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 289, Friday, May 15, 1998. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (May 6 - 13) Deadline Passes for Submitting Party Ballots The list of political parties taking part in the early June elections was definitely closed midnight May 10. Eighteen political parties will fight for the favor of the electorate in at least one election region. Fifteen parties submitted ballots in all eight election regions, among them all parliamentary parties: the Czech Social Democratic Party, (CSSD), the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), the Freedom Union (US), the Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL), the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) and the Association for the Republic-Czechoslovak Republican Party (SPR-RSC). In all eight electoral regions voters also will find the Party of Retirees for Life Security (DZJ), the Czech National Socialist Party (CSNS), the Green Party (SZ), the Democratic Union (DEU), the Civic Coalition-Political Club (OK) and some relatively unheard-of organizations (Association of Czech Republic Retirees, Alternativa 2000 and the Independents). Among the subjects which submitted ballots in only certain regions are political movements such as the Right Block (Pravy blok), the Nationwide Civic Assembly (Celostatni aktiv obcanu) and the Moravian Independent Party (Moravska demokraticka strana). Karolina Kucerova/Milan Smid Romanies Attack Sladek during Campaign Rally Miroslav Sladek, chairman of the neo-fascist Republican Party (SPR-RSC) was May 9 attacked by Romanies during a party campaign rally in Novy Bor, a northern Bohemian town near Ceska Lipa. The incident came to an end when a policeman fired two warning shots and the attackers fled. Four Romanies were taken to a hospital with slight injuries. The police arrested two Romanies suspected of rioting, violence against an ethnic group and assault. Sladek allegedly provoked the Romanies. "He was arrogant, insulted the president, his wife and Prime Minister Tosovsky. He spurred on ethnic conflict," said Stefan Gorol, a Novy Bor Romany, to the Czech daily Lidove noviny. Romanies then called upon Sladek to stop provoking, he said. Sladek, however, continued, and the Romanies attacked his bodyguards and then got to Sladek, also. Republican deputy Jan Vik said that there were hundreds of Romanies and some of them were carrying guns. Ceska Lipa Police spokeswoman Ivana Balkova refused to comment on any information concerning guns. According to the latest information, Republicans were attacked by kicks and fists. Jan Puncochar/Sofia Karakeva President Grants Pardon to Romanies Who Attacked Sladek President Vaclav Havel granted a pardon to brothers Jan and Josef Tancos, the two Romanies arrested for attacking Miroslav Sladek, chairman of the neo-fascist Republicans. Romany Civic Initiative (ROI) spokesman Miroslav Tancos said to the Czech daily Pravo that the incident had no racial motives. Romanies felt offended by the "disgusting remarks" about the president and his wife. Havel's wife Dagmar expressed her thanks to the Romanies citizens who, she said, upheld her and her husband's honor. She said she respects their protest, although the form they chose was not the best one. The Czech press May 12 reported a wave of criticism of Havel's step. Republican spokesman Jan Vik said Havel's decision means that violent attacks on Republicans by Romanies are acceptable to the political elite. "By making this decision Havel told Gypsies: kill him," said Vik. Representatives of other parties also disagree with Havel's decision. According to the Social Democrats, the incident should have been officially investigated. Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Vice Chairman Ivan Langer said Havel's decision was an emotional reaction. Lenka Vochocova/Sofia Karakeva Liberation Celebrations Officially Passed, Little Notice Taken Celebrations of the 53rd anniversary of V-E Day passed July 8 without any great interest from Czech citizens. The Czech flag rarely appeared in the streets, in contrast to recent years. On the other hand, public transportation was decorated with two flags. The public could visit the representative areas of the Prague Castle, the House of Parliament and the Senate opened for the occasion. Putting wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Prague's Vitkov was one of the day's ceremonies. President Vaclav Havel, still convalescing from his recent operations, was filled in for by the Chief of the Office of the President Ivan Medek, and members of the Czech Freedom Fighters' Union were there, as well. Czech generals were appointed and promoted in the presence of Defense Minister Michal Lobkowicz and Medek at the Prague Castle. The March against Racism and Fascism, organized by the Initiative against Racism (IPRA) and other organizations started in Prague's Krizik Street in the afternoon. Participants in the march stopped by the Czech Radio building and continued to Old Town Square. Gabriela Podzimkova and Lenka Vochocova/Nora Novakova Bronislaw Geremek in Prague for Two-Day Visit Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek arrived May 12 in Prague for a two-day visit. During talks with the Czech Foreign Minister Jaroslav Sedivy he said that the cooperation between Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic still offers one more place for a fourth partner. Poland is first of all counting on the Baltic states, whose efforts are also supported by the Czech Republic. Both countries also have interest in Slovakia, but said its fate depends on Slovakia alone. According to the two ministers, Poland and the Czech Republic are now focusing their regional policy eastward from the future NATO borders, but after joining the Alliance they will support the further expansion of the organization. Lenka Vochocova/Gabriela Pecic Deputies Approve Controversial Anti-Drug Measure The Chamber of Deputies May 12 adopted changes to the Criminal Code giving police the right to prosecute drug possession. The deputies approved the amendments with an overwhelming majority of 128 votes (Christian Democrats, Republicans, Communists and most of the Social Democrats) and so overruled President Vaclav Havel, who vetoed the law April 6. Members of the Freedom Union made up most of the 43 votes against the changes. Seventeen legislators abstained from voting. Havel disagrees with the law, saying it would do more harm to victims of drugs than to dealers and manufacturers (see Carolina 284). The law says possessing a "smaller than small" amount of a drug will be considered a misdemeanor. If the amount is "greater than small" it will be viewed as a felony and the person could be sentenced to prison for up to two years. Incarceration from one to five years awaits anyone who commits the crime to a greater degree. Lenka Jindrichova/Matej Cerny Chamber of Deputies Adopts Lottery Changes The Chamber of Deputies adopted amendments to the Lottery Act May 12. By a majority of 138 votes (189 were present) they overruled the Senate, which rejected the amendments in April. The changes, in harmony with the European Union's laws, bans foreign firms from taking part in the lottery and gambling business. Parliament deputies resisted the strong lobbying from foreign companies. The Senate's disapproval had aroused speculation about the lobbying efforts. The president has 15 days to sign the bill. Lenka Jindrichova/Matej Cerny Head of Prague Police Did Not Break Law According to the Inspection Commission of the Police Presidium, Prague Police Chief Miroslav Bornik did not violate the law. Bornik resigned May 7 after he was accused of interrogating, together with the members of the Communist secret police (StB), people who demonstrated in January 1989 during the so-called Palach Week (named for Jan Palach, who as a student in 1969 immolated himself to protest the Soviet-led occupation of Czechoslovakia). Bornik allegedly changed one testimony, which later was used by the prosecution during its trial of then-dissident Vaclav Havel. Although the matter is still under investigation, Police President Oldrich Tomasek and Interior Minister Cyril Svoboda accepted Bornik's resignation. Svoboda said Bornik did not leave the police because he violated the law but becouse he did not want to discredit the police's reputation. "The commission interviewed the witnesses and came to the conclusion that Mr. Bornik did not break any laws," said Jiri Vokus of the Police Presidium in daily Lidove Noviny May 12. Lenka Jindrichova/Matej Cerny Past Catches up with Secret Service's Deputy Director Deputy to the director of the Security and Information Service (BIS) Lubos Dolezal resigned, because he worked as a political advisor to the armed forces of the Interior Ministry before 1989. Dolezal was chosen personally by the head of BIS, Karel Vulterin, who said he did not know anything about Dolezal's past. Vulterin later said that Dolezal successfully passed security checks and his suitability for work in the security service was also approved by civic commissions. However, Jaroslav Basta, security expert of the opposition Social Democrats, claims Dolezal passed the checks because Dolezal worked on them. An official investigation did not find any violations of the law. Jan Puncochar/Matej Cerny Zeman's Position Remains Stable Social Democratic leadership discussed May 7 their Chairman Milos Zeman's release of documents alleging that Freedom Union Chairman and former Interior Minister Jan Ruml undertook a conspiracy "against the interests of the Czech Republic." Though Zeman has been unofficially castigated for not having discussed the release of the documents with party leadership beforehand, his position as party leader has not been weakened. Zeman appeared pleased by the gremium's conclusions: "It is necessary to determine the authenticity of the document." Although the documents are generally considered fakes and President Vaclav Havel was said to have had a long laugh over them, some Social Democrats believe they are based on reality. Ales Bartl/Jana Ciglerova FROM SLOVAKIA Meciar Agrees with Opposition The coalition parties of the Slovak government agreed with the opposition to create a law which should keep the country out of a constitutional crisis. This norm is supposed to assure the validity of the fall general elections if Slovakia has not by then elected a president. Without a president, the standing Cabinet does not have anyone to whom they can submit their resignation. Premier Vladimir Meciar suggested that the authority to accept the resignation and nominate a new government be entrusted to the chairman of the National Assembly. Both sides also reached a partial agreement regarding the election of a president. Meciar still rejects direct election but offered to negotiate the possibility of voting in accordance with the present system - in the National Assembly. Government and opposition parties also agreed not to enter candidates for the upcoming forth round of presidential elections, and will wait for the fifth round, by which time an agreement may be reached. Slovakia has not had a president since March 3, when Michal Kovac's term of office expired. Lenka Jindrlova/Jana Ciglerova ECONOMY Apples from Europe Again The Czech government May 11 cancelled import quotas which had restricted the amount of apples imported from the European Union since February. The quotas limited EU farmers to 6,000 tons of apples for the Czech market every three months with low import duties. Duties for apples imported above the quota were 95 per cent. In return for the cancellation it is also expected that EU measures which practically prohibited Czech export of pork, poultry and fruit juices to the EU will be repealed. Johan Reyniers, spokesman for European Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler, said to Czech daily MF DNES May 12, "We are not going to do anything until the quota is actually cancelled. The counter-measures do not have any direct connection to the apple quota, so I cannot confirm their repeal." Prokop Havel/Jana Ciglerova New Leadership for Stock Exchange Chamber Petr Budinsky May 7 became the new chief of the Stock Exchange Chamber (Burzovni komora), while Josef Kotrba was elected deputy (both were deputy directors at the Czech Savings Bank). Budinsky replaced Tomas Jezek, who held the position for nearly two years before becoming one of the Securities Commission's commissioners. Prokop Havel/Ajla Zinhasovic Aero Joins with Boeing The general meeting of the biggest domestic airplane producer - Aero Vodochody - confirmed the capital participation of the Boeing-CSA consortium in the company May 6. The conditions for participation of the American-Czech consortium, in which Boeing controls 90 per cent and Czech Airlines the remaining 10 per cent, were approved by the government in March (see Carolina 283). The consortium plans to raise Aero's capital by 950 million crowns, through which it will gain 35-per-cent control of the Aero. The entry of the Americans should not only strengthen Aero's financial situation but should also open the door to foreign markets for Aero. Prokop Havel/Ajla Zinhasovic Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from May 15) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 20.409 Belgium 100 BEF 88.726 Great Britain 1 GBP 52.797 Denmark 1 DKK 4.807 ECU 1 XEU 36.018 Finland 1 FIM 6.025 France 1 FRF 5.460 Ireland 1 IEP 46.118 Italy 1000 ITL 18.566 Japan 100 JPY 24.233 Canada 1 CAD 22.405 Luxemburg 100 LUF 88.726 IMF 1 XDR 43.651 Hungary 100 HUF 15.470 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.251 Norway 1 NOK 4.361 New Zealand 1 NZD 17.331 Poland 1 PLN 9.564 Portugal 100 PTE 17.875 Austria 1 ATS 2.602 Greece 100 GRD 10.565 Germany 1 DEM 18.310 Slovakia 100 SKK 94.949 Slovenia 100 SIT 19.582 Spain 100 ESP 21.552 Sweden 1 SEK 4.226 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.015 USA 1 USD 32.500 CULTURE Smetana's My Country Kicks off 53rd Prague Spring The Czech Philharmonic, led by conductor Vladimir Valek, opened the 53rd international Prague Spring music festival with the traditional My Country from Bedrich Smetana May 12. Despite economic problems last autumn, classical music fans can look forward to 57 concerts, 11 operas and ballets. The opus of George Gershwin will be one of the hot tips of the festival - by the way, Gershwin would be celebrating his 100th birthday this year. The 300th anniversary of the dulcimer will be commemorated by several concerts, topped off by unknown music from Smetana. As usual, several famous orchestras will take part: the Orchestre de Paris with conductor Semjon Byckov and piano virtuoso Radu Lupe, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra with the famous Neeme Jaervi. Jarvi's son Paavo, with Stockholm's Royal Philharmony, will come. Also Swedish mezzosoprano Anne Sofie von Otter and American soprano Kathleen Battle will also perform. The music festival, almost without contemporary compositions this year, will be ended, as is tradition, with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony July 3. It will be performed by the Prague Chamber Orchestra with conductor Jiri Belohlavek and Kuhn's Prague Chamber Choir. Gabriela Podzimkova/Nora Novakova Golden Prague Festival Gives Awards for TV Production The 35th version of the world's only festival of television production, Golden Prague, announced its winners May 7. The main award was given to the Canadian company Rhombus Media for the film Wartime Symphony - Shostakovich against Stalin. Czech Crystals were also awarded to the British Channel 4 for its cycle of Schubert's Winter Road (Zimni cesta) pieces and to the Swedish channel Contercoup for its dance presentation The Alienation of Relationships in the Middle of the City (Odcizeni vztahu uprostred mesta). Two of three honorable mentions were given to Great Britain thanks to the Arts Council and its film Men (Muzi), and to Channel 4, which presented the film Dancing for Dollars - The Bolshoi in Las Vegas (Tanec za dolary - Bolsoj v Las Vegas). The other award was given to Czech Television for its film of the dance vision of the Caban brothers, KusPoKusu. Gabriela Podzimkova/Sofia Karakeva CULTURE IN BRIEF * Spanish soprano Monserrat Caballe performed in Prague's Congress Center May 12. She appeared with her long-time pianist Manuel Burgueras in a recital of arias and songs by Spanish and Italian composers from the 17th century through the 20th century. * The Czech rock group Lucie opened its 10th anniversary tour in Zlin May 12. * Czech-born Milan Kundera's latest novel Identity has been favorably received in the United States in its English translation. Kundera, who has lived in France since 1975, wrote the book in French. * The Czech movie Dead Beetle (Mrtvej Brouk) from Pavel Marek was warmly received at the international film festival in Washington. Critics compared it to films by Lindsay Anderson and Antonioni. * Martin Fendrych, Minister Vladimir Mlynar's successor as the political weekly Respekt's editor-in-chief and former Deputy Interior Minister, wrote in his Memoirs his version of the last days of Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus' government. The book was published by Torst. * The publishing company Duel has released 5,000 copies of the book A Week in Captivity. The author, David Vlk, is a second-year College of Social Sciences student and a member of last year's Carolina editorial team. The book deals with Czech UN observer Jaroslav Kulisek's week of captivity in Georgia in February. Gabriela Podzimkova and Ludvik Pospisil/Ivona Pulkrabkova SPORTS Hockey World Championships Semifinal: Czech Republic - Finland 1-4 Czech hockey players lost for the first time in the World Championships in Switzerland May 12 to Finland's superbly skating team. Three of Finland's four goals were scored at the beginning of periods. The semifinal rematch will be played May 14 and the Czech team has to win the game and also in the overtime period to advance to the finals. Scores do not affect advance, only points do. In the first match of the other semifinal match-up, Sweden defeated Switzerland 4-1. The Czech team advanced to the semifinal from first place in the quarterfinal group. It defeated Slovakia 1-0 (May 7, goal scored by Kucera) thanks to the error-free performance of goalie Milan Hnilicka. Then they met the surprisingly good home-team. Eighteen power-plays were featured in the exciting match, and although Switzerland's players heartily attacked the Czechs, they lost 1-3 (Czech goals: Lubina, Belohlav, Kucera). In the last match, Russia had to win to secure its advance, the Czechs needed only a point. Patera and Dopita scored in the second period, but Petrov and Yushkevich evened the count to the final 2-2 draw. Gabriela Podzimkova and Jakub Svab/Mirek Langer After deadline: Second semifinal result: Czech Republic - Finland 2-2 (0-0, 1-0, 1-2). Finland advances to the final against Sweden, while the Czechs will play for the bronze medal against Switzerland. Soccer: Ceske Budejovice Closer to Second League After a 0-1 loss to Ostrava on Budejovice's field, the South Bohemian players have more to worry about. They are very close to dropping into the second league, because Hradec Kralove managed to tie Olomouc, which is fighting for a place in the UEFA Cup next year. Prague's Slavia continued its run of bad showings. In Lazne Bohdanec, which has managed to collect eight points all season, Slavia tied 1-1. After Bohdanec's pressure in the game's final minutes, Slavia might be glad it left without further embarassment. Results of the 27th round: Plzen - Opava 3-2, Ceske Budejovice - Ostrava 0-1, Bohdanec - Slavia Praha 1-1, Olomouc - Hradec Kralove 2-2, Zizkov - Drnovice 0-0, Teplice - Brno 3-2, Liberec - Dukla 2-1, Sparta Praha - Jablonec 2-1. Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 67 points, 2. Slavia Praha 52, 3. Ostrava 46, 4. Olomouc 46, 5. Liberec 44, 6. Jablonec 42, 7. Teplice 38, 8. Zizkov 36, 9. Brno 34, 10. Plzen 32, 11. Dukla 32, 12. Drnovice 31, 13. Opava 29, 14. Hradec Kralove 29, 15. Ceske Budejovice 27, 16. Bohdanec 9. Gabriela Podzimkova/Mirek Langer SPORTS IN BRIEF * Czech national soccer team member Vladimir Smicer's Racing Lens team won the French league title after Lens tied Auxerre 1-1 and finished first, ahead of Metz, thanks to a better difference between goals scored and allowed. It was the first title in the team's history. Gabriela Podzimkova/Mirek Langer WEATHER Don't count your chickens before they hatch - this proverb came to mind when I was reading the last weather report from Gabriela. She mentioned the weather had supposed to become cool last week and would be suitable to studying for the coming exam period. Yes, the exams are here already (at our school), but the weather has been summer-like the whole past week with temperatures climbing to 29 degrees Celsius/84 degrees Fahrenheit. Prague's public pools started their summer season last week, and cooler temperatures are arriving only now. Karolina Kucerova 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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