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) 22112252, fax: (+4202) 24810987 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 313, Wednesday, December 16, 1998. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (December 9 - December 16) Big Four Agree on Necessity of Pro-Growth Measures The meeting of Prime Minister Milos Zeman with the Chamber of Deputies and opposition Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Chairman Vaclav Klaus in the presence of the Governor of the Czech National Bank (CNB) Josef Tosovsky and labor union leader Richard Falbr was called by the media the Big Four Summit. The summit was proposed by Klaus (see Carolina 312) and took place December 11. The only outcome of the meeting was a declaration of willingness of all summoned parties to seek solutions to the present economic problems of the country and an admission of the necessity to support economic growth. However, the public statements after the meeting revealed that there is no consensus of the participants as to the specifics of the individual pro-growth measures. The summit's final declaration mentions that fighting inflation and the trade deficit, goals promoted by the Czech National Bank, should not be the only priority of economic policy. Tosovsky was put under pressure by all three remaining participants to ease the CNB's restrictive monetary policy. Tosovsky said, "Growth is a priority, but has to be founded on a sound basis. Many changes in the Czech economy still have to be made, and it will not be enough just to increase (consumer) demand." Milan Smid/Milan Smid AFTER DEADLINE: Libuse Benesova Elected Senate Chairwoman Libuse Benesova, deputy to Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Chairman Vaclav Klaus, was elected December 16 chairwoman of the upper chamber of the Czech Parliament, the Senate, after she beat incumbent Senate Chairman Petr Pithart in the second ballot. Pithart, nominated by the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), Freedom Union (US) and the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), won the first round with 37 votes to 36 votes for Benesova. Six ballots were not valid, three of them evidently intentionally made so. Another 37 votes in the second ballot, however, meant defeat for Pithart, because his rival got a majority of 40 votes from 79 present senators. Two ballots were not valid. The victory for Benesova is another result of the Opposition Contract between the Social Democrats (CSSD) and ODS (see Carolina 297), which divided power and positions in Parliament. In the Senate, ODS controls 25 seats (the election of Dagmar Lastovecka is still to be approved), the Social Democrats 23, the coalition of KDU-CSL, ODA and US has 28 seats and the Communists have four. Lida Truneckova/Milan Smid Government Reacts to Criticism of EU Readiness President Vaclav Havel visited the December 9 Cabinet meeting to be present during discussion of the resolution concerning the European Commission's November 4 report on the country's readiness for EU membership. Havel said he was pleased with the government's quick reaction to the commission's criticism. Prime Minister Milos Zeman said his government is not "unlimitedly submissive" toward the EU, but prepared a reaction to the commission report even though none had been required. "In this reaction we accept the critical statements of the EU regarding us, although in certain points we are correcting the situation," said Zeman, and added that the government wants to change its legislative program to harmonize Czech laws with the EU's. Milan Smid/Michael Bluhm EU Vienna Summit Does Not End with Concrete Results The reform of European Union financing, its agricultural policy and unemployment were the main topics of the EU's Vienna summit. However, the second day, December 12, belonged also to the countries which should join the EU in its first wave of expansion. The Czech Republic was represented by Prime Minister Milos Zeman and Foreign Minister Jan Kavan. No concrete steps or agreements came from the meeting, differences between EU members manifested themselves fully, especially disagreements over payments to the common budget. These differences block the process of EU expansion, because the richest countries (Germany, France, Great Britain) continue to refuse enlarging their share of EU funding, and the poor countries do not want to lose their subsidies (Spain, Portugal). The number of new members will probably be lowered and the waiting time will be prolonged. In the closing declaration, the candidates and the relevant institutions of the European Union were called to make the membership talks more intensive and to suppress racism and national intolerance. Zeman said he remains optimistic. He said he believes the Czech Republic will join the EU in the first wave, he said legislative changes and improvement of the economic situation are the first steps to be taken. He compared membership to a marriage, where it does not depend on the date of wedding, but on the marriage's happiness. Lenka Ludvikova/Mirek Langer Anna Sabatova among First to Receive UN Prize On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the General Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations General Secretary Kofi Annan awarded Czech activist Anna Sabatova the newly created UN Prize. Sabatova was one of the first signatories of Charter 77 and for 30 years was an active proponent of human rights. Tomas Kohout/Jakub Jirovec Journalists' Syndicate Holds Conference on Media and Xenophobia The conference Media and Xenophobia took place on International Human Rights Day December 12 and was attended by many prominent politicians, cultural figures and media cognoscenti. A journal about Czech xenophobia, where some well-known authors presented their experiences with Czech intolerance, was published on the same day. General Secretary of International Federation of Journalists Adam White, in the opening essay, accused the media of having a negative attitude toward different cultures and thus negatively influence people who construe reality only from the media. White said the situation can improve if journalists firmly observe ethical standards and consider media the messenger of democracy. Anna Krusova from the refugee section of Czech Helsinki Commission criticized Czech mass media for their prejudice against immigrants. "Our media do not care why a stranger leaves everything behind and without money flees into the unknown. They only ask how much it will cost taxpayers." Karol Sidon, Prague's chief rabbi, said the general question for Czech society and its media is cultivation. "Journalists must follow their moral code," said Sidon, and criticized the false solidarity among journalists, who are afraid of standing up against their colleagues, even when their transgressions are clear. Jakub Jirovec/Jakub Jirovec CSSD Central Executive Committee Meets in Podebrady The Social Democrats' (CSSD) Central Executive Committee (the highest authority between conventions) met in Podebrady December 13-14. CSSD Chairman Milos Zeman criticized the party's results in Senate elections (from 27 contested seats the Social Democrats gained three). Zeman said he believes the party did not succeed due to the lack of recognizable regional personalities. "It will be utterly necessary for us to choose our candidates much more carefully, to make sure that they are real personalities and to prepare them much earlier than last time," said Zeman to the Czech daily Slovo December 14. Zeman added that the party did not have enough money for its election campaign. Zeman also received criticism, mainly for his vulgar statements about Senate candidates during the elections and after them. Some CSSD members said they do not like the Opposition Contract signed with the Civic Democratic Party (ODS, see Carolina 297). Criticism was also directed toward CSSD parliamentary club, which, Zeman said, does not work as it should. The question concerning the existence of Parliament's upper chamber was also included in the meeting's program. CSSD's central Bohemian organization recently proposed a national referendum regarding the Senate's existence. Party Vice Chairwoman Petra Buzkova will deal with the matter. The party's new logo - a red rose with a green leaf - was officially introduced in Podebrady. CSSD had copyright problems with the old logo - designer Jiri Norman requested a more money for the logo than he received in 1991. Zuzana Galova/Sofia Karakeva Libor Novak Charged with Tax Evasion Former Vice Chairman of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Libor Novak is facing charges of evading taxes. The district attorney for Prague 1 filed charges December 8 that Novak deprived the Czech Republic of almost half a million crowns. Novak, who was responsible for ODS' financing, is accused of signing ODS' 1995 tax return showing two sponsor donations from fake sponsors, which lead to a reduction in taxes paid to the Czech Republic in the amount of 470,000 crowns. Investigators recommended charges at the end of last year. The district attorney returned the case for further investigation, asking mainly for more detailed statements from ODS leaders. If Novak is found guilty he faces two to eight years of imprisonment. Michaela Prokopova/Sofia Karakeva FROM SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF * Slovak Premier Mikulas Dzurinda revoked the amnesty provided by former Premier Vladimir Meciar to suspects in the kidnapping of Michal Kovac Jr. and in the manipulation of a referendum. The revocation could bring to court former Interior Minister Jan Krejci and former chief of the Slovak Information Service Ivan Lexa. * Slovak Justice Minister Jan Carnogursky recalled the chief judges and vice judges of all district and regional courts, effective December 11. This weekend, during a judges' convention, secret elections will decide on the of new faces for these positions. The changes were made at the request of the Slovak Judges Association, which is also asking for the strengthening of judicial powers. * Deep financial crisis was the reason given for changes in the leadership of the East Slovak Ironworks (Vychodoslovenske zelezarny, VSZ). The extraordinary general meeting of VSZ Holding, held December 11, approved the changes in the supervisory board and board of directors. Chairman of the Board Julius Rezes, the son of Alexandr Rezes, and Supervisory Board Chairman Jan Smerek lost their positions. Alexandr Rezes still remains one of company's owners. Pavel Novotny, Veronika Macias/Sofia Karakeva ECONOMY Czech Savings Bank Gets Billion-Crown Assistance from State The government wants to resolve the serious financial problems of the Czech Savings Bank (Ceska sporitelna, CS), which has preliminary 1998 lossess of 10.5 billion crowns, with a series of measures adopted at the December 9 Cabinet meeting. The measures provide for the transfer of some of the bank's bad loans to the state-owned Consolidation Bank, which will also provide CS with a capital injection of 5.5 billion crowns in subordinated debt. The details of the transaction were completed at a meeting of the government commission with representatives of the two banks December 14. Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Mertlik after the meeting said, "The proposal begins with the transfer of high-risk loans in the amount of about 10 billion crowns." Then Consolidation Bank will absorb another 4 billion crowns of CS' write-offs, Mertlik said. Finance Minister Ivo Svoboda said, "It's aid to the shareholders, not to the bank or its management," and he added that after these short-term changes there will be systemic reforms which should prepare CS for privatization. The state still holds 45 per cent of the shares in the bank. Milan Smid/Michael Bluhm ECONOMY IN BRIEF * The minimum wage will rise to 3,250 crowns monthly from January 1. The increase of 600 crowns per month was approved by the government December 9. The minimum wage passing the poverty line should lead to increased motivation to find employment, according to the government. * Industrial production in October fell by 7.6 per cent from one year ago, according to figures released by the Czech Statistics Office December 10. Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid December 17) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 18.654 Belgium 100 BEF 87.555 Great Britain 1 GBP 50.305 Denmark 1 DKK 4.748 ECU 1 XEU 35.494 Finland 1 FIM 5.941 France 1 FRF 5.387 Ireland 1 IEP 44.864 Italy 1000 ITL 18.244 Japan 100 JPY 25.857 Canada 1 CAD 19.450 Luxemburg 100 LUF 87.555 IMF 1 XDR 42.165 Hungary 100 HUF 13.823 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.027 Norway 1 NOK 3.893 New Zealand 1 NZD 15.650 Poland 1 PLN 8.589 Portugal 100 PTE 17.624 Austria 1 ATS 2.568 Greece 100 GRD 10.771 Germany 1 DEM 18.060 Slovakia 100 SKK 83.451 Slovenia 100 SIT 18.822 Spain 100 ESP 21.232 Sweden 1 SEK 3.744 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.364 USA 1 USD 29.953 CULTURE Non-Traditional Performance of Ryba's Christmas Mass in State Opera During Advent the Czech Christmas Mass of Jakub Jan Ryba always receives considerable attention. This year it received a very unusual treatment from the State Opera in Prague. Director Ladislav Smoljak and designer Petr Nikl prepared the staging. "Do not expect that we made it into theater, that's impossible, we more tried to complete Ryba's music with a valuable visual counterpart," Smoljak said. Otherwise he works exclusively in the Jara Cimrman Theater in Prague. Thanks to Nikl's approach, the mass transforms to some sort of a church performance which combines the effect of light on water and transparent cloth. Conductor Jiri Kotouc prepared the musical performance with the State Opera Choir and Orchestra. Two Catholic and one Evangelical priest emphasize the piece's devotional meaning with their speeches between individual musical numbers. The set, which will have seven performances this year, should return to the State Opera stage. Petr Kupec/Mirek Langer Karel Gott's Christmas Concert Indisputably Karel Gott is one of the most popular Czech celebrities, so he was chosen to entertain Czech Television viewers Christmas day. The famed singer will perform with soprano Eva Urbanova. Urbanova sang in Tosca by Giovanni Puccini in prestigeous Metropolitan opera in New York in October this year. Besides several extracts from classical repertoire, there will also be popular Christmas melodies like Silent night. The concert was taped in Prague's Lucerna Hall December 8-9. Gott also performed with actor Miroslav Donutil and Italian singer Al Bano from San Remo. Zuzana Galova/Katerina Kolarova Favorite Czech Singers Awarded The awards ceremony of the Golden Nightingale competition (Zlaty slavik) took place in Prague's Karlin Theater December 12. Lucie Bila was declared the best female singer of the year. Daniel Hulka received the prize for best male singer and Olympic was voted the most popular music group. Singers Hana Zagorova and Vilem Cok hosted the ceremony, which was broadcast live. Bila was the top vote-getter. Karel Gott, who already owns 24 Nightingales, finished second. The new category, Jumper of the Year, is designed for musicians who went straight up the hit parade, this year the award was taken by the group Lunetic. A special award from the Czech section of the International Federation of the Record Industry was given to Bila and Gott for their bestselling album. A record-breaking number of people voted this year. Zuzana Galova/Zuzana Janeckova Ludek Marold in Prague's Municipal House The largest and most complete exhibit of Czech illustrator and painter Ludek Marold (1865-1898) was opened in the exposition halls of Prague's Municipal House (Obecni dum). Marold, best known as an illustrator, is also presented as a painter of monumental canvases. The exhibit is divided into three parts, the first of which displays Marold's early work, mainly illustrations for Prague and Munich magazines, but also his painting The Egg Market (Vajecny trh), which concluded his studies at the Academy of Art. The second part is devoted to Marold's Paris period, during which he portrays Paris' upper classes. Marold's rough drafts and sketches for his Battle of Lipany are on display in the foyer of the exposition halls. The original of the Battle of Lipany can be seen at the Prague Fairgrounds (Vystaviste). Zuzana Janeckova/Zuzana Janeckova SPORTS Czech Hockey Celebrates 90th Anniversary, Hasek Is Player of the Century The country was still the part of the Hapsburg monarchy when Czech hockey clubs' representatives met in the U Platyze restaurant in Prague. The Czech Hockey Union was founded here December 11 in 1908. It became a founding member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Exactly the same day 90 years later, people who devoted their lives to hockey met in the Atom Hotel in Ostrava. They commemorated especially the eight biggest successes of Czech hockey: seven gold medals from the World Championships and one gold medal from this year's Nagano Olympics. However, they did not forget other glorious moments, like the first win against Canada or dour games against the Soviet Union with a political background after 1968. Honor to 80 former players, who received commemorative certificates, was the first highlight of the evening. The list of personalities started with Frantisek Pacalt, who played for the national team 60 years ago, continued with 1947 World Championships winner Stanislav Konopasek and Augustin Bubnik, Josef Kus and Frantisek Vacovsky, who won the World Championships two years later, and ended with outstanding coaches Ludek Bukac and Ivan Hlinka. Hlinka led the Czech national team to the gold medal in Nagano. The evening came to a head by announcing the Player of the Century poll results. The youngest generation dominated in the poll: The present world's best goalkeeper Dominik Hasek won the voting, followed by another NHL star, Jaromir Jagr. Representative of ancient history Vlastimil Zabrodsky finished third. Two other players from the oldest generation fitted in first 10: Josef Malecek, who played between the wars, was ninth and Vlastimil Bubnik was sixth. The generation of the 60's and 70's was the most numerous: Vladimir Martinec finished fourth, Ivan Hlinka fifth, Jan Suchy seventh, Jiri Holik eighth and Vaclav Nedomansky tenth. The majority of the winners were not present at the celebration, but it did not hurt the atmosphere of the evening: Both top two players, Hasek and Jagr, starred in their NHL clubs that night, where they extended Czech hockey's glory. Jiri Wazik/Mirek Langer Skiers Win Points in Weekend World Cup Events Katerina Neumannova, silver and bronze medal winner in the Nagano Olympics, won a second World Cup event this year - the 5-kilometer classic race in Toblach in Northern Italy December 12. In the pursuit race she finished fifth after a fall with some 800 meters to go, but she still remains in first place in the World Cup overall standings. Biathloner Ivan Masarik surprised with his third place in the 20-kilometer race in Hochfilzen, Austria December 13. The fourth best finisher in the Nagano Olympic Games finished among the top three for the first time in his World Cup career thanks to absolutely precise shooting. In the 12.5-kilometer pursuit race he finished fifth December 12 and is second in the overall standings. Ladislav Rygl added another success in the nordic combined event in the United States' Steamboat Springs, finishing fifth, despite being 13th after the jump. Petr Novy/Mirek Langer Preparation for Baltica Cup: Three Goals Three Times Two matches against Canada and one against Slovakia tested the Czech hockey national team's form before the Baltica Cup in Moscow (formerly the Izvestiya Prize). After six matches without a win, the Czech Republic defeated Canada 3-1 (2-0, 0-1, 1-1) in Hradec Kralove December 11. Referees gave 25 penalties in the rough match. In the game against Slovakia December 12 in Vitkovice, the Czech team did not win for the first time against its former state-mate. Slovakia led from the first minute after Jan Pardavy's goal. However the Czechs managed to equalize in the second period thanks to Petr Tenkrat and Pavel Richter, and then again after Petr Kucharcik's shot. The match, which finished 3-3 (0-2, 3-1, 0-0), was played as part of the Czech Hockey Foundation's 90th anniversary celebration. Mlada Boleslav hosted the third Czech team match December 13. The Czech Republic again met the dogged Canadians. Miroslav Hlinka scored the first goal in the game (and his first goal in the national team) in the fifth minute and Viktor Ujcik added another. However, in the second period, the Canadians took the lead and Jan Hlavac tied the score in the last period. Czech Republic - Canada 3-3 (2-1, 0-2, 1-0). Tomas Kohout/Mirek Langer Los Angeles Kings' Owner Buys Part of Hockey Sparta, Coach Supler out The Anschutz Properties Company from the United States (APC), the majority owner of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, became the strategic partner of HC Sparta Praha December 15. Representatives of both companies refuse to release the exact amount of the share, saying only that APC will raise Sparta's basic capital from 70 million crowns to 103 million crowns. The agreement assigns the same rights in the management of the club to both sides. Sparta fans need not be afraid of losing the traditional name or colors of club. "Los Angeles can change its colors more easily," Kings' governor Robert Sanderman said. Also, the present management's will not change. According to Sanderman, both clubs are now looking for a way to make reciprocal player trades easier (players now can enter the NHL only through the draft). Training camp for the Kings in the Czech Republic or a Sparta visit to Los Angeles or a tour in the United States is not ruled out. By mutual agreement with the club, coach Julius Supler left Sparta's bench December 15. According to club management, only eighth place in the standings was the reason for his withdrawal, not the entrance of a new owner. Tomas Kohout/Mirek Langer Swimmers Win Three Medals in Short Pool European Championships Coach Josef Nalezeny's wish to win at least three medals in the European Championships in Sheffield was fulfilled exactly thanks to new European champion Hana Cerna and 16-year old Alena Nyvltova. The team recorded many other finals participations and finished sixth overall. Cerna won the gold medal in 400-meter individual medley ahead of Germany's Netzer and Spain's Becerro thanks to acceleration in the last crawl stage, breaking the Czech record with a time of four minutes and 36.03 seconds. "I can't still believe it, I never swam so fast and I never thought I could do it," Cerna said. Unexpectedly two other medals belong to Alena Nyvltova: she earned bronze medals from the 50- and 100-meter backstroke. The successful performance of the Czech national team is satisfying, because till now such quality competition had not occurred in the winter championships. Mirek Langer/Mirek Langer Pavel Nedved Wins Golden Ball as Czech Best Soccer Player Pavel Nedved won the journalists' Golden Ball poll with a small advantage of 57 points. The Lazio Rome and Czech national team midfield player was mentioned on all 87 ballots and 70 times he was in first place. Striker Vladimir Smicer of the French team RC Lens finished second and in third was Patrik Berger, who plays in Liverpool FC jersey, completing the success of players active in foreign leagues. Last year's winner, Jiri Nemec, fell after an average season to seventh place. The second year of the poll offered a new category: Red Card of the Year, where journalists noted the worst act of the year. Sparta Praha players and management "won" by a wide margin. The players were admonished for refusing to speak to the media, while the club's elite was reproached for misuse of sport during the election campaign in Slovakia, where players had to play in the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) jerseys. Nedved, born in Skalna near Cheb, succeeded in spite of many injuries which slowed his rocket start to the new season. He played in the UEFA Cup final and his team won the Italian Cup. Nedved was proclaimed the best midfielder of the Italian league and he is among the 50 candidates for the European Golden Ball. Now he is recovering from an operation on his right knee and is considering offers from the biggest European clubs. Vladimir Vorechovsky/Mirek Langer Jana Novotna Wins Golden Canary for Fourth Time Jana Novotna ruled the sixth year of the poll of the best Czech tennis player of the year. During the whole season she performed consistently well and her most successful year was crowned by two Wimbledon titles. She had only one rival: Petr Korda, who also managed to win a Grand Slam tournament (Australian Open in Melbourne). Novotna also won the trophy for the best woman player, while Korda was the best among the men. Neither Korda nor Novotna did take part in the celebration evening, because they are abroad. The votes of 98 coaches, officials, sponsors and journalists decided the winners of the poll. Petr Novy/Mirek Langer Golden Steering Wheel Poll Commemorates Zdenek Vojtech The Golden Steering Wheel, the most prestige Czech motor sport prize with a 23-year-long history, belongs to three European champions this year: Emil Triner (winner of the European Cup F2 class in rallysport), Otakar Kramsky (two-time European champion in the uphill races) and Jaroslav Kalny (rallycross division 1,400 European champion), who won the common category of autocross and rallycross. Only journalists participated in this poll for the first time (till this year the Golden Steering Wheel was a poll of readers of the monthly Svet motoru). The trophies were awarded December 10 in the Ambassador Hotel in Prague. By the number of trophies won, Tomas Enge with three wins was the most successful racer of the year. He won the Golden Steering Wheel for the circuit racers, the Speed Award for the fastest driver and the Act of the Year, because he was the first Czech who signed a contract with a Formula One team. In the beginning of the evening, all the guests commemorated outstanding racer Zdenek Vojtech, who died recently during a non-racing car accident in Liberec. Radan Dolejs/Mirek Langer WEATHER Whoever kept an eye on the weather last week was certainly not bored. It snowed so hard in Jablonec County that a state of emergency had to be declared. Although the roads were made accessible by December 9, not so many skiers are rushing to the resorts. Perhaps they are afraid their weekend could last till Christmas. The legendary London fog has relocated to northern Bohemia and Prague. There is no sign of Sherlock Holmes in the smog-shrouded landscape in, just some entirely non-literary individuals with coughing fits. As if that wasn't enough, everything started to thaw out December 13. In Moravia the nightly freeze then turned roads into ice rinks. Katerina Kolarova/Katerina Kolarova 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@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz To subscribe to CAROLINA news you send an e-mail message to the address 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@cesnet.cz: SIGNOFF CAR-ENG or SIGNOFF CAR-CS We ask you not to send automatic replies to our list. 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