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 265, Friday, November 14, 1997. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (November 5 - 12) Sudanese Student's Murder Provokes Public From 3,000 to 10,000 people are estimated to have gathered November 10 on Winston Churchill Square in Prague to protest the murder of Sudanese student Hassan Elamin Abeldelrad. The 23-year-old economics student was killed by 18-year-old Czech skinhead Petr Zbornik. He and another skinhead followed Abdelradi and his cousin from a disco to their dormitory. Zbornik knifed the Sudanese student twice in the stomach. Abdelradi died on the spot. The police say that both attackers, since arrested, were inebriated. Zbornik attacked a Czech-Arab married couple two months ago, which is why he is now being accused of a racially motivated crime. The Academic Senate of the Economics University said the demonstration is being abused for "political exhibitionism." Speakers at the demonstration included Parliament Chairman and Social Democrat head Milos Zeman, Senate Chairman Petr Pithart, Interior Minister Jindrich Vodicka, Minister of Agriculture and Christian Democrat Chairman Josef Lux, Finance Minister Ivan Pilip, Council for Nationalities Chairman Pavel Bratinka and others. All of the speakers denounced racism and challenged the public to fight it. Zeman said he had requested that Parliament's legal department to work on creating documents to make the skinhead movement illegal. Demonstrations were also held November 10 in Hradec Kralove and Liberec. Experts say there are approximately 7,000 skinheads in the Czech Republic. The Czech police have registered 133 racially motivated cases during 1997, as opposed to 85 last year. The deaths of 19 people have been attributed to racially motivated crimes over the past seven years. Madiyar Magauin/Andrea Snyder Union Workers Protest in Prague against Government Indifference In heavy rains falling on Prague November 8 trade-union members gathered from throughout the Czech Republic to express their disapproval of the political and economical situation. According to organizers from the Czech-Moravian Chamber of Unions (CMKOS), more than 100,000 protestors participated in the demonstration, though police placed the figure at 60,000. Chamber Chairman Richard Falbr gave his nearly hourlong speech to an overcrowded Old Town Square. He emphasized in his opening that "the demonstration is not aimed against the system. If we had organized it under the Communists, the chamber leaders would have been arrested and you would have had to fill in documents about whether you attended or not." While Falbr was enumerating the failures of the government coalition, such as the increasing unemployment rate or the terrible state of healthcare, the wildly applauding crowd showed its agreement. Falbr also criticized the government for being unwilling to carry on a dialogue. Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman, standing next to the podium and enthusiastically nodding, explained his presence at the demonstration to Carolina: "I came to show my solidarity with the unionists, and not because I found out today that people are not satisfied. The government politicians should realize that." Falbr said he considered the Saturday demonstration one of the most successful because of the high turnout under unfavorable circumstances. No one is going to write that a few people went on a trip to Prague, Falbr said. Jana Ciglerova/Jana Ciglerova Ailing President Havel Appoints New Ministers at Prague Castle President Vaclav Havel November 8 appointed three new ministers. The function of foreign minister, vacated after Josef Zieleniec resigned, was given to experienced diplomat Jaroslav Sedivy. In the Interior Ministry, Jan Ruml was replaced by Jindrich Vodicka, who was until now Labor Minister. Vodicka's place will be occupied by the Parliament deputy Stanislav Volak. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus' 1996 Cabinet has so far undergone eight changes. Havel was suffering from a rash on his face as a reaction to antibiotics, and during the 20-minute ceremony he appeared tired, breathed with difficulty and could hardly stand, nevertheless he was making jokes. His state surprised all of the present guests, and the public that had an opportunity to follow the act on television news. After his speech, in which he emphasized his dissatisfaction concerning the changes in the cabinet, Havel, without waiting for Klaus to speak, left the hall with the escort of his doctor. Miroslav Cerbak, the head of Havel's physicians' council, explained the breathing problems as Havel's excitement over the ceremony. (Havel's condition improved over the weekend, though he remains in the hospital). Gabriela Podzimkova/Gabriela Pecic' ODS's Anonymous Donations The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) has received 7.5 million crowns in anonymous donations from banks in Hungary and Mauritius (see Carolina 201). At a meeting of the ODS Executive Board in Hradec Kralove last weekend, a committee was created to submit documents concerning ODS financing to the board at the next meeting. Members include ODS Vice Chairman Miroslav Macek and party manager Tomas Ratiborsky. If the committee does not manage to locate the anonymous donors by the December meeting, the donations will be used for humanitarian purposes. Finance Minister and ODS Vice Chairman Ivan Pilip said the party should also return three million crowns to the controversial Iceberg company, which has been implicated in numerous capital-market frauds. Lenka Jindrlova/Andrea Snyder Skalicky Announces ODA Campaign At a meeting of the Civic Democratic Alliance's (ODA) Central Board November 8, ODA Vice Chairman and Environment Minister Jiri Skalicky announced his intentions to run for the position of party chairman in November. He said Michael Zantovsky, the current chairman, has not met expectations and that there is much internal rivalry in the party. Skalicky said that after Zantovsky's pre-Senate election return from the US, where he had been Czech ambassador, he showed a lack of knowledge concerning internal political topics within ODA and in Czech politics. Zantovsky said that because of internal party problems, he will try to propose that a code of ethics be included in the party's statute. He emphasized that he is not trying to escape his responsibilities as a party leader, but that new officials can only be legitimately elected at a conference. Zantovsky has not yet announced whether he will run for re-election. Jiri Zizka/Andrea Snyder NEWS IN BRIEF * The Czech daily Prace was not published November 8 and 10 in Prague and in all other regions except Moravia. Czech Typography (Ceska typografie) stopped printing because of Prace's debts to the printing house of 39.7 million crowns. The full November 11 issue went only to subscribers and a reduced part of the edition went to sale. In Moravia Prace is being published continuously. * Parliament Chairman Milos Zeman, long known as a critic of mobile telephones, managed to pass ban of their use during the sessions of the Chamber of Deputies. * Deputy Prime Minister and Christian Democratic Chairman Josef Lux said at the regular conference of his party that he felt furious with Vladimir Jiranek's cartoon, which appeared in the daily MF DNES. It shows a sketch of Lux saying "Historians say that ours has always been a party of swine. That's not true. We're only swine now." MF DNES apologized to all those who felt offended by the cartoon. * Roman Ceska, chairman of the National Property Fund's presidium, announced officially in Parliament that he is giving up his legislative mandate. According to the recently passed conflict-of-interest law, the chairmanship of the fund's presidium will be incompatible with the position of deputy January 1. * Prague and Paris are connected by one nearly direct freeway, thanks to a 62-kilometer-long section of the D5 freeway from Pilsen to Svata Katerina opened November 6. There is only an 11-kilometer-long Pilsen bypass and 50-kilometer-long section of the A6 freeway from Weidhaus to Amberg in Germany which are not completed yet. Ludvik Pospisil, Eva Fronkova, Lenka Vochocova/Veronika Machova FOREIGN AFFAIRS Czech Republic Officially Requests NATO Membership Czech NATO delegation leader and Deputy Foreign Minister Karel Kovanda submitted a letter from Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus in Brussels November 10. The letter, which stated the Czech Republic's interest in entering the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was addressed to NATO General Secretary Javier Solana and had been approved by the Czech Cabinet November 5 together with a report about negotiations between the Czech Republic and NATO. The Cabinet at the same time agreed on a proposal for the Czech contribution to NATO: 0.9 per cent of NATO's budget, or about 530 million crowns (see Carolina 263). The act of passing the letter closed the fifth and the last round of negotiations on Czech NATO membership. The Czech Republic finds itself at the beginning of the ratification process, where the acceptance of new NATO members has to be approved by the governments of all Alliance member countries. The American Senate's statement will evidently be crucial. Jiri Pehe, legal adviser to the Czech president, claimed in Czech daily MF DNES November 12: "Should there be no unforeseen troubles, we will become members of the Alliance in 18 months." Katerina Murlova/Ivona Pulkrabkova Klaus Visits USA Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus met November 10 with American Secretary of State Madeleine Albright for one hour during his visit to the United States. They discussed the Czech Republic's membership in NATO. After their meeting, Klaus told reporters they also discussed the troubled state of the Czech Republic. Albright also expressed interested in Czech President Vaclav Havel's health. Klaus said he assured her that nothing stands in the way of Havel's re-election. When Klaus was asked about the trade unions' November 8 demonstration, he said it was not a critical situation. Klaus said some people had overly high expectations from the changes of 1989. Klaus also met with William Cohen, chief of Pentagon, and with Senator Ted Stevens, who does not support NATO expansion. Klaus presented his new book Renaissance: The New Birth of Freedom in Europe's Heart, in Washington's CATO Institution, the publisher of the book. Klaus said the book shows the Czech Republic's evolution in recent years. Prokop Havel/Sofia Karakeva Iran Wants Czech Radar The Washington Times wrote that CIA information says Iraq wants to buy five radar systems from the Eastern Europe. Systems such as the Czech Tamara would enable spotting and shooting down U-2 observation planes without the risk of being detected by by anti-radar systems. Tamara is a passive system - it only tracks signals, and therefore itself cannot be identified. It can monitor 72 targets, including Stealth fighters and F-117 fighters, which is why Iraq is trying to get five Tamaras for 375 million USD. Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus denied strongly that the Czech Republic would export the radar system to Iraq. "The Czech Republic has very precisely upheld the resolution of the UN Security Council," Klaus said. "There is no danger that the Czech government would allow such a thing (as the sale)." Pedro Afanador/Matej Cerny FROM SLOVAKIA Only Legislature Can Ease Tension Slovak editors presented November 5 their official protest against the proposed value-added tax increase from 6 per cent to 23 per cent for periodicals more than one-tenth consisting of advertising or of an erotic nature. From November 13 Slovak dailies, with the exception of the pro-government Slovak Republic (Slovenska republika), have been printing the protest: 1. We reject government's proposal to increase value-added taxes to 23 per cent for the majority of newspapers and magazines. 2. We call on the National Assembly's members to reject this proposal, which is economically unreasonable and politically unfair. 3. We turn to readers, the domestic and foreign public to support this fight for maintaining freedom of speech and basic human rights. This text carries the signature of the Slovak Association of Periodical Publishers. Paula Majorova/Sofia Karakeva After deadline: The National Assembly approved the first reading of the bill November 13. A definitive vote is expected next week. ECONOMY Industry Doing Better Than Construction As of September, industrial production had increased over by 6.6 per cent over the previous 12 months, according to statistics released last week. Production growth for 1997, however, remained at August's 0.5 per cent level. The Czech Statistics Office stated the promising dynamism was positively affected by the processing industry and public transportation production sectors (the latter increased by 45.9 per cent). Since the beginning of 1997 construction has been on a decline. For September the sector was down 9.5 per cent. Factors in the decline are the scarcity of public projects in the wake of budget cuts, and high interest rates stemming from the fall of the crown. Ales Bartl/Sofia Karakeva New Banking Act Increases Protection against Bankruptcy Parliament's Chamber of Deputies approved amendments to the Banking Act November 6, in a step designed to make capital and financial markets transparent. The amendments restrict banks' relations with companies, build walls between banks' loan departments and its fund managers and prevent personnel connections between banks and companies. The amendments partly react to the Czech Republic's reputation for banking socialism, the term coined to describe the convoluted yet tight relationships between banks and companies they provide loans to, which arose after the immense success of bank investment funds in attracting citizens' privatization vouchers. Deposits of clients of bankrupt banks will be insured up to 300,000 crowns by the Insurance Fund. Deputies approved a measure that clients of the collapsed Czech Bank (Ceska banka) will be compensated by the Czech National Bank for deposits up to 4 million crowns. Despite the easy approval of the first reading, new arguments are expected between Parliament and the Czech National Bank to pass the final version. The act can be amended by the president or the Senate. Tomas Mls/Nora Novakova Parliament Passes Securities Commission Bill Parliament's Chamber of Deputies passed the Securities Commission Act November 11. However, there was disagreement not only between the coalition and the opposition, but also among the members of the coalition parties. The commission will be financed from the state budget and not by stock exchange members as was proposed in the original version. In spite of the fact that the commission will be a part of the state administration, it will not be allowed to issue binding decrees, as this authority belongs only to the Finance Ministry. The budget, technological equipment, the number of commission employees (estimated at 120 to 150) and the size of their salaries has not yet been decided. The members of the commission will be appointed by the president, not by Parliament as proposed in the original version. Experts say the authority of the commission are relatively high. One important power is the commission's ability to forbid suspicious securities transfers. The commission will be able to dictate financial penalties up to 100 million crowns and to control the activities of pension funds and insurance companies on the capital market. The commission should also review the licenses of securities traders, which could help reduce their excessive number. Most experts say the bill was passed quickly and still contains some controversial measures. They consider it a real contribution to the Czech economy and a positive signal for foreign investors, who might finally see a powerful watchdog on the Czech capital market. Critics say the commission will not be effective for a couple years, and only results will show if the commission can slow down the rampant criminal activity on the capital market. Ondrej Hanzal/Zdenek Janda Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from November 14) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 22.855 Belgium 100 BEF 92.344 Great Britain 1 GBP 55.847 Denmark 1 DKK 5.004 Finland 1 FIM 6.314 France 1 FRF 5.687 Ireland 1 IEP 49.612 Italy 1000 ITL 19.470 Japan 100 JPY 26.183 Canada 1 CAD 23.290 Luxemburg 100 LUF 92.344 Hungary 100 HUF 16.791 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.898 Norway 1 NOK 4.646 New Zealand 1 NZD 20.567 Poland 1 PLN 9.343 Portugal 100 PTE 18.676 Austria 1 ATS 2.706 Greece 100 GRD 12.134 Slovakia 100 SKK 98.209 Germany 1 DEM 19.045 Spain 100 ESP 22.565 Sweden 1 SEK 4.370 Switzerland 1 CHF 23.418 USA 1 USD 32.815 ECU 1 XEU 37.712 SDR 1 XDR 45.283 CULTURE Eighty Years of Hollar The 80th-anniversary celebration of the establishement of the Czech artists' association Hollar, which took place in City Hall on Prague's Old Town Square, culminated with an exhibition of members' graphic works. From October 9 until November 9, the visitors can acquaint themselves with the wide palette of artistic impressions and approaches of the representatives of Czech graphic creativity. The exhibit, in the Krizova and Rytirska sections of the City Hall, consists of 250 works by 112 artists. In its 80 years Hollar has hosted most significant Czech graphic artists, it has presented an enormous number of domestic and international exhibitions and carried on wide-ranging publishing activity (fronted by Hollar magazine) of albums, memorials and prints. The exhibit, supplemented by the release of the comprehensive book Czech Graphic Works of the 20th Century, has contributed to the proud tradition of the group's activities. Ondrej Hanzal/Ajla Zinhasovic' New Musical Based on Moravian Folklore The musical based on Zeyer's play Raduz and Mahulena had its premiere at the City Theater in Brno November 8. Director Stanislav Mosa and composer Petr Ulrych trimmed the text of the play by about two-thirds, but they also added several new themes. The dancing to Ulrych's music, rooted in Moravian folklore, is the key part of the show. Violins, cimbaloms, flutes and melodies typical of folklore's Hornacka music are frequently heard. Raduz is played by Roman Vojtek (alterning with Petr Gazdik), an experienced musical actor. Marketa Sedlackova (alterning with Jana Tabrea) is his stage partner. Sylva Toman, known from the successful film musical Big Beat (Sakali leta), also has a role. Petr Bilek Jr./Matej Cerny SPORTS Czech Hockey Players Finish Second in Carelian Cup in Finland Czech hockey players must have felt like they were on a seesaw in the Carelian Cup in Finland. They lost 0-1 to Sweden in their first match November 6, then they defeated Finland 5-2 November 8 and lost to Russia 0-1 in their last performance November 9. The one win was enough to finish second in the standings, leaving Russia third and Finland fourth because of worse goal differentials. Sweden won the tournament with three victories. Czech Jan Caloun was named a member of the all-tournament team. The Czech Republic still leads the standings of the Euro Hockey Tour, the series of the four most important tournaments in Europe, including events in the Czech Republic, Finland (the Carelian Cup), Russia and Sweden. For national team coaches Lener and Hlinka, the cup was preparation for the Olympics in Nagano. The Caloun-Moravec-Alinc line and both goalkeepers, Prusek and Hnilicka, moved closer to nomination for the Olympic team. David Kozohorsky/Mirek Langer Petr Korda Loses Kremlin Cup Final to Kafelnikov The Czech Republic's best tennis player, Petr Korda, made it to the final of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow, though he lost there to Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov November 9 and also lost the chance to be at least a substitute for the ATP World Championships in Hannover, Germany. Korda moved up to 13th place in the ATP rankings. Michal Cerny/Mirek Langer Sparta Praha Loses Two Points of Its Lead in Jablonec Sparta Praha's 1-1 tie in Jablonec can be taken as the biggest surprise of the 12th round of soccer's Gambrinus League. Slavia Praha, second in the standings, came within seven points of Sparta. Results: Ostrava - Ceske Budejovice 0-0, Drnovice - Zizkov 2-1, Opava - Plzen 1-1, Brno - Teplice 1-0, Hradec Kralove - Olomouc 2-3, Dukla - Liberec 2-2, Jablonec - Sparta Praha 1-1, Slavia Praha - Bohdanec 2-0. Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 29, 2. Slavia Praha 22, 3. Olomouc 20, 4. Drnovice 19, 5. Brno 18, 6. Jablonec 17, 7. Liberec 17, 8. Ostrava (*) 16, 9. Teplice 15, 10. Opava 15, 11. Dukla 15, 12. Zizkov 13, 13. Ceske Budejovice 13, 14. Hradec 13, 15. Plzen (*) 8, 16. Bohdanec 6. The match between Ostrava and Plzen was postponed. Jaroslav Mares/Mirek Langer Trinec Steals First Place from Vitkovice after Match The Trinec hockey team defeated Vitkovice 4-2 in a match between the first- and second-place Staropramen Extraleague teams, and thus moved to the top of the standings. The league continued with its 22nd round November 11 after the national team took part in the Carelian Cup. Vsetin, led by new captain Alexei Yashkin (after Jiri Dopita was sold to the Slovak team Skalica), won in Karlovy Vary 9-4. Opava stayed in last place after the home loss to Litvinov. Results: Trinec - Vitkovice 4-2, Opava - Litvinov 1-4, Kladno - Jihlava 2-4, Plzen - Zlin 2-3, Karlovy Vary - Vsetin 4-9, Pardubice - Slavia Praha 2-2, Sparta Praha - Ceske Budejovice 2-4. Standings: 1. Trinec 33 (*), 2. Vitkovice 31, 3. Litvinov 28, 4. Sparta Praha 26, 5. Vsetin 26, 6. Plzen 25, 7. Zlin 24, 8. Jihlava 21 (*), 9. Slavia Praha 20, 10. Pardubice 20, 11. Ceske Budejovice 19, 12. Kladno 16, 13. Karlovy Vary 12, 14. Opava 11 (*). Trinec has played two matches more, Opava and Jihlava have played one match more. Michal Cerny/Mirek Langer WEATHER Smog, Smog, Smog - Not One Step without Me "I am dense, dark, I irritate your eyes, nose and lungs. I come every autumn and stay till spring. My name is Smog." This could be the introduction of our neighbor, who belongs to this city just like its public transport. Smog came back to the Czech Republic after its summer vacation last week. He camped in the same settlements - Prague, northern Bohemia, northern Moravia and Silesia. Especially in the morning, when traffic begins, he follows our every step. During the first half of the day he is dissolved by higher temperatures and scattered by the wind. But there is a proverb for smog's visit: A guest in the house, a stick in the hand. So, let's fight! Ludvik Pospisil/Nora Novakova 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. 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