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@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz tel: (+4202) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+4202) 24810987 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 307, Friday, November 6, 1998. FROM EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK (October 28 - November 4) Nation Celebrates 80th Anniversary of Czechoslovakia's Founding The Czech Republic celebrated the 80th anniversary of the founding of the former Czechoslovakia. On October 28, President Vaclav Havel, Prague Mayor Jan Koukal and other politicians laid flowers at the statue of Saint Wenceslas on Prague's Wenceslas Square. Public attendance was minimal. Havel then took part in a memorial ceremony at the grave of the Unknown Soldier in Zizkov. After lunch he observed the ceremonial taking of the oath of new Prague Castle Guard soldiers. Later in the afternoon in Prague Castle Havel met about 100 foreign diplomats. In his speech he said the state wants to be an integral part of today's world and is prepared to take its share of responsibility. In the National Museum, the Czech Union of Freedom Fighters (CSBS) held its traditional meeting, attended by Prime Minister Milos Zeman, Culture Minister Pavel Dostal and Education Minister Eduard Zeman. Freedom Fighters Chairman Jakub Cernin in his speech praised the first republic (i.e., Czechoslovakia from 1918-38), which was "a blessing for all nations living in it." He criticized today's politicians for the split of Czechoslovakia in 1992 and for the current state of the Czech Republic. Cernin asked how is was possible that tabloid television and newspapers have a bigger influence on the public than the government and Parliament. Zeman talked about what he called the essential problem of Czech history, the fight "between the tendency for submission and sloth with uncertainty." As an example he recalled the collaborating journalists who celebrated the Nazis' extermination of the village of Lidice and the members of the resistance, who were not afraid of fighting for freedom. "Let us not choose the way of comfort into the valley, but the narrow path of uncertainty up the mountain," said Zeman. Vaclav Klaus, chairman of Parliament's Chamber of Deputies, was present at the ceremonial unveiling of a new statue of first Czechoslovak President Tomas Garrigue Masaryk in Turnov. In the afternoon Klaus spoke at a ceremony in Prague's Rudolfinum. He criticized today's Czech political scene and "false intrigues." Celebrations of the anniversary are insufficient, he said, because there is no patriotic feeling. "Patriotic feeling only after soccer victories is not enough," said Klaus. One day earlier, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) called a gathering on Wenceslas Square for the anniversary. The main speaker, Communist Parliament deputy Vaclav Exner, said Communist Czechoslovakia before 1989 was faithful to the spirit of Masaryk and the first republic because they both were capable of solving social and culture problems. Exner said that Czechoslovakia split in 1992 because of the "selfishness of the most powerful, Meciar and Klaus and his bands of thieves." The "biggest collaborator and destroyer of the state" is President Vaclav Havel, said Exner. Jakub Jirovec/Jakub Jirovec State Awards in Shadow of Zilk Affair On the 80th anniversary of Czechoslovakia's founding, President Vaclav Havel awarded many outstanding politicians, soldiers, academics, athletes and other people of merit with Czech state awards. The awards were given to the Colonel Karel Kuttelwascher, Major General Josef Bartik, Monsignor Vaclav Maly, Zdena Masinova (persecuted by the Nazi and Communist regimes), former dissidents Vaclav Benda and Petr Uhl, philosophers Roger Scruton and Erazim Kohak, film director Vera Chytilova, hockey goalie Dominik Hasek, tennis players Martina Navratilova and Jana Novotna, Olympic gold medalist Emil Zatopek and others. Eighty-nine people were approved for the honors by the president's advisory commission. Much ado was caused by the withdrawal of the award for Vienna Mayor Helmut Zilk (see Carolina 306 and the next story). The awards ceremony took place October 28 in the Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle, where about 500 hundred people gathered in front of the television cameras broadcasting the event live. In his seven-minutes-long opening address Havel described the direction of the future development of the Czech Republic and stressed the necessity of the republic becoming a full-fledged member of an integrated Europe. Havel's address carried the spirit of the first Czechoslovak President Tomas Garrigue Masaryk. "Masaryk once said that states are maintained only by the ideals which gave birth to them. Let us take the path of those who fulfilled these ideas in the past and who are fulfilling them also in our time. The men and women who I am awarding in the name of the Republic today belong - each in a different way - among those people," said Havel at the end of his address. The ceremony was concluded with a reception in Prague Castle. The state awards are to honor oustanding civic merit in enhancing a free and democratic society, for lifetime achievement, for defending the country and heroic and others deeds. The Order of the White Lion and the Order of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk are entrusted to Czech citizens and given to foreigners. The Medal of Heroism and Medal of Merit are lower awards which are also granted. Michaela Prokopova, Radan Dolejs/Milan Smid Zilk Affair Continues The affair of former Vienna Mayor Helmut Zilk, whom President Vaclav Havel refused to present the Order of the White Lion because of suspicions Zilk cooperated with the Communist State Security (StB), has taken on new dimensions. After his decision not to award the Order, Havel said his Chancellor Ivan Medek had been blackmailed by the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung (see Carolina 306). However, Medek said the newspaper's approach was entirely proper. According to the Zeitung Vienna correspondent Michael Frank, there was at first an attempt to use the affair to transfer parts of the secret police archives from the Interior Ministry to the Foreign Ministry. Therefore, certain people allegedly gave information about Zilk to a Czech television station, which then decided to use the information against Havel. In effort to prevent this, some people from the television station decided to ask the German newspaper to warn the president. The question is the source of the information on Zilk's alleged collaboration with the secret police. One possible source is the Office for the Documentation and Investigation of the Crimes of Communism - former office Director Vaclav Benda, now a senator for the Civic Democratic party (ODS), drew the president's attention to Zilk in the middle of September. Invitations for the awards ceremony had already been sent. If the Interior Ministry consents, Havel said he wants to enable Zilk to see his file. Marketa Lajdova, Klara Nedvedova/Denisa Vitkova Senator Benda Claims Questionable People among Honored In connection with the Zilk affair appeared information that among those honored October 28 are people whose past can be questioned. Senator Vaclav Benda (Civic Democratic Party, ODS) said nine suspicious people were honored, including former Communist State Security agents and Nazi collaborators. Benda refused to disclose names. It is not clear where Benda obtained the information. Interior Minister Vaclav Grulich expressed his concern that it comes from the Office for the Documentation and Investigation of the Crimes of Communism, which Benda managed until January. Benda denies this accusation, although in previous years he helped the Office of the President screen awarded individuals, which was possibly illegal. Klara Nedvedova, Marketa Lajdova/Denisa Vitkova Radio Free Europe Broadcasting to Iraq and Iran On October 30 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty began regular broadcasting to Iraq and Iran in daily half-hour segments. Both countries have threatened the Czech Republic with cutbacks in cooperation. Radio Administrative Director Jan Obrman declined to confirm the assumption that the programs are located in the headquarters of the radio in the former Federal Assembly building at the top of Prague's Wenceslas Square. He said only that the broadcasting is not done from the residential neighborhood of Bubenec. The government had rejected the Bubenec plan because of security reasons October 7, when it gave agreement to broadcasting under the condition that radio management find a better locale. Iraqi Foreign Affairs Minister Muhammad Said Kazim Sahhaf warned the Czech Republic November 2 against further broadcasting. "Launching anti-Iraq broadcasting means negative development which could have an effect on future economic and trade cooperation," he was quoted as saying by the CTK agency. The Iranian government decided to recall its ambassador from Prague. Teheran also announced it will restrict economic contacts with the Czech Republic. Skoda Plzen head Lubomir Soudek said Czech imports to Iran might be banned. His firm has a contract with Iran to supply streetcars and build five sugar refineries. Other firms working with Iran fear losses in the hundreds of millions of crowns. Foreign Minister Jan Kavan said the Czech Cabinet is not preparing any retaliatory measures and Interior Minister Vaclav Grulich proposed the Cabinet again discuss the consequences of broadcasting, because Iranian sanctions might weaken the Czech economy. Pavel Novotny, Linda Kholova/Linda Kholova Three Bodies of Czech Bosnia Casualties Brought to Prague A special Czech Army flight October 27 brought to Prague the bodies of the three Czech soldiers who died in a helicopter crash in Bosnia. The MI-17 helicopter crashed October 25 in the mountains near the village of Sipanjici in bad weather. The cause of the crash should be known after the contents of the helicopter's black box are analyzed in about three weeks. Condolences were sent to the victims' families from Defense Minister Vladimir Vetchy, Commander of Army Air Force Ladislav Klima, Chief of the General Staff Jiri Sedivy and NATO General Secretary Javier Solana. Katerina Kolarova/Milan Smid FROM SLOVAKIA Mikulas Dzurinda Introduces New Government The coalition agreement for creating a new Slovak government was signed October 28, exactly after one month of negotiations. The four parties of the former opposition managed in the end to overcome disagreements, and the new ministers October 30 were officially named. In the new government the leading Slovak Democratic Coalition (SDK) received nine chairs, including the position of prime minister for party Chairman Mikulas Dzurinda, while the Party of the Democratic Left (SDL') has six chairs and party Chairman Jozef Migas will become the National Assembly's chairman. The Hungary Coalition Party (SMK) will have three chairs and the Party of Civic Understanding (SOP) two. SMK made the biggest compromise, giving leadership of the Agriculture Ministry to SDL', which had made noises opposing SMK's presence in the government. Like the Czech Republic's Cabinet, the Slovak body also has four vice chairmen, one from each coalition party - Vice Chairman for the Economy Ivan Miklos (SDK), Vice Chairman for Legislation Lubomir Fogas (SDK), Vice Chairman for Integration Vice Pavol Hamzik and Vice Chairman for Human and Minority Rights Pal Csaky. Key ministries were divided between SDK and SDL': the new Foreign Minister is Eduard Kukan (SDK), Interior Minister Ladislav Pittner (SDK), Defense Minister Pavol Kanis (SDL), Finance Minister Brigita Schmognerova (SDL'), Economy Minister Ludovit Cernak (SDK), Privatization Minister Maria Machova (SOP), and Agriculture Minister Pavol Koncos (SDL'). The most familiar faces in the new cabinet are Justice Minister and former Prime Minister Jan Carnogursky and Culture Minister and former actor Milan Knazko, both SDK members and leading figures in the fall of Communism in 1989. The parties also agreed to support SOP Chairman Rudolf Schuster in the presidential elections, although in the coming days the parties will have to decide on the method of election. The question is whether the parties are going to keep their campaign promises of direct election or if they will take advantage of their constitutional majority in the National Assembly and propose a candidate without public participation. During the first session of the new Assembly October 29, former Premier Vladimir Meciar gave his seat to Ivan Lexa, former director of the Slovakian Information Service and suspect in the kidnapping of former President Michal Kovac's son two years ago. Lexa thus gained immunity, but Interior Minister Pittner announced that with the support of the Assembly majority he intends to prosecute Lexa. The new Cabinet is trying to cultivate Slovakia's reputation abroad and join the countries in the first wave of discussions on EU membership. Dzurinda's first foreign visit will be to Brussels, where he will deal with EU and NATO representatives. Lenka Ludvikova/Sofia Karakeva ECONOMY October Budget Shows Cosmetic Surplus of 9.4 Billion Crowns According to the Finance Ministry, the state budget at the end of October showed a surplus of 9.4 billion crowns. The reality of the situation is not so rosy, however, because budget income still includes 7 billion crowns dedicated for repairing flood damage and 5.4 billion for restitution settlements. Expenses do not include the 4.1-billion-crown guarantee to the Czech Savings Bank (Ceska sporitelna), the Consolidation Bank (Konsolidacni banka) losses of 10.4 billion crowns, and 2.5 billion crowns in other costs. This year's budget should wind up with a deficit of about 20 billion crowns, according to the latest ministry estimates. Pavlina Hodkova/Jan Martinek Czech National Bank Cuts Interest Rates, Warns on Wage Increase Demands The Czech National Bank (CNB) October 26 lowered all basic bank rates. The discount rate was decreased from 11.5 per cent to 10 per cent, the Lombard rate from 16 per cent to 15 per cent, and the basic repo rate, the main tool of CNB monetary policy, was lowered from 13.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent. The cuts should bring relief to Czech companies paying high interest rates on their loans or avoiding loans because of the high rates. Raiffeisenbank dealer Petr Tomek said it is possible the central bank will make further cuts in accordance with future inflation developments. CNB Governor Josef Tosovsky would not rule out future cuts, but he warned against steps which could have the opposite effect on CNB policy, namely the wage increase demands of Czech unions. Trade unions are counting on inflation of about 10 per cent while the CNB forecasts a net inflation rate of below 7 per cent. The proposed 1999 wage increase for the state sector could provoke inflation and could lead also to higher unemployment. The rather radical cut in interest rates will bring no remedy for the economic recession. It is necessary to improve payment discipline, because the high percentage of bad loans makes banks reluctant to give new loans to the small and medium businessmen. Pavlina Hodkova/Milan Smid Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid November 5) country currency --------------------------------- Australia 1 AUD 18.012 Belgium 100 BEF 84.317 Great Britain 1 GBP 47.824 Denmark 1 DKK 4.574 ECU 1 XEU 34.121 Finland 1 FIM 5.719 France 1 FRF 5.189 Ireland 1 IEP 43.273 Italy 1000 ITL 17.856 Japan 100 JPY 24.911 Canada 1 CAD 18.893 Luxemburg 100 LUF 84.317 IMF 1 XDR 40.709 Hungary 100 HUF 13.395 Netherlands 1 NLG 15.427 Norway 1 NOK 3.911 New Zealand 1 NZD 15.326 Poland 1 PLN 8.444 Portugal 100 PTE 16.965 Austria 1 ATS 2.473 Greece 100 GRD 10.315 Germany 1 DEM 17.395 Slovakia 100 SKK 82.217 Slovenia 100 SIT 18.144 Spain 100 ESP 20.452 Sweden 1 SEK 3.686 Switzerland 1 CHF 21.309 USA 1 USD 28.887 CULTURE German Theater Festival in Prague The third Prague German-language theater festival was christened by Culture Minister Pavel Dostal October 31. The festival was organized with the support of the presidents of the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. There were performances by theaters and soloists from Hamburg, Vienna, Zurich, Stuttgart, Berlin and Munich. The inaugural evening saw a performance of Zero Hour or The Art of Serving by Swiss dramatist Christopher Marthaler at Prague's Vinohrady Theater (Divadlo na Vinohradech). German singer and actress Gisela May will read Bertold Brecht's poetry at the Comedy Theater (Divadlo Komedie) November 8. All performances will be simultaneously translated into Czech. Zuzana Galova/Zuzana Janeckova Prague Indies Festival Aims to Present Independent Cinematography In its second year the Prague Indies film festival offered more than 60 independent or low-budget movies from 12 different countries, including the USA, Greece and Mongolia. Some of the festival highlights included Gingerbread Man by Robert Altman and the French movie Western, which took the Jury Prize at Cannes last year, as well as Smoke Signals by Chris Eyr, the first so-called independent film made by American Indian. The festival wants to draw attention to films not made in Hollywood and wishes to help these films find distributors. The festival is the only one of its kind in central and eastern Europe. Petr Kupec/Zuzana Janeckova Nusle Theater Reopened The newly reconstructed Na Fidlovacce Theater in Prague's Nusle neighborhood was christened October 28 with a performance of the 19th-century Czech play Fidlovacka by L. Skroup and Josef K. Tyl. The same play had been staged on the theater's opening night 77 years ago. The theater had been closed for years because of its poor physical condition. The Fidlovacka Foundation, established by actor-director Tomas Topfer and actress Eliska Balzerova, organized the reconstruction. Katerina Kolarova/Katerina Kolarova SPORTS Slavia Eliminated from UEFA Cup in Second Round Slavia Praha soccer players were eliminated from the UEFA Cup after a 0-2 loss to Bologna November 3. The last Czech participant in the European cups did not manage to take advantage of having lost the first match by only 1-2 in Italy. Bologna played with a safe defense, which stopped Slavia's attacks. The guest team had its best chance to score in the first half, but defender Lubos Kozel kicked out Russian Igor Kolyvanov's poor shot from the goal line. Pavel Horvath's shot just before the break hit the bar in Francesco Antonioli's goal. When Slavia decided to go for broke, Sweden's Klas Ingesson passed to Giuseppe Signori, whose ground shot gave Bologna the lead in the 80th minute. Massimo Cappioli's nice shot, which wound up precisely in the top right corner of Radek Cerny's goal, ended Slavia's last hopes in the 86th minute. Petr Wilfer/Mirek Langer Rain Washes out Part of Soccer League 11th Round Because of rain and wind, only three of six November 1 soccer league matches were played. The other three games (Pribram - Plzen, Zizkov - Jablonec and Teplice - Drnovice) were postponed till November 25. In the match between league novices, Blsany celebrated a win over Karvina. Ostrava surprisingly lost two points after a scoreless tie at home with Hradec Kralove. Sparta Praha broke a streak of four loses in Brno, winning 1-0. Results of the 11th round: Slavia - Opava 3-0, Blsany - Karvina 3-2, Ostrava - Hradec Kralove 0-0, Liberec - Olomouc 1-1, Brno - Sparta 0-1. Standings: 1. Teplice 23, 2. Sparta 21, 3. Olomouc 20, 4. Blsany 19, 5. Drnovice 19, 6. Slavia 17, 7. Opava 17, 8. Ostrava 15, 9. Zizkov 14, 10. Liberec 12, 11. Hradec Kralove 12, 12. Plzen 11, 13. Jablonec 8, 14. Brno 7, 15. Karvina 7, 16. Pribram 6. Josef Koukolicek/Mirek Langer Hockey Extraleague: Last-Place Opava Shocks Sparta and Trinec The Opava hockey team's performances was the biggest surprise of the last two Staropramen extraleague rounds. Led by new head coach Jiri Latal, it caught Sparta unaware, defeating it in its own arena in Prague. Opava then prepared another shock for the next round, when it beat league-leading Trinec and moved up from last place. Jihlava replaced Opava, as its coaching change (Vladimir Caldr for Josef Augusta) did not help - Jihlava scored only once in two matches and finished without a point. In the second game, Vitkovice forward Tomas Jelinek played his 687th match in the league, breaking the all-time record of Josef Cerny, legendary Brno forward. Karlovy Vary has not lost in nine rounds, but it lost a win over Slavia in the last second of play when Ruzicka scored. Slavia stopped the eight-game winning streak of Vsetin one round before. Results of the 17th round: Zlin - Karlovy Vary 2-2, Vitkovice - Jihlava 4-1, Plzen - Kladno 5-3, Ceske Budejovice - Pardubice 3-1, Sparta - Opava 1-3, Slavia - Vsetin 4-3, Litvinov - Trinec 2-4. Results of the 18th round: Vsetin - Vitkovice 7-2, Trinec - Opava 0-2, Karlovy Vary - Slavia 3-3, Jihlava - Ceske Budejovice 0-2, Pardubice - Plzen 5-3, Kladno - Litvinov 3-3, Sparta - Zlin 1-1. Standings: 1. Vsetin 26, 2. Trinec 25, 3. Zlin 23, 4. Plzen 22, 5. Ceske Budejovice 21, 6. Sparta 19, 7. Karlovy Vary 19, 8. Slavia 18, 9. Vitkovice 17, 10. Pardubice 17, 11. Litvinov 15, 12. Kladno 11, 13. Opava 10, 14. Jihlava 7. Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer National Hockey Team Ties in First Match in Karjala Cup Coaches Ivan Hlinka and Josef Augusta nominated only three players from foreign leagues for the national team now playing in the Karjala Cup, the second tournament of the Euro Hockey Tour, in Finland November 5-8. The Czech team will meet Sweden, Finland and Russia. The 12 forwards selected have scored some 80 goals in the Czech extraleague, while Jan Caloun from IFK Helsinki is the top scorer in the Finnish league. Karlovy Vary defender Martin Richter and Ceske Budejovice forward Vaclav Kral are the rookies of the team. National Team: Goalkeepers: Roman Cechmanek, Jaroslav Kames. Defenders: Jiri Veber, Jan Srdinko, Ladislav Benysek, Martin Stepanek, Radek Martinek, Martin Richter, Jiri Vykoukal, Frantisek Kaberle. Forwards: Pavel Patera, Jiri Dopita, David Vyborny, Tomas Kucharcik, Vladimir Vujtek, Viktor Ujcik, Vaclav Kral, Jaroslav Kudrna, Jan Caloun, Martin Prochazka, Radek Belohlav, Jan Hlavac, David Moravec. After deadline: First round result: Czech Republic - Sweden 2-2 (2-1, 0-0, 0-1), Czech goals scored by Martinek and Prochazka. Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer SPORTS IN BRIEF * Despite an unconvincing performance in its last game against Grenoble (4-3), Sparta Praha advanced to the quarterfinal of the European Hockey League without losing a point. Other Czech teams have to say goodbye: Litvinov won its first points against Mannheim, but only after penalty shots (5-4). Jihlava lost 1-4 to Djurgaarden in Stockholm, but it defeated the Swedish team in its own arena 5-2 in a match postponed because of an outbreak of illness (see Carolina 304). * Thanks to a fast finish, Dutch cyclocross rider Richard Groenendaal won the traditional UCI first category event in Prague's Strahov Stadium. He defeated his compatriot Adrie van der Poel and Belgium's Erwin Vervecken. The winner, evidently disoriented, rode another round at race speed after passing the finish line. The best Czech finisher was Petr Dlask in 6th, while three-time world champion Radomir Simunek finished 7th. * Jaroslav Hules had to end his participation in the motorcycling World Championships in the 125cc class. After three seasons without visible improvment, sponsors decided not to support him and offered him participation in the European and Czech Championships in classes under 125cc or 250cc. Hules refused and said he will rather go to work. WEATHER Like in all of central Europe, heavy rains and strong winds caused big trouble. The third, highest degree of flood warning was announced for some rivers, including the Elbe (Labe), Morava, Jizera, Otava and Ohre. Wind toppled a tall poplar October 28 as a car was passing under it on a road leading out of Prague. The tree killed a young woman. In the beginning of the week, the wind caused the most problems in eastern Bohemia and in Moravia, where it blew roofs off houses and cut off electricity. The wind reached a speed of 137 kilometers per hour in Usti nad Orlici with rain and on Poland's side of Snezka Mountain meteorologists measured the speed at 180 kilometers per hour. Some 10 centimeters of snow fell in the Sumava and Krkonose mountains. Pavel Sladky/Mirek Langer 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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