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 250, Friday, June 6, 1997. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (May 28 - June 4) President Names New Ministers The Cabinet was reconstructed June 2 when Czech President Vaclav Havel named two men to new ministerial positions. Current ambassador to Great Britain Karel Kuhnl, nominated by the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) will replace Vladimir Dlouhy (ODA) as minister of industry and trade. Civic Democratic Party (ODS) member Jiri Grusa, ambassador to Germany, will take Ivan Pilip's place at the Education Ministry, while Pilip moves into the Ministry of Finance to take over Ivan Kocarnik's former post. Both Pilip and Kocarnik are ODS members, and because Pilip was already in the Cabinet he did not retake the oath from Havel. Interior Minister Jan Ruml (ODS) created some drama with his resignation. ODS nominee for the seat Petr Necas, a Parliament deputy, decided overnight to turn the position down, citing personal affairs of a family character as the reason. Havel then refused to accept Ruml's resignation, although Ruml says that it is only a matter of time before he leaves the ministry. Although Havel had approached the Cabinet reconstruction with reserve (see Carolina 249), he said that given the current situation, he approves the changes and is pleased that Ruml will keep his job. Jaroslav Schovanec/Andrea Snyder Klaus Leapfrogs Zeman in Asking for Parliament Confidence Vote Opposition Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman announced May 29 that he would call for a confidence vote on the government at the next Parliament session. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus was quoted in the June 2 edition of Czech daily Pravo as saying "If by chance the Social Democrats wouldn't start the voting, then I myself will demand a government confidence vote." Klaus also said that he will fight for his Cabinet on the Parliament floor. President Vaclav Havel, who had criticized the government two weeks ago for indecision (see Carolina 248), commended Klaus' move, saying that it is more positive than the Social Democrats' proposal. The government needs an absolute majority of 101 votes to maintain its existence. The coalition has 100 deputies in Parliament. Michal Schindler/Andrea Snyder Voter Confidence Shaken A May 31 poll showed that a mere 23 per cent of respondents believe the reconstructed government can lead the country from its current economic crisis. Fifty-eight per cent say it can not. Although only two weeks ago only 15 per cent of the surveyed voter sample believed that the government's resignation would be a solution, now about 46 per cent agree. Only 10 percent of those polled have faith in Education- cum-Finance Minister Ivan Pilip, while 36 per cent trust new Trade Minister Karel Kuhnl and new Education Minister Jiri Grusa to do their jobs. The Factum agency surveyed 1,028 Czechs over the age of 18 exclusively for the Czech daily MF Dnes. Jaroslav Schovanec/Andrea Snyder Klaus Denies Keeping Facts of Economic Situation Secret Vice Premier and Christian Democrat Chairman Josef Lux has started a new wave of controversy in the coalition by criticizing the Civic Democrat Party (ODS) during Debata - a regular discussion program on Czech Television. He blamed the party for the current economic problems and claimed Prime Minister and ODS Chairman Vaclav Klaus had kept secret a precise analysis of the economic and financial situation in the Czech Republic prepared the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Lux said Klaus had not given the analysis to ministers, and thus they had not been aware of the information from the analysis while working on the government's package of economic measures. The IMF responded from Washington June 2, as IMF delegate from the Czech Republic Jiri Jonas said the report was not only for the prime minister and had also been sent to Czech National Bank Governor Josef Tosovsky and former Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik. However, Lux's charges concern not only the IMF report but also a letter from IMF Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer. According to information from Klaus (exclusively for Carolina), the letter contained only short summaries of the analysis, which itself was public information. Klaus says the letter was only a one-page fax pointing out certain parts of the analysis. Klaus did not specify which parts, even after meeting during the night of June 3-4 with Fischer, Tosovsky and new Finance Minister Ivan Pilip in Prague. During a private dinner they also talked about the statements of Foreign Minister and ODS Vice Chairman Josef Zieleniec, who June 3 voiced his agreement with Lux's claims. "When we worked on the package of economic measures I was not aware of any of these documents. I came to see the documents not long ago in an unofficial, somewhat roundabout way," said Zieleniec for Czech Television. Klaus refused to comment on the new controversies in the coalition and the ODS. He only added that if the ministers had had an interest to read the IMF analysis, they would have been able to. Thus, no information had been kept secret. Petra Sevcikova/Zdenek Janda Secret Police Files Go Public Czechs can now view the former regime's secret police (StB) files documenting those who collaborated with the StB or provided them information. Some 60,000 of the original 900,000 volumes were put on display June 2 at the Ministry of the Interior, while the rest have disappeared or been destroyed. The Czech Press Agency reports that all who peruse the documents must list their full name (including all changes), date and place of birth, current address and an application to view the documents with their notarized signature. All must be current or former Czech or Czechoslovak citizens. Marketa Kropacova/Andrea Snyder FOREIGN AFFAIRS Pope Calls On Presidents to Integrate Europe Pope John Paul II met seven central European countries' presidents June 3 in Hnezdno, Poland. On the occasion of a mass celebrating one millenium since the death of Saint Adalbert (Vojtech), he appealed to the presidents, Czech President Vaclav Havel among them, for mutual cooperation and European unity. The pope also emphasized that the presidents should not forget the needs of their countries' citizens. Marketa Kropacova/Denisa Vitkova Zeman and Members of Parliament Visit Russia Parliament Chairman Milos Zeman and a delegation of members of the Chamber of Deputies' Foreign Committee visited Russia June 3, where they discussed foremost Russia's stance on Czech membership in NATO. Zeman met with Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov and said that, in spite of its negative attitude towards expansion of Euro-Atlantic structures, Russia is a democratic country which respects other countries' will to enter NATO. He also assured Russian representatives that the Czech Republic does not want nuclear weapons on its territory. Marketa Kropacova/Denisa Vitkova FROM SLOVAKIA European Union Concerned with Course of Slovak Referendum European Union Commissioner for Foreign Relations Hans van den Broek visited Slovakia May 29 and threatened that if Slovakia does not improve its democracy situation by the end of this year, the EU will not begin discussion of Slovak membership in European structures. Van den Broek arrived in Slovakia because of the scandalous referendum on NATO membership and direct presidential election (see Carolina 249), and explained the warning to President Michal Kovac and Premier Vladimir Meciar. In spite of his words and the number of written declarations concerning the Union's dissatisfaction with the failed referendum (in a communique sent May 30 from the Hague, Meciar's cabinet was called on to respect the legal state and the principles of democratic society), van den Broek assured Slovakia that Brussels was unambiguously interested in Slovakia's entry into the EU. Marketa Kropacova/Denisa Vitkova ECONOMY MARKETS AND COMPANIES * The Prague Stock Exchange went on a diet again, and 500 less liquid stocks ended up on the rubbish heap of capital-market history. Shortly thereafter the exchange recuperated a little, and despite the government crisis the PX 50 index ended up at 492.7 points. The number of active stocks reached its a new minimum of 276 titles. * Nova Hut, a steelworks in Ostrava, will finally get its coveted steel mill, thanks to a loan worth 250 million USD from the World Bank IFC and 100 million crowns from Czech banks. * Czechoslovak Elbe River Shipyards (Ceskoslovenska labska plavba) will supply 3 ships to the Dutch company Scheepswerft Peters B.V.. The delivery is part of a contract worth 10 million guldens. * Management of Stasis, the second-biggest Czech producer of road machines, took over the company by getting all 100 per cent of its shares for 166 million crowns. * The new owner of the Poldi Kladno steelworks, the Blaxy Corporation, will in cooperation with the Trinec Steelworks (Trinecke zelezarny) prepare the renewal of production during the summer. Some plants are expected to start working in the fall. Their main task will be to keep the company's workers. Experts are still examining the state of the machines in the factory, plundered by its former owners, Vladimir and Marko Stehlik. * Zivnobanka's revenue of 378 million crowns in 1996 will enable the bank to pay dividends of 160 crowns per share. * The Pilsner Urquell (plzensky prazdroj) brewery is obviously striving to maintain the reputation of its beer as being a most exclusive brand. It thus increased the price by 70 halers (1 crown = 100 halers) for each bottle or can. Protecting the image of the premium beer is not a cheap matter. According to latest news, the worldwide protection of its trademarks costs Pilsner 3.5 million crowns a year. * The Constitutional Court approved the verdict of the lower court which sentenced the automaker Skoda to pay 3.5 million crowns for abusing its dominant position on the market. Martin Cermak/Matej Cerny ..And the Czech Crown? Much of the current government crisis concerns the economy, and in turn the development of the Czech crown. When the Czech National Bank ended its regulation of the crown last week, Czechs were forced to purchase German marks for 20 crowns and American dollars for 35 crowns, as opposed to the foregoing rates of 17 crowns and 27 crowns, respectively. With the sharp drop, black-market trading has surfaced with a force not seen since the totalitarian regime. People rushed to buy consumer goods, especially electronics. Importers quickly made use of the exchange rate, and prices shot up 10 per cent to 30 per cent for stereo equipment, for example. Banks raised short-term CD interest rates to 30 per cent annually, because banks in Bohemia and Moravia are low on crown reserves. President Vaclav Havel warned the nation not to panic on his Sunday radio program, Talks from Lany. Martin Cermak/Andrea Snyder Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from June 6) country currency ---------------------------------------- Australia 1 AUD 25.085 Belgium 100 BEF 93.027 Great Britain 1 GBP 54.023 Denmark 1 DKK 5.041 Finland 1 FIM 6.397 France 1 FRF 5.688 Ireland 1 IEP 49.349 Italy 1000 ITL 19.510 Japan 100 JPY 28.637 Canada 1 CAD 24.058 Luxemburg 100 LUF 93.027 Hungary 100 HUF 17.963 Netherlands 1 NLG 17.054 Norway 1 NOK 4.622 New Zealand 1 NZD 22.727 Poland 1 PLN 10.270 Portugal 100 PTE 18.988 Austria 1 ATS 2.728 Greece 100 GRD 12.067 Slovakia 100 SKK 98.774 Germany 1 DEM 19.190 Spain 100 ESP 22.711 Sweden 1 SEK 4.282 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.979 USA 1 USD 33.127 ECU 1 XEU 37.438 IMF 1 XDR 45.838 CULTURE Art from Rudolf's Age in Prague The exhibition Rudolf II and Prague, opened May 30, offers a unique opportunity to see works of art of the age of the emperor in the historical expanses of several Prague Castle pavilions (Obrazarna, Cisarska konirna, Belveder, Micovna and Valdstejnska jizdarna). Prague became the cultural and spiritual center of Europe, a Mecca for artists and scientists, at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th century, thanks to Hapsburg emperor Rudolf II (1522-1612). More than 2,000 works are on display within the grand exhibition, the first of its kind. The exhibit collection is made up of works of famous painters like Hans von Aachen, Bartholomeus Spranger and Giuseppe Arcimboldo. A frequent theme of the pictures is the erotic, but there are also official portraits of the emperor, landscapes and religious scenes. Portraits by the Italian Arcimboldo are worth mentioning for his presentation of the emperor and courtiers as composites of vegetables, roast chicken and other edibles. Also, famous sculptors like Adrian de Vries and Hans Mont are represented at the exhibit, together with goldsmiths and other artisans. The exhibit also documents the prosperity of science and social life in Rudolf's age, when legendary astronomers Tycho de Brahe and Johannes Kepler lived in Prague. A display showing life in a typical town during Rudolf's reign is in the Wallenstein Stables (Valdstejnska jizdarna), featuring pictures by of K. Skreta, A. Altman, J.J. Hering and plastics by J.J. Bendl. The exhibit also presents Prague in the period of conflicts which led to the Thirty Years' War, which greatly changed the course of Czech history. Besides the exhibit, many other events are to be held, such as theater performances from Rudolf's age in Prague's Comedy, Minor, Ypsilon and other theaters. Also a technical relic will be on display, Rudolf's aquaduct, which Rudolf had made for the irrigation of ponds in the King's Preserve. Michaela Klevisova/Magdalena Vanova Prague Spring Festival Attended by 63,000 People This year's Prague Spring Festival was, in accordance with tradition, brought to a close by the Czech Philharmonic performing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony June 2. After a number of years, festival concerts were performed again in the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House (Obecni dum), which was recently reopened after reconstruction. Altogether 65 concerts were attended by some 63,000 people, and 93 per cent of tickets were sold. The most successful performances were concerts of the London and St. Petersburg Philharmonics, the Kronos Quartet and the world premiere of Petr Eben's church opera Jeremias. The final jewel was violin-cellist Mstislav Rostropovic's concert with the Prague Symphony Orchestra. Next year there will probably also be a concerts devoted to ethnic music, so that Prague Spring audiences might hear performances of Eskimos or Australian bushmen. Jaroslav Schovanec/Jan Majer Discovery of Hrabal's Will Ends Disputes A valid will of recently deceased Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal was found in the archives of a notary's office. The finding should end disputes over the author's copyrights. Hrabal wrote in the testament that he wanted to divide the rights between his sister-in-law, Prague ecology activists and a club of handicapped athletes. Several months before Hrabal's death, Czech directors Jiri Menzel and Karel Kachyna were battling over the right to create a film based on Hrabal's novel I Served The King of England. They both had the author's written permission and both insisted on their right. Although Hrabal never concerned himself much with such formalities, the row between Menzel and Kachyna became gristle for the media with the probable result that neither director will make the movie. The will, from 1989, also says the new owner of Hrabal's legendary cottage in Kersko with its herd of cats will become his sister-in-law, who has been taking care of the cats for a some time. Jaroslav Schovanec/Jan Majer SPORTS Sparta Praha New Czech Soccer Champion The penultimate round of the Czech premier soccer league decided its new champion. Sparta Praha defeated Olomouc 2-1 in Prague, while its rival, incumbent champion Slavia Praha, lost in Jablonec both the game (1-0) and its last chance to defend its title. Sparta's coach (and former player) Josef Chovanec said: "No championship title which I won on the field is comparable with this one, which was so exhausting for me on the coach's bench." Results of the 29th round: Hradec Kralove - Ostrava 2-0, Teplice - Brno 1-2, Sparta - Olomouc 2-1, Jablonec - Slavia 1-0, Zizkov - Plzen 2-1, Ceske Budejovice - Drnovice 2-1, Karvina - Liberec 1-1, Opava - Bohemians 4-0. Roman Jedlicka/Milan Smid Czech Sportsman of the Century The Czech Track and Field Union declared runner Emil Zatopek the century's greatest Czech athlete. The vote was organized by the Union to mark the centennial of organized Czech track and field competition and was published during the Golden Cleats Track and Field Meet (Zlata tretra) in Ostrava May 28. Zatopek won the gold and silver medals at the Olympics in London 1948, and four years later he triumphed in Helsinki 1952 with three Olympic golds (5 km, 10 km, marathon). The next nine best Czech 20th-century athletes were named in no particular order: Imrich Bugar, Ludvik Danek, Helena Fibingerova, Olga Fikotova-Connoly, Jarmila Kratochvilova, Milena Rezkova-Hubnerova, Dana Zatopkova, Robert Zmelik and Jan Zelezny. Roman Jedlicka/Milan Smid WEATHER Last week was as cold as April. The wind blew, it rained, black clouds roamed the skies and people walked around gloomily - drivers drove sadly, walkers walked with melancholy. Metereologists were typically conservative and kept to old sayings. Sunday evening the sun showed up and has stayed around the last two days. When it shines, it's warm (maybe 20 degrees Celsius/68 degrees Fahrenheit), but when it goes into hiding, it's cold (around 10 degrees Celsius/50 degrees Fahrenheit). At the end of the week thermometers should show up to 29 degrees Celsius/75 degrees Fahrenheit), but after a look out the window, only indefatigable optimists believe that. Michal Schindler 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!