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 THE CZECH REPUBLIC Charles University in Prague Faculty of Social Sciences 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 320, Friday, February 19, 1999. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (February 10 - February 17) Czech Republic to Enter NATO March 12 During the weekend the American Embassy informed Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan that April 12 he, along with representatives of Poland and Hungary, will submit ratification documents for the Czech Republic's accession to NATO. The only step remaining is for presidents of the candidate countries to sign them. Hungarian President Arpad Goncz has already signed, Czech President Vaclav Havel and his Polish counterpart Aleksander Kwasniewski will sign together during a live television broadcast February 26. Originally the new member countries were to have been accepted at the April summit in Washington celebrating the 50th anniversary of NATO's founding. The process was accelerated so the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary could participate in the preparation of documents to be approved at the summit. Czech Army representatives said the military is prepared for the earlier NATO expansion. Problems might appear with security clearances. One important part of the checks are psychological examinations, which experts cannot manage in time, because of the high number of applicants. Without this exam, however, the National Security Office cannot provide the clearance to work with classified information. The clearance question was on the agenda during the Prague visit of Klaus Naumann, chairman of the NATO Military Committee. Alena Smrzova/Sofia Karakeva Snow and Cold Weather Paralyze Czech Republic Ceaseless snowing caused serious problems over the weekend. The most afflicted area was the northeast region of the country, particularly Bruntal and Jesenik counties. Blocked roads cut off from civilization almost 2,000 people in the regions of Moravsky Beroun and Rymarov. In many areas the snow reached three meters/nine and a half feet. Army vehicles were used to remove snow, and by February 14 most roads were negotiable. Three people in the Giant Mountains (Krkonose) lost their lives because of the weekend weather. A married couple, both 48, disregarded the Mountain Service warning went skiing February 12. In minimum visibility, with a temperature of -12 degrees Celsius/11 degrees Fahrenheit and wind speed of 144kmh/90mph they fell off the marked path and were found dead February 13. Another woman, 25, was heading from Harrachov to Benecko but could not overcome the conditions. Alena Mrzova/Sofia Karakeva Parliament Approves Lottery Amendment Deputies February 11 approved amendments to the Lottery Act. The European Union, which protested against the act, was displeased that foreign companies could not arrange consumer give-aways and similar promotions in the Czech Republic. Parliament removed this ban under the condition of an annual maximum of 200,000 crowns in prizes for one company. The limit is to protect Czech companies. Most companies that would like to use this commercial tactic are not enthused with the 200,000-crown limit. Companies claim it is very difficult to arrange a nationwide giveaway of less than 200,000 crowns. Foreign casino owners will have to obtain special permits from the Finance Ministry. Pavel Sladky/Sofia Karakeva Deputies Approve Information Act Parliament January 10 approved the Senate bill on free access to information. It means that from the year 2000 citizens will more easily be able to monitor the process of public administration. According to Michael Zantovsky, author of the bill, it is important not only that it will be possible to request information, but above all that the information will be provided. The new law has many opponents, mainly from the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and the Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL). Critics say they see no advantages for citizens, on the contrary, they believe that the obligation to provide information will only burden state offices. They also are not sure of the line between public information and classified information. Parliament will determine the bill's fate within 30 days. Considering ODS and KDU-CSL have a majority in the Senate, it is not assured that the bill will be passed. Alena Smrzova/Sofia Karakeva Deputies Agree with Increase in Sick Pay The Chamber of Deputies February 10 passed an amendment to health insurance laws. If the law is passed by the Senate, the daily maximum sick pay will be 486 crowns instead of the current 186 crowns. Today, an employee out sick receives from the state a maximum of 135 crowns the first three days and 186 crowns for further days. As one of the authors of the change, Senator Milan Stech of the ruling Social Democrats, said maximum monthly sick pay could rise from the current 5,424 crowns to 9,421 crowns. "Simply put, today it pays to be sick up to a monthly wage of about 8,000 crowns. The change in the law moves the amount up to 11,000 (about the current average wage in the Czech Republic)," said Civic Democratic Party deputy Miroslav Ouzky to daily Lidove noviny. The novel does not resolve the problem of people with higher wages. Sick pay should continue to rise to the equivalent of a monthly salary of 16,000 crowns, but will be the same for everyone earning more. Linda Kholova/Jakub Jirovec FROM SLOVAKIA Slovak Information Service Tried to Complicate Czech NATO Membership Slovak Information Service (Slovenska informacna sluzba, SIS) wanted to complicate the Czech Republic's accession into NATO in previous years. New SIS Director Vladimir Mitra admitted the information during a closed session of the Slovak National Assembly February 12, where he presented a classified report about SIS activities under former Premier Vladimir Meciar. Some information from the report was leaked three days later. Under former SIS Director Ivan Lexa, a close friend of Meciar, SIS supposedly organized racist violence and scandals involving the Czech Security Information Service (Bezpecnostni informacni sluzba, BIS) in the Czech Republic. SIS probably pursued five secret operations planned to destabilize neighboring countries. The Neutron operation was intended to produce dissent about NATO membership among Czech citizens. Active Steps, part of the Dezo operation, supposedly intended to arouse racist and neo-facist feelings in the Czech Republic. Operation East (Vychod) concentrated on Slovaks and tried to get them to come back under Russian influence. The aim of the Omega operation was to produce the impression that Hungary is the United States' favorite country in the region. Operation Bridge (Most) tried to incite Austrian mistrust of Germany. These facts, published in the Czech daily MF DNES, were confirmed by a Slovak assemblyman. The Slovak Government will probably discuss a formal apology to the Czech Republic for these activities. Mitra's report also shows that SIS committed many crimes in the past and worked directly with bosses of the Slovak underworld. Two former SIS agents have been taken into custody and accused of kidnapping the son of former President Michal Kovac. Lexa is now protected by parliamentary immunity, which, however, could be removed. Lenka Nejezchlebova/Jakub Jirovec ECONOMY Gregr's Plan for Industrial Revitalization Must Be Redone The Government's Economic Council will recommend the Government to redo Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr plan to revitalize industry. The council will primarily suggest the plan be reworked not by Gregr but by a new group of the deputy prime ministers for the economic and social policies, the chairman of the National Property Fund, ministers of trade, finance, regional development and possibly the governor of the Czech National Bank. The Economic Council criticizes the plan for its methods of financing, the role of company owners, the mechanisms for entering the program, bank participation, the absence of time restrictions for assistance and international credibility. Gregr's plan to revitalize industry projected financial aid for 32 selected corporations, assuming the owners would temporarily give up their rights and hand over management of the companies to managers appointed by the state. Radan Dolejs/Denisa Vitkova Havel Names New CNB Banking Council Members Effective February 13, President Vaclav Havel named for a term of six years the new members of the Czech National Bank's Banking Council. Jan Vit, Pavel Kysilka, Jiri Pospisil and Ota Kaftan were replaced by Zdenek Tuma, Oldrich Dedek, Pavel Stepanek and Pavel Racocha. The president said he chose the new members after research among economists, analysts and experts on the Czech economic situation. Linda Kholova/Denisa Vitkova Chemapol Group Appeals January Bankruptcy Verdict Radim Masny, co-owner of 47 per cent shares of Chemapol Group, which February 10 appealed its being placed in bankruptcy (see Carolina 318), said Chemapol Group will submit the results of negotiations with creditors showing the company has settled its debts. Shareholders' efforts to continue Chemapol's activities was also visible in last week's change of management. The new board and the bankruptcy administrator, said new Chairman Vitezslav Grygar, have been preparing an alternative development plan for the company and are trying to maintain the company's market position. Grygar said Chemapol Group is, in spite of difficulties paying back its loans and its massive debts, still a functioning corporation. Lenka Nejezchlebova/Denisa Vitkova Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid February 19) ------------------------------------------------------------ 1 EUR = 38.085 CZK country currency CZK ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 21.473 Great Britain 1 GBP 55.338 Denmark 1 DKK 5.121 Japan 100 JPY 28.280 Canada 1 CAD 22.628 IMF 1 XDR 46.686 Hungary 100 HUF 15.106 Norway 1 NOK 4.345 New Zealand 1 NZD 18.243 Poland 1 PLN 8.871 Greece 100 GRD 11.808 Slovakia 100 SKK 88.433 Slovenia 100 SIT 20.130 Sweden 1 SEK 4.257 Switzerland 1 CHF 23.806 USA 1 USD 33.840 Exchange Rates of countries particpating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) country currency CZK ----------------------------------------- Germany 1 DEM 19.473 Belgium 100 BEF 94.410 Finland 1 FIM 6.405 France 1 FRF 5.806 Ireland 1 IEP 48.358 Italy 1000 ITL 19.669 Luxemburg 100 LUF 94.410 Netherlands 1 NLG 17.282 Portugal 100 PTE 18.997 Austria 1 ATS 2.768 Spain 100 ESP 22.890 CULTURE Musical Rusalka Meets with Controversial Response The musical version of Antonin Dvorak's opera Rusalka was presented at the February 14 gala premiere in the new musical theater Millenium. The theater was built as the new site for musical productions at Prague's Holesovice Market, a former slaughterhouse area. The theater, with a circular auditorium, was designed by architect Jaromir Pizinger, the husband of Rusalka leading lady Bara Basikova and the set designer of the musical. The original Dvorak compositions were rearranged and completed with other songs written by Michal Prostejovsky (libretto) and Zdenek John (score). The Rusalka musical was directed by Jozef Bednarik, well known for his past operas (Romeo and Juliet, Il Turco in Italy) and musical (Dracula) productions. Costumes were designed by Oscar-winner (Amadeus) Theodor Pistek. In addition to Basikova and Kamil Strihavka, who rose to musical stardom in the recent, successful production of Jesus Christ Superstar, other music and pop-music celebrities are performing in the Rusalka production, including Petr Muk, Pavla Kapitanova, and Yvonne Prenosilova. The first reviews in the Czech media praised the dynamic visual experience, full of motion (choreography Libor Vaculik) and light effects, but were rather reserved as to the music's performance. "Rusalka is a feast rather for the eyes than for the ears," wrote the daily MF DNES. Lovers of Dvorak's music unconditionally rejected the commercial exploitation of Rusalka before the premiere, claiming the musical version denigrates the musical value of the opera. Linda Kholova/Milan Smid Milan Knazko in Art Opens Festival of Slovak Theater Bratislava's Studio S opened Prague's Festival of Slovak Theater, staging the play Art February 13. Slovak Culture Minister Milan Knazko, together with actors Milan Lasica and Marian Labuda, played to a full house in Prague's Theater without Balustrades, in a production of the play Art directed by Milan Porubjak. Prague thespians, Prime Minister Milos Zeman and Czech Culture Minister Pavel Dostal were in the audience. Dealing with human morals, relationships and the ability to subsume one's ego, the play is now among the world's most frequently staged. Yasmina Reza's play met with a positive response in Prague. Linda Kohlova/Zuzana Janeckova CULTURE IN BRIEF * Nominations for the 1998 Czech Lion (Cesky lev) film prizes were announced in Prague's Blanik Theater February 10. The vote of Czech Film and Television Academy members gave the largest number of nominations - 13 altogether - to the movie Sekal Must Die (Je treba zabit Sekala), which also received the prize of film critics. Sekal Must Die will compete in category Film of the Year against In the Rye (Co chytnes v zite) and The Bed (Postel). The Czech Lions will be awarded live February 27. * The Czech Actors Association announced the names of 20 theater actors nominated for the Thalie prize. Among the nominees are former winners like actress Zdena Herfortova, singer Eva Drizgova and ballet dancer Jan Kadlec. The awards ceremony will be held in the National Theater March 27. * An exhibit of the works of Czech sculptor Ladislav Zivr opened in the Fine Arts Museum in Prague February 10. Zivr, one of the significant Czech artists of the 20th century, was influenced by cubism, surrealism and later by the artistic movement Group 42. His love of nature is documented by his collection of natural artefacts, including pieces of rocks and precious stones. Linda Kholova/Katerina Kolarova SPORTS Swedish Hockey Games Not Successful for Czech Republic After the win over Russia (see Carolina 319), the remaining games of the Swedish Hockey Games turned out badly for the Czech national team. A draw with Sweden and losses to Finland and Canada were good enough for fourth place. Finland won the Games thanks to its win over Sweden, which took first place in the Euro Hockey Tour. The Czech team finished third in the Tour. Czech Republic - Finland 2-3. Against the opponent's tough play, the Czech team managed to play well only at the end of the game, when it reduced the Finns' three-goal lead on Viktor Ujcik and Martin Prochazka's goals. Czech Republic - Canada 0-1. A thrilling game with great saves by both goalkeepers was decided by the Canadians' stronger will and fighting spirit. Ten minutes before the end of the game Canada scored after a mistake by the Czech defense. Czech Republic - Sweden 1-1. The best Czech performance occurred in the last game. Ujcik scored in the ninth minute, but Sweden tied in the 22nd. All the games were played without using the senseless rule, tested in the first round of the tournament, prohibiting substitutions when time was stopped. Pavel Sladky/Mirek Langer SPORTS IN BRIEF * The Czech national alpine-skiing team finished the World Championships in Vail with only one finish in the top 20 (Jan Holicky 20th in the combined). * The World Biathlon Championships in Kontiolahti, Finland, paralyzed by frost (temperatures below minus 20 degrees Celsius/minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit caused changes in the schedule and the cancellation of two races), finished in disappointment for the Czech team. Zdenek Vitek's 23rd place and an 11th place for the women's relay were its best results. * Jakub Suchacek won the ski-jumping national championship on both the K-90 and K-120 hills and got his third medal as part of Liberec's team. Ladislav Rygl is new Czech champion in nordic combined. * The Czech table-tennis national team defeated Denmark's men's team 4-1 February 14 and has to win only two points in the rematch to advance to the European League superdivision. The team has failed to advance in the last six years. * The Usti nad Labem men's volleyball team defeated the favored Italian squad Sisley Treviso 3-0 in the sixth round of the Champions League February 16, although Usti has no chance to advance from the group. * A majority of the soccer league clubs finished their preparation matches for the spring session of the league season. Groundskeepers are having problems with preparing the turf; in spite of the winter weather, the spring session should begin February 21. The last preseason games mostly featured second-league opponents and were close. Pavel Sladky/Mirek Langer English version edited by Michael Bluhm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with attribution to CAROLINA. Subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated. 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