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 278, Friday, February 27, 1998. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (February 18 - 25) Hockey Gold Medal Is Greatest Success in Czech Sports History The Czech national team rewrote the history of ice hockey February 22, defeating Russia in the final of the Nagano Olympics' tournament and winning the first Olympic gold for Czech (and also Czechoslovak) hockey. Both favorites in the tournament lost to the Czechs along the triumphant journey, the United States 1-4 and Canada 1-2. In the final match against Russia, both teams played very actively and with support from their excellent goalies. Dominik Hasek, the most valuable player of the tournament, had a great opponent in Russia's Mikhail Shtalenkov. The offenses could not convert for the first two periods, but Pavel Patera won a face-off to the right of Shtalenkov. Martin Prochazka passed along the blue line to Petr Svoboda, who scored the biggest goal of his career and sent the gold to the heart of Europe. David Kozohorsky/Mirek Langer Hundreds of Thousands Greet Olympic Hockey Gold Medalists Nearly three hours later than planned, at nearly 7 p.m. local time, a special Czech government plane landed in Prague with the Czech Republic's hockey players and two-time medalist Katerina Neumannova. Hockey team captain Vladimir Ruzicka was the first off the plane, followed by stars Jaromir Jagr and Dominik Hasek. Prime Minister Josef Tosovsky was there to meet the plane, and when Jagr asked whether the country's political leader had watched the game, Tosovsky answered that he had had to take blood pressure medication. The victors were greeted at the airport by more than 10,000 fans. More celebrating citizens lined the streets as the players' bus made its way to President Vaclav Havel's villa on Delostrelecka Street. "I thank you for the fantastic representation of our country," the president said. "Thanks to you, billions of people know where the Czech Republic is. You brought about awareness (of the country) and of its good name more so than many politicians... Because of you, the country has been in and will be in a good mood for several more days. People are polite to each other, and have even found patriotism within themselves. I have never seen as many (Czech) flags as I have in the past few days... I can only invite you for one drink, because more than 140,000 people are waiting for you on Old Town Square." The players were touched. Hasek said, "This is great. People are enjoying it more than we did in Nagano." Following the toast, the president gave them commemorative medals, and they returned the honor by giving him a team uniform. More than 100,000 people gathered to watch the final Olympic hockey game on giant television screens set up on Old Town Square, which the police said had a capacity of 60,000. The first fans began to gather on Old Town Square to greet the players at 11:30 a.m.. Czech actor Martin Dejdar moderated the event, introducing first Katerina Neumannova, and then the hockey team to thunderous applause. When Hasek walked on stage, only his number was announced, to which the fans began to scream "HASEK!" After the "hockey hymn," composed specially for the olympics, the whole square sang the Czech national anthem. A press conference, labeled "very strange" by its moderator, was held after 11 p.m.. Both Coach Ivan Hlinka and the team showed signs that the many hours of celebrating had taken their toll. David Kozohorsky a Michal Cerny/Andrea Snyder February 1948 Anniversary Overshadowed by Olympic Gold The Czech hockey team's Olympic gold medal overshadowed media coverage of the 50th anniversary of the 1948 Communist coup. Although team uniforms and posters drowned out a number of political events, the media still found time to remember history. Czech Television had prepared a documentary called "The Six Days that Shook Democracy," which was to clarify historical events. The Czech weekly magazine Tyden focused on the coup through the case of screenwriter Katarina Vaculikova, who followed the Czech secret police. In Febraury, Czech daily Lidove noviny is focusing on historians who experienced the event first-hand. The young do not consider these happenings to be important. Journalist Petr Zidek writes "that the youngest historians consider the Communist putsch to be not very interesting is shown by the fact that in the several hundred theses in history presented at Charles University's Philosophical Faculty since 1990, only three relate to February 1948." Czech daily MF DNES published a series of articles on the regime's propaganda. The Institute for Contemporary History and Radio Free Europe organized an international conference on February 1948 called Assumptions and Results at Home and in the World. Historian Igor Orlik said many representatives of non-Communist parties and even President Edvard Benes were under the illusion that Soviet ideology had changed after the war. A Frantisek Hanzlik book came out in the stores called "February 1948 - the Result of an Unfair Fight" on the secret service. The terror which followed the coup and continued in the 1950's was remembered by 800 political prisoners at Prague Castle. President Vaclav Havel did not attend due to illness, and some guests were offended that he had welcomed the hockey players and not come to the castle. Ivan Medek of the President's office and Senate leader Petr Pithart spoke. The Czech press agency CTK published a Factum public opinion poll on the anniversary, which showed that 28.7 per cent of those polled prefer the Communist regime to the present one, up from 18.1 per cent last year. Factum said that the preference is increasing in all categories. Erik Tabery/Andrea Snyder Jiri Skalicky Quits Government and Party Posts President Vaclav Havel accepted the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Environment Minister Jiri Skalicky February 20. The Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) chairman offered his resignation February 16 in response to allegations surrounding his party's financing, and Havel gave him a week to decide (see Carolina 277). The president was criticized for having a double standard in comparison to the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) financial scandal in the fall. Skalicky resigned three days later. Skalicky cannot explain how his party was financed, and said he does not want to endanger Prime Minister Josef Tosovsky's Cabinet by remaining in office. He said Justice Minister Vlasta Parkanova and Industry and Trade Minister Karel Kuhnl, both of ODA, have no reason to leave their posts. The press believes former ODA Vice Chairman Vladimir Dlouhy holds the key to the affair. The police are investigating. Eva Fronkova/Andrea Snyder ODA on the Way to the Bottom "Today, ODA (the Civic Democratic Alliance) is a party of profiteers, a party of people who are not interested in political principles and purifying ODA but are interested in liquidating their party rivals and gaining profit for themselves," said Justice Minister Vlasta Parkanova at a February 20 press conference, where she expanded the number of the party's refugees. The 13-member ODA Parliament Club now consists of seven members of the Alliance and six Parliament deputies without party affiliation. Among the apostates are also Deputy Environment Minister Radim Spacek and Deputy Health Minister Miroslav Cerbak, who leads the medical team overseeing President Vaclav Havel's health condition. In connection with the murky financing affair of the British Virgin Islands front company TMC, former party Vice Chairman Vladimir Dlouhy resigned February 24. ODA founding member Pavel Bratinka (a minister in former Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus' government) also returned his membership card number 001 February 24. He said ODA could not be "delivered from the dominant influence of those who might form a numerical minority but who, being highly active, have changed ODA into a party which emanated quite different values than it should." Pavel Turek/Denisa Vitkova Jan Ruml Elected Freedom Union Chairman Jan Ruml was elected chairman of the Freedom Union at a party congress in Nymburk. The party was founded by former Civic Democratic Party (ODS) members who left the party when its financial scandal broke out. Ruml, a former dissident and journalist, had been interior minister and an ODS leader. Freedom Union vice chairman were named sociologist Petr Mateju and historian Petr Mares (both previously unaffiliated with any political party) and Kutna Hora Mayor Ivo Sanc and Parliament deputy Vaclav Krasa, who were ODS members but never party leaders. "I am more than satisfied with this election. The leadership - two absolutely new people and two ODS members - represents the balance I cared about and asked of the delegates in my speech," said Ruml in an interview with the Czech daily MF DNES. Parliament deputies Anna Roschova, Hana Marvanova and Milan Uhde, and ministers Stanislav Volak and Michal Lobkowicz had said they would run for party leadership posts. All of them retreated in favor of the opinion that those long in politics are "bad." "I am a little sad, when I hear once again labeling and pigeon-holing" said Roschova. Petr Bilek Jr./Andrea Snyder Skinheads Who Killed Romany Woman Charged with Murder Death for death and similar slogans were heard in the Church of the Holy Spirit in Opava February 21 in connection with murdered 26-year-old Romany (Gypsy) Helena Bihariova. Bihariova, the mother of four children, was beaten by three skinheads and thrown into the Elbe (Labe) River, where she was found dead February 15 (see Carolina 277). Czech first lady Dagmar Havlova and Minister Vladimir Mlynar, responsible for Romany issues in the government, attended the funeral. Czech President Vaclav Havel sent a condolence letter to Bihariova's parents and he also thanked reporter Eliska Pilarova, who tried to rescue Bihariova from the river's waters. Havel is going to reward her October 28, a state holiday, with the Medal for Bravery. During the rescue attempt Pilarova was injured and remains in Vrchlabi Hospital, where she has been flooded with letters and visitors. Mlynar also expressed his thanks to Pilarova. From the beginning he insisted the incident be considered murder with a racist motive. Ota Krinka, chief of the First Department of the Regional Office of Investigation in Hradec Kralove, said to the Czech daily Lidove noviny February 24 that "We're also investigating whether the accused threw the girl into the waters because of the money she allegedly owed them." Bihariova was recently released from prison for pickpocketing while offering sexual services. Clarifying the real motive can, Krinka said, take up to a month. Ivona Pulkrabkova/Sofia Karakeva FOREIGN AFFAIRS Government Approves Prospective Army Aid to US in Iraq The government decided February 18 that the Czech Republic would provide army support to the USA in the case of a prospective military offensive against Iraq. The Czech Republic is the 9th country that has officially announced it will provide its services to the USA. "We are convinced that this situation can be solved through diplomacy. The government, though, will support the use of all means necessary to lead to the implementation of the will of the international community. We have to put an end to this threat to the world," said Foreign Minister Jaroslav Sedivy. Government agreement is needed in order to send army experts to the Persian Gulf. If an army unit is to be sent to the gulf, this step has to be approved by both chambers of Parliament. Josef Tosovsky's Cabinet decided February 23 that in the case of military action the Czech Army will send an army field hospital to Iraq. Six experts will go to the Persian Gulf this week to work out the details of the plan. Nora Novakova/Sofia Karakeva Czech Serviceman Involved in Georgia Hostage Drama Czech Lt. Colonel Jaroslav Kulisek, 45, was among the four servicemen of the UN Observatory Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) taken hostage February 19 when 20 armed men attacked the UN mission camp in the West Georgian town of Zugdidi. The attackers, followers of former Georgian President Zviad Gamsachurdia, asked for free passage and the release of all political prisoners including those arrested in connection with the unsuccessful assassination attempt on the President Edvard Shevardnadze. After his three colleagues were released in stages during the negotiation period, Kulisek, as the last hostage, was able to escape February 25 and was brought to safety at the UN camp in Zugdidi. Lenka Jindrlova/Milan Smid Slightly More People Say Joining NATO a Good Idea According to a poll taken by the Center for Empirical Research (STEM) in February, 59 per cent of respondents said the Czech Republic should join NATO. In November the figure was 43 per cent. Political parties have used different ways to present their views. The Freedom Union (US) said it prefers to vote on NATO in Parliament before general elections to avoid the time crunch which would occur if the Chamber of Deputies stopped its session in mid-April. Members of the neo-Fascist Republicans put a yellow banner saying Republicans against NATO! on the front of one of the Parliament buildings. They are also expressing their disagreement with the issue on the billboards placed along the most frequented Czech highway, which runs from Prague to Brno. Prokop Havel/Matej Cerny NEWS IN BRIEF * The government approved Parliament's draft of a Freedom of Information Act February 19. From the middle of next year all ministries, Parliament, the government, the courts, the Office of the President, the Supreme Control Office and the Czech National Bank would have to release almost all information about their activities. * The Social Democrats explained their financial troubles claiming that the gifts from the Swedish Center of Olof Palme, the British Westminster Foundation and Dutch Alfred Mozer Foundation did not exceed 1 million crowns. Social Democrat Vice Chairman Ivo Svoboda said the rest of the donated money was spent directly by the foundations, e.g. on flight tickets for experts who trained Social Democrat candidates before the last elections. * A poll taken by the Center for Empiric Research (STEM) showed that 61 per cent of respondents would support joining the EU. In September the figure was 58 per cent and in March 1996 42 per cent. The number of respondents who think the Czech Republic would meet EU requirements for entry has decreased from 63 per cent in 1997 to 57 per cent. Tomas Mls, Prokop Havel/Matej Cerny FROM SLOVAKIA Meciar Will Not Run for President Premier Vladimir Meciar will not be a candidate in the second round of the presidential elections. In the opposition daily SME, Meciar said that he does not want to become president, although he did seriously consider candidacy, which was approved by his Movement for a Democratic Slovakia's leadership (see Carolina 227). According to Meciar's spokesman Josef Kroslak, it is not out of the question that Meciar will run in some later round of elections. The candidates in the second round of elections are writer Ladislav Ballek (proposed by the Party of the Democratic Left) and railway worker Milan Fogas (supported by United Labor Party). Paula Majorova/Gabi Pecic Kovac and Meciar Agree How to Transfer Presidential Powers Slovak Premier Vladimir Meciar and President Michal Kovac February 24 agreed on how certain presidential powers will be transferred to the government March 2, when Kovac's five-year term ends. According to presidential spokesman Vladimira Stefka, the half-hour negotiation between the two sworn enemies was peaceful. During the meeting they did not discuss the contentious referendum on NATO membership and direct presidential election which Kovac has scheduled to be repeated April 19, which Meciar's Cabinet refuses to acknowledge. The last time Kovac and Meciar met was in spring 1995. Madiyar Magauin/Gabi Pecic ECONOMY January Trade Balance Deficit Lower The January foreign trade balance for the Czech Republic ended with a 5.1-billion-crown deficit, which is 7.5 billion crowns less than last January. According to the new figures, Czech exports have risen by 39.8 per cent and imports by 18.7 per cent. The unexpectedly low trade deficit probably stems from importers having stocked up at the end of last year in fear of another currency drop. The coming next months will show whether the improvement was an aberration. Ajla Zinhasovic, Gabi Pecic/Jana Ciglerova Government Agrees on Increasing Rents and Gas Costs Rents and gas prices will be increased by approximately 27 per cent July 1. Ministers are to discuss the prices for electricity next week; a price increase is expected of between 20 per cent and 30 per cent. Rents in Prague may even go up by 41 per cent. The government has fixed the maximum average price growth in accordance with the inflation rate and town size, though individual regions will calculate their final rents. Ministers called the decision a reasonable compromise and said the social costs of such measures must be taken into consideration. The minimum wage will be increased by 9.8 per cent in April, followed by pension harmonization in June. There are different opinions on the electricity price increase. Agriculture Minister and Christian Democrat Chairman Josef Lux said he is afraid the increased price will only serve to increase profits for monopoly provider the Czech Energy Company (CEZ), and therefore he supports a minimal increase. Finance Minister Ivan Pilip (Freedom Union) and Trade and Industry Minister Karel Kuhnl (independent) pointed out the large gap between electricity production costs and its final price. People pay only 60 per cent of the costs, according to an analysis released by Kuhnl's ministry. The opposition Social Democrats are not of a uniform opinion. Shadow Minister of Social Affairs Vladimir Spidla said he finds the cost-increase proposal unacceptable for households and claims that, should the Social Democrats win the upcoming general elections, the government's decision will be annulled. On the contrary, Budget Committee Vice Chairman Michal Kraus, also a Social Democrat, said he considers the government's move a step in the right direction; he only criticized the lack of adequate social compensation. Katerina Murlova/Jana Ciglerova Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from February 27) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 22.926 Belgium 100 BEF 90.896 Great Britain 1 GBP 55.937 Denmark 1 DKK 4.922 ECU 1 XEU 37.075 Finland 1 FIM 6.181 France 1 FRF 5.599 Ireland 1 IEP 46.491 Italy 1000 ITL 19.021 Japan 100 JPY 26.632 Canada 1 CAD 24.042 Luxemburg 100 LUF 90.896 IMF/SDR 1 XDR 46.124 Hungary 100 HUF 16.335 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.646 Norway 1 NOK 4.488 New Zealand 1 NZD 19.716 Poland 1 PLN 9.756 Portugal 100 PTE 18.322 Austria 1 ATS 2.666 Greece 100 GRD 11.839 Germany 1 DEM 18.760 Slovakia 100 SKK 96.992 Slovenia 100 SIT 19.876 Spain 100 ESP 22.136 Sweden 1 SEK 4.231 Switzerland 1 CHF 23.201 USA 1 USD 34.150 CULTURE Fidlovacka Commemorates Successful Reconstruction with Play A benefit performance of the storied Czech play Fidlovacka was given by director Tomas Topfer in the Nusle Theater February 22. It was a repeat of the 1921 performance, when the theater, then known as the Fidlovacka Theater, was christened with the eponymous Josef Kajetan Tyl and Frantisek Skroup play, which is subtitled No Anger and No Fight (Zadny hnev a zadna rvacka). The director filled the roles of the play, which was prepared by dramaturg Helena Simackova, with Czech stars Eliska Balzerova, Yvetta Blanarovicova, Milena Dvorska, Marie Durnova, Petr Hanicinec, Lubomir Lipsky and others. The private performance took place in the middle of the reconstruction process. The Fidlovacka Foundation had been created to save the theater, and the protagonists intended to demonstrate the success of the reconstruction. The interior reconstruction is almost finished, but the building is still falling apart on the outside. Topfer said reconstruction will be completed by the end of this year. Lenka Jindrlova/Ivona Pulkrabkova SPORTS First Soccer League Starts Summer Half After a nearly three-month break, league soccer was played again on Czech fields. Sparta Praha, which leads the standings by 10 points ahead of Slavia Praha, kept its advantage with a win in Pilsen (Plzen). Argentinian forward Lazzaro Liunni, a new player for Liberec, scored three times in the match against Opava. Both novices in the league, Dukla and Lazne Bohdanec, lost, Bohdanec with a promising 0-1 match against Boby Brno, and Dukla with a 1-5 spanking by Banik Ostrava. Results: Plzen - Sparta Praha 0-1, Dukla - Ostrava 1-5, Slavia Praha - Drnovice 3-0, Bohdanec - Brno 0-1, Zizkov - Jablonec 1-0, Ceske Budejovice - Hradec Kralove 1-0, Liberec - Opava 3-0, Teplice - Olomouc 1-3. Jaroslav Mares/Mirek Langer WEATHER To tell the truth, the weather isn't worth much. It's been cloudy since Monday, and either rains or doesn't. The smog has gotten worse in the past few days and we expect winds from the east to bring significant warmth. Renowned meteorologists say the temperatures will pass long-set records. This has likely been caused by the Russian hockey players' tradition of burning their hockey sticks after defeat. It seems that spring is just around the corner. Jaroslav Mares/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. 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