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: (+420 2) 22112252, fax: (+420 2) 24810987 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 298, Friday, July 31, 1998. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS (JULY 15 - JULY 29) President Vaclav Havel Names Social Democratic Government The 19 members of Milos Zeman's minority government took their vows before President Vaclav Havel July 22. Havel named Milos Zeman prime minister July 17 after Prime Minister Josef Tosovsky and his team resigned. The new prime minister pointed out that the new goverment is entering an useasy situation marked by a decline in economic performance and living standards and an increase in unemployment. In comparison with previous cabinets the new government has three more members, because three vice chairmen without subordinate departments who should act as coordinators. Zeman's government has received criticism for its high average age of 54, which is 10 years higher than in Tosovsky's government. According to the Czech daily MF DNES the average age is the highest in comparison with previous cabinets, including the last Communist government of Ladislav Adamec. The new cabinet is also completely male, even though the Social Democrats, while in the opposition, criticized the absence of women in high politics. Zeman explained the absence of women in his Cabinet by saying that during its first two years his team will be a "kamikaze government," dealing with very difficult tasks. "I wouldn't want talented female politicians in the Social Democrats to be unnecessarily afflicted with a decline in their popularity and prestige," said Zeman in the Czech daily Slovo July 20. The new government has only one non-party member, Otakar Motejl, chief justice of the Supreme Court, who is to lead the Ministry of Justice. The respected lawyer defended dissidents during the Communist regime. According to the Opposition Contract, the Social Democrats have to consult with the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) the participation of a non-party member in the government. ODS Chairman Vaclav Klaus said he welcomed Motejl's naming. "If this is a sign that the Social Democrats want racional politicians in their government, then it is a good sign," said Klaus, according to MF DNES July 17. Members of the Government: Prime Minister: Milos Zeman, 53 years old Vice Chairmen: Legislation: Pavel Rychetsky, 54 Social Policy: Vladimir Spidla, 47 Economic Policy: Pavel Mertlik, 37 Foreign Security Policy: Egon Lansky, 63 Ministers: Foreign Affairs: Jan Kavan, 51 Interior: Vaclav Grulich, 66 Defense: Vladimir Vetchy, 49 Justice: Otakar Motejl, 65 Finance: Ivo Svoboda, 50 Trade and Industry: Miroslav Gregr, 68 Agriculture: Jan Fencl, 56 Transportation: Antonin Peltram, 67 Regional Development: Jaromir Cisar, 68 Labor and Social Affairs: Spidla, 47 Health: Ivan David, 45 Education: Eduard Zeman, 50 Culture: Pavel Dostal, 55 Enviroment: Milos Kuzvart, 37 Without Portfolio: Jaroslav Basta, 50 All members of the new government have university educations except Lansky, Kavan, Dostal and Basta. Lansky and Kavan emigrated after 1968 and returned after 1989. The media also noted that seven government members have a Communist past (Cisar, Dostal, Gregr, Grulich, Rychetsky and both Zemans). Most of them left the party in the years 1969-70. Zeman Government Priorities in First Version of Program Statement To fight against economic crime, to reform the public administration and the social legislation, to accelarate the economic development and to quicken the adaptation of the Czech legislation to EU norms are the top five priorities of Prime Minister Milos Zeman's government. This comes from the first version of government's program statement, which was released by the Czech Press Agency (CTK) and published July 25 in newspapers. The government discussed the draft July 29 and should officially release it August 5. Among the main measures of the Social Democrat government mentioned in the first version are stepping up the fight against economic crime (using the Italian model, the new cabinet intends to undertake an Operation Clean Hands and will reform the laws on party financing) and to reform public administration (to fulfill the Constitution by establishing territorial administration units, to de-politicize state administration and to create a civil service act). The cabinet wants to revive economic growth by conducting active industrial, agricultural and pro-export policy and by supporting foreign investment. By the end of 2000 the government intends to complete bank privatization and to invest the income in housing construction. The Social Democrats also want to adapt domestic legislation to EU norms, to expand cooperation within the Central European region and also to achieve a better relationship with Slovakia. The acceptance of the European Council's Social Charter and implementation of the mechanism of tri-partite collective bargaining should lead to social peace even in difficult economic conditions. Vaclav Klaus Elected Chairman of Parliament Vaclav Klaus, the 57-year-old chairman of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), was elected chairman of Parliament in the first round of voting (he received 135 votes of 200) July 17. The Social Democrats (CSSD) and ODS have 137 seats together but two deputies abstained from voting. His opponent, Stanislav Volak of the Freedom Union (US), was supported by the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and received 39 votes (US and KDU-CSL have 39 seats together). The election of Klaus as Parliament chairman and the naming of Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman as prime minister were the basic terms of the Opposition Contract signed by ODS and CSSD (for more information see Carolina 298) The Vice Chairpersons of Parliament are Petra Buzkova, CSSD (32 years old, 125 votes), Stanislav Gross, CSSD (28, 124 votes), Ivan Langer, ODS (31, 123 votes). Those not elected to the position were Jan Kasal, KDU-CSL (40 votes), Vojtech Filip, Communist (33 votes) and Ivan Pilip, US (21 votes). The proposal for a higher number of vice chairmem was defeated. The previous Parliament had 5 vice chairmen. Before Parliament holidays, deputies elected chairmen of 13 Parliament committees. From the proposed candidates only two Communist deputies were not elected. The vote of confidence in the government should take place at the session scheduled for August 18. Floods in Eastern Bohemia 6 deaths and damages estimated at about 1.5 billion crowns were caused by floods resulting from an intense downpour on the night of July 23 in the eastern Bohemia region of Rychnov nad Kneznou. Unlike last year's floods in the region, which were caused by overflows from the Ticha and Divoka Orlice rivers, this year it was the smaller streams of Zlaty Potok, Bela and Dedina which poured over their banks as their levels rose by an average three meters/10 feet. This year's floods affected some 20 communities and 1,200 homes. President Vaclav Havel Has Another Operation One day earlier than originally planned, Vaclav Havel had another operation July 26. The date of the operation, during which president's colostomy bag was removed and his large intestine closed, was rescheduled at the president's request. Professor Ernst Bodner, Austrian doctor and chief surgeon at the Innsbruck University Hospital, performed the operation. He also operated on Havel in April in Austria, where a vacationing Havel was found to have a perforated intestine and required a colostomy outlet. Even though the second operation was successful, the medical team led by Bodner would not rule out post-operative complications. Because of the president's previous respiratory problems (an operation in 1996), his breathing is kept under close observation. He was connected to a respiratory machine during the first hours after the operation, a condition which might be required for several more days. The president has a slightly increased temperature and his condition is appropriate to a post-operative state, Bodner said. Bodner, who was invited to the Czech Republic as a guest of the Office of the Presidnet, has refused any compensation, saying he considers operating on Havel an honor. Former Prime Minister Josef Tosovsky Back to Czech National Bank Josef Tosovsky, who served as prime minister for half a year (from the fall of former Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus' Cabinet until July 17) is again the governor of the Czech National Bank. He had held the post since 1993 and was named again June 22 in Prague by President Vaclav Havel for the next six years. FROM SLOVAKIA Floods in Eastern Slovakia About 40 deaths and 20 missing persons are the results of the floods that hit the eastern Slovakia regions of Presov, Sabinov and Levoca. On July 20 local streams overflowed their banks in dozens of regions, for example in the village of Jarovnice village a three-meter/10-foot-high (some witneses claim almost six meters/19.5 feet) and 50-meter/162.5-foot-wide wave swept around 30 houses. The most affected were the immediately destroyed Romany (Gypsy) shanties on the bank of the Mala Svinka stream. Damages are estimated at more than 1 billion Slovak crowns. On the proposal of Foreign Minister Jan Kavan, the Czech government decided July 29 to provide humanitarian aid to the flooded areas in the amount of 10 million Czech crowns. ECONOMY Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid July 31) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 18.975 Belgium 100 BEF 84.538 Great Britain 1 GBP 50.674 Denmark 1 DKK 4.574 Finland 1 FIM 5.734 France 1 FRF 5.200 Ireland 1 IEP 43.824 Italy 1000 ITL 17.671 Japan 100 JPY 21.697 Canada 1 CAD 20.496 Luxemburg 100 LUF 84.538 Hungary 100 HUF 14.337 Netherlands 1 NLG 15.463 Norway 1 NOK 4.104 New Zealand 1 NZD 15.933 Poland 1 PLN 9.019 Portugal 100 PTE 17.035 Austria 1 ATS 2.478 Greece 100 GRD 10.475 Germany 1 DEM 17.435 Slovakia 100 SKK 89.354 Slovenia 100 SIT 18.511 Spain 100 ESP 20.536 Sweden 1 SEK 3.905 Switzerland 1 CHF 20.822 USA 1 USD 30.882 ECU 1 XEU 34.348 IMF 1 XDR 41.225 CULTURE Summer Film School Begins for 24th Time in Uherske Hradiste The Czech-Slovak border region city of Uherske Hradiste has made its traditional summer transformation into a center of film and film-lovers, as the 24th Summer Film School will fill the city from July 24-August 2. Six theaters, some of which had to be completely reconstructed after last year's floods, will show films divided into five sections: theater, the countryside, 1968, Mexican film and 100 years of Czech film. Newly appointed Culture Minister Pavel Dostal made Uherske Hradiste his first official visit, and he took part in the gala opening of the festival. The approximately 2,000 visitors are also attending discussion forums with directors Jiri Menzel, Juraj Jakubisko, Petr Zelenka and Otomar Krejca. The festival was held back by organizational flaws, such as the complete catalog of festival films being made available to the public two days after the festival began. One positive side of the festival is, however, that many showings are preceded by an introduction from the creator of the film. SPORTS Czech Tennis Players Fall from Fed Cup Elite Without world number-two Jana Novotna and with an inexperienced team, the Czech Republic lost to Italy 1-4 on Prague's Stvanice clay courts July 25-26 and is relegated to lower group of the KB Fed Cup. The Czechs should have been the favorites, but their team broke down one week before the match. Chronically tired Adriana Gersi canceled her participation first, then Novotna called from the United States to say she would not be coming, either. Novotna recently won three tournaments in a row. These tournaments, including Wimbledon, an exhibition and duties in America tired her enough that she could not play. Radka Bobkova, Kvetoslava Hrdlickova, Lenka Nemeckova and Michaela Pastikova then played for the Czech team, but only Bobkova had some experience in doubles in the Fed Cup. Results: Bobkova - Farina 0-6, 4-6, Hrdlickova - Grande 6-7, 6-4, 4-6, Hrdlickova - Farina 2-6, 1-6, Bobkova - Grande 2-6, 6-3, 7-6, Nemeckova, Pastikova - Lubiani, Perfetti 2-6, 6-4, 5-7. While the Czechs were sinking, Slovakia advanced to the elite group, defeating Belgium 4-1 in Bratislava. Seven Athletes Represent Czech Republic in Goodwill Games Czech athletes presented themselves in the Goodwill Games in New York with mixed results. Track and field athletes participated first. Sarka Kasparkova won the triple jump (14.76 meters), Tomas Dvorak finished third in the decathlon (8,428 points), tops among Europeans. Daniela Bartova disappointed, her 4 meters being enough for ninth place. Jan Rehula finished the triathlon surprisingly in fifth place. Boxer Lukas Konecny (up to 63.5 kilograms/140 pounds) lost to Russian World Championships runner-up Gvasaliya on a TKO despite leading 5-2 on points. Beach volleyball players Celbova and Dosoudilova are yet perform in the Goodwill Games. Three Medals And World Record from Shooting World Championships Miroslav Lizal, Miroslav Janus and Lubos Racansky broke the world record in the running target discipline in the World Championships in Barcelona. Their total of 1,154 points resulted in a gold medal. Lizal finished second among individuals. A silver went to the skeet team of Malek, Sychra and Bechynsky. SPORTS IN BRIEF * Soccer national team member Pavel Kuka leaves German Bundesliga champion 1. FC Kaiserslautern for 1. FC Nuremberg. * Slovak coach Jozef Venglos will lead the fabled Scottish team Celtic Glasgow next season. Venglos was the assistant coach to Vaclav Jezek, when Czechoslovakia won the European Championships in 1976 and 14 years later they exchanged their roles in the World Championships in Italy and led the team to the quarterfinals. * The lone Czech player in American Major League Soccer, Lubos Kubik, will play in the All-Star Game. * Sarka Kasparkova won the triple jump (14.73 meters) in the Grand Prix meeting in Nice, France. * Cyclist Jan Svorada three times was among the first three finishers in stages of the Tour de France, but scratched in the 16th stage. He was then second in the green jersey competition (best sprinter) behind Germany's Eric Zabel. * Cyclist Pavel Buran won one title and three other medals in the European Championships on the oval in Szczeczin, Poland. * Three Nagano Olympics gold-medal winners signed contracts with NHL teams - Jaroslav Spacek (Florida), Milan Hejduk (Colorado) and Josef Beranek (Edmonton). Two more medalists will return to the Czech extraleague - Vladimir Vujtek to Vitkovice and Martin Prochazka to Vsetin. WEATHER After July 20 a tropical heat-wave arrived in the Czech Republic with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius/95 degrees Fahrenheit, in direct sunlight even up to 50 degrees Celsius/122 degrees Fahrenheit, thermometers are exploding and records are falling, although the absolute record of 40.2 degrees Celsius/105 degrees Fahrenheit set July 27, 1983 remains unsurpassed. This Carolina was prepared by Libuse Kolouchova and Lida Truneckova, the culture section by Jan Kozanek and sports by Mirek Langer. It was translated by Sofia Karakeva, Langer and Michael Bluhm. The next Carolinas will be released August 14 and August 28. The editor-in-chief of both editions will be Milan Smid (for more information see the schedule in Carolina 296). 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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