdana Rambouskova/Milan Smid High State Attorney Koutny Resigns Recently appointed Olomouc High State Attorney Jaroslav Koutny resigned May 9. As a reason he cited the media campaign aroused by his alleged involvement in political trials before the events of November 1989. Justice Minister Vlasta Parkanova, who appointed Koutny on the recommendation of the Attorney General Vit Vesely, accepted Koutny's resignation without comment. Witnesses and court records indicated that in Koutny's former position as Prostejov deputy prosecutor, he brought several people before the court for distributing the anti-communist petition Several Sentences. The case relates foremost to the late Jaroslav Honzirek, who was sentenced to six weeks in prison for collecting signatures on the petition. Koutny admits that he took part in the case, but he claims not to recall any other political cases and said his conscience is clear. He resigned, however, so that Parkanova would be able to examine the affair without media pressure. Karolina Cebrovska/Andrea Snyder Kvapil Replaces Former Boss at Ministry President Vaclav Havel named Tomas Kvapil minister of regional development. Jaromir Schneider stepped down last week under pressure from his party, the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL, see Carolina 245). KDU-CSL Chairman and Agriculture Minister Josef Lux said Kvapil, who had been a deputy at the ministry, had created the current Czech housing policies. The KDU-CSL presidium and National Committee held a secret ballot May 7 to decide the candidacy. David Simonek/Andrea Snyder Rail Strikes Illegal The Prague City Court decided May 7 that the the five-day February rail strike was illegal. Union attorneys immediately appealed the decision, and may take the case to the Constitutional Court to prove railroad employees had the right to stop transportation on the tracks. Union leader Jaromir Dusek claims that Czech Railways will not have to pay any strike losses even if the Constitutional Court reaches the same verdict as the Municipal Court. "No damages exist which someone could really prove," he said. Marketa Kropacova/Andrea Snyder The Strike In Motol Interrupted - Doctors Keep Negotiating Prague-Motol Faculty Hospital doctors and nurses May 7 interrupted their strike against the recent recalling of surgical clinic chief doctor Josef Dvorak (see Carolina 245 and 246). Although the strikers' main demands - instituting an independent commission to ascertain the circumstances of Dvorak's recall, and the departure of two hospital deputies - have not been met, they decided to interrupt the strike for the following two weeks and to declare strike readiness. Beginning May 9, not only acute cases, but also patients whose surgery was put off during the strike will be treated. During the following two weeks, the hospital management wants to find a compromise solution to the doctors' and nurses' demands. The managers offered the recalled chief doctor an exclusive job May 7 at the clinic, though they would not publicize the details of the offer. Physicians' Union Club Chairman Dr. David Rath told daily MF DNES that the proposal to send professor Dvorak to work in the USA had been dropped and the position's salary could also be rather exclusive. While most of the doctors and nurses favor a moderate form of the strike, some unionists want a hardline approach. Unionists threatened that the clinics will not provide insurance companies with necessary information. Simona Malkovska/Denisa Vitkova Mass Firings to Affect Education System About 10,000 teachers will likely have to leave their posts by September, as a result of the recently approved economic recovery package. The Education Ministry, however, proclaims it will not insist on massive firings. The Ministry of Education is going to decrease spending (as will other ministries, see Carolina 243) by ending the practices of extra paychecks, personal evaluations and small bonuses. "The decreasing of finances in the state sector will not affect basic wages. Nominal wages in education are expected to grow by almost 11 per cent this year," Deputy Education Minister Libor Svoboda said to the daily MF DNES May 10. The Education Ministry increased the teaching load by two hours per week in the economic package. Most grade-school teachers will thus have to teach subjects outside their specialties. Music and art education, together with home education and civics, will be affected most. Bohdana Rambouskova/Magdalena Vanova First Czech Judge Convicted of Corruption since 1989 Former judge Kvetoslava Krylova from Prerov set a record among judges, being the first convicted of corruption since the events of November 1989. The charges claim she gave a 100,000-crown bribe in November 1995 to former prosecutor Karel Studeny from Prerov to influence the prosecution of Zdenek Sevcik. Studeny informed police about the bribe in advance, and when he received the envelope, police found inside 100 1,000-crown bank notes. Krylova still claims she was not giving a bribe, but merely mixed up envelopes; she said she thought the envelope contained technical documentation. The court sentenced her to 21 months, suspended, with probation for two years. Lucie Podesvova/Ondra Provaznik ECONOMY IPB Case Continues The case of the two top Investment and Postal Bank (IPB) bosses who were arrested, Jiri Tesar and Libor Prochazka (see Carolina 246), has taken a new turn after the police questioned Belgian businessman Jean-Claude van Gansen May 9. Police charged Gansen with being an accomplice in embezzlement in connection with the sale of the Army Project Institution (VPU) to IPB. Gansen voluntarily appeared for questioning after his return from abroad, convinced that the case is a big misunderstanding. After an eight-hour questioning in Prague, he said he explained the entire deal to the police and that nothing should prevent the bank managers from being released. Gansen's attorney, Miloslav Jansta, added that the case was a question of a professional failure by the individual who filed the charges. Although Gansen was released, he is still under investigation. The Czech press wrote May 13 that investigators wanted to release Tesar and Prochazka, while not dropping the charges. However, the state prosecutor vetoed their proposal. Gaparov Batyrbek/Sofia Karakeva Americans and CSA to Buy Aero Vodochody On April 7 the Czech government decided to sell more than one-third of the largest Czech aircraft factory - Aero Vodochody - to a Czech-American consortium of Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Czech Airlines (CSA). Trade Minister Vladimir Dlouhy was given the task of dealing with the consortium, which was chosen over the Czech company Cimex Holding, known for its investment fund takeovers. The strategic investor should help Aero, maker of L159 military trainer jets, to survive and enter international ventures. The state will keep at least a one-third share in the company, but is willing to decrease it if the consortium fulfills its investment promises. Milan Smid/Matej Cerny Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from May 15) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 24.062 Belgium 100 BEF 87.890 Great Britain 1 GBP 50.634 Denmark 1 DKK 4.763 Finland 1 FIM 6.018 France 1 FRF 5.386 Ireland 1 IEP 46.964 Italia 1000 ITL 18.407 Japan 100 JPY 26.030 Canada 1 CAD 22.275 Luxembourg 100 LUF 87.890 Hungary 100 HUF 17.063 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.127 Norway 1 NOK 4.390 New Zealand 1 NZD 21.492 Poland 1 PLN 9.806 Portugal 100 PTE 18.063 Austria 1 ATS 2.577 Greece 100 GRD 11.371 Slovakia 100 SKK 93.155 Germany 1 DEM 18.141 Spain 100 ESP 21.491 Sweden 1 SEK 4.028 Switzerland 1 CHF 21.393 USA 1 USD 30.926 ECU 1 XEU 35.375 IMF 1 XDR 42.842 CULTURE Prague Spring Music Festival Takes off According to tradition, Bedrich Smetana's cycle of symphonic poems My Country opened the 52nd Prague Spring International Music Festival May 12. After a two-year break, the ceremony was again held in the Smetana Hall of the newly renovated Municipal House (Obecni Dum) in Prague (see Carolina 246). The first piece was performed by the Prague Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Chief Conductor Gaetano Deloga. More than 30 orchestras and chamber ensembles, 50 soloists and 20 conductors will take part in the three-week program of the festival. The close of Prague Spring June 2 will be attended by some 50,000 listeners. Bohdana Rambouskova/Matej Cerny Book World 1997 Fair in Prague From May 8-11 the third-annual international book fair Book World took place at Prague's Fairgrounds. Numerous Czech and foreign publishing companies exhibited at the fair; visitors had the chance to see a number of exhibits, of course focused primarily on books and photographs (e.g., World's Most Beautiful Children's Book, Czech Book of '96, Photography '96, etc.) The whole project was preceded by the Prague May Day Book Festival, where the most successful publishers, book-sellers and authors of 1996 were presented with awards May 7 (Vladimir Paral received an award, while poet Jiri Zacek was recognized for lifetime achievement). An associated conference about information sources, INFOMEDIA 97, dealt mainly with the electronic information trend and its use in public libraries. There were auctions May 10 of historic and contemporary graphic arts, photographs, books, and rare manuscripts and signatures at the fair. Collectors and second hand booksellers could obtain for instance original prints from the beginning of the 16th century. Fair visitors also had the chance to meet literary personalities (e.g., Joseph Heller), there were autograph signings, professional lectures and seminars about writers, the library trade and literature development. This year, a privileged post belonged to Finland, which presented the largest exhibit and delegation of cultural representatives - among them Culture Minister Claes Andersson. May 9-11, the Clementinum National Library allowed the public to visit its historic rooms, on the occasion of the fair and the 220th anniversary of the library's opening. Simona Malkovska/Denisa Vitkova Heller Visits Prague Invited by the PEN Club and the American Cultural Center, author of Catch 22 Joseph Heller arrived in Prague May 5. The American spent one week in the Czech Republic. Although he arrived in order to spend his vacation here, his schedule was rather demanding. On May 11, Heller read extracts from his books and answered readers' questions at the trade fair Book World 1997. He also gave lectures at the Charles University College of Humanities in Prague and Palacky University in Olomouc. Heller first visited Prague two years ago. He said he was looking forward to having Czech meals and beer. Karolina Cebrovska/Jan Majer Boss Has Dinner with Havels American rock star Bruce Springsteen performed songs from his latest album, The Ghost of Tom Joad, and other hits with only his guitar and harmonica. His concert at Prague's Congress Center was sold out in several hours. Czech rock fans saw the singer, nicknamed the Boss, who arrived with his wife and no musicians on the acoustic tour, for the first time May 11. Springsteen said several sentences in Czech with almost perfect pronunciation during the concert. In the middle of the concert President Vaclav Havel and his wife Dagmar joined the audience. After the concert, Springsteen had dinner with the first couple. Marketa Kropacova/Jan Majer Carmen in a New Dress The National Theater presented the first night of the ballet Carmen May 9. The characters of Carmen and Jose are brilliantly alternated between ballet dancers Zuzana Parmova - Petr Zuzka and Tereza Podarilova - Jiri Pokorny. Alexander Schneider, German director and choreographer, allowed himself to take no more than inspiration from the Prosper Merimee novella and its classical music form by composer George Bisset. The most famous arias of the opera appear only in the main solo scenes, while the fast-paced musical accompaniment is more of a collage of jazz and other popular styles. The story takes place in the present, and instead of a toreador people condemn the leader of the police commandos, following drug dealers. The director emphasized the tragic fate and betrayal of the soldier Don Jose, whereas the figure of the gypsy Carmen is the first cause of all events. The ballet is interesting not only for its non-traditional form and the simple stage, but especially for the glorious performance of the Czech soloists. Simona Malkovska/Ondra Provaznik SPORT Czech Hockey Takes Home World Championships Bronze Medal When the Czechs beat the the Russians 4-3 at the ice hockey World Championship in Finland May 10, they took third place, following up with dignity on last year's gold. Jiri Dopita's goal during a last-minute power play decided the game. Hundreds of fans flocked to Prague's Ruzyne Airport to welcome their team home. Bumping shoulders during the game was not enough for the Canadians after the Czech Republic's 5-3 victory May 7; a fight broke out, resulting in four players from each side being eliminated from the game, which always carries an automatic suspension for the next game. Although after a protest two Czechs were reinstated, but because of a slight concussion Vujtek could not play anyway. So, when Vykoukal sustained an injury in the third match with the Swedes, only 4 Czechs remained on defense and 10 on offense. Jonsson placed the matches' only goal, leaving the score 0-1 in the Swedes' favor. Canada eventually won the championships, with the Swedish taking second place. Honza Mazak/Andrea Snyder Slavia and Sparta Match Wits in Soccer The soccer season is drawing to an end, with three rounds left. Only three teams can win the title, although for Jablonec to do so would mean that the powerful Sparta squad would have to lose all of its games and Jablonec would have to win its remaining contests. Slavia beat Ostrava May 9 2-0, Liberec tied in Ceske Budejovice 1-1. Sparta defeated Teplice 1-0 over the weekend and Opava knocked out Drnovice 2-0. Karvina beat Olomouc 2-1, Viktoria Zizkov tied Brno 1-1, and the Hradec Kralove - Plzen game ended as it began, 0-0. The Bohemians lost in Jablonec 0-2. Sparta leads the league with three points more than Slavia. Honza Mazak/Andrea Snyder WEATHER Although May 9 was cloudy with light thunderstorms, the rest of the week approached us in the the guise of summer. All at once, everything was blooming, people strapped on sandals and tourists crowded the streets of Prague. Next week, temperatures should rise to 30 degrees Celsius/86 degrees Fahrenheit. The threat of brief showers remains, but, no worries, water runs through sandals in no time! Bohdana Rambouskova/Andrea Snyder 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!