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 326, Thursday, April 1, 1999. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (March 24 - March 31) Czech Politicians Skeptical about Attack on Yugoslavia A few days after the Czech Republic became a member of NATO March 12, the operation in Yugoslavia began. The political leaders of the Czech Republic March 24 sent Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic a telegram, in which they called on him to return to the negotiating table. Czech President Vaclav Havel, Senate Chairwoman Libuse Benesova (Civic Democratic Party, ODS), Parliament Chairman Vaclav Klaus (ODS) and Prime Minister Milos Zeman (Social Democrat, CSSD) signed the telegram. Havel and Senate Vice Chairman Petr Pithart (Christian Democrats) spoke in favor of the air raids. "After the Serbian side refused to sign the peace treaty there was no other way out," said Havel to the Czech daily Lidove noviny. Havel also gave assurances that the Czech Republic will fulfill its obligations as a NATO member. Although the Government in its statement (see Carolina 325) said NATO had decided for the operation before the Czech Republic was a NATO member, Foreign Minister Jan Kavan agreed on the night March 19-20 with the attacks after consulting Zeman. Zeman said he believes the attacks on Yugoslavia strengthen Milosevic's position. Zeman wants to maintain good relations with Yugoslavia and to uphold the Czech Republic's NATO obligations, but refuses to play the role of a "primitive troglodyte who believes everything can be solved with bombs." Kavan said he hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. "Full responsibility falls on his (Milosevic's) head," said Kavan to the Czech daily Lidove noviny. Deep disappointment with the use of force was expressed by Klaus, who said not all the possibilities of reaching a peace settlement were used. UN special envoy for human rights in the former Yugoslavia Jiri Dienstbier, the first Czechoslovak foreign minister after the fall of communism, said he considers the bombing in Yugoslavia a mistake similar to the one made in Vietnam. "I am afraid that the bombing will not solve anything. The last remnants of democratic authority in Yugoslavia will be crushed and the Yugoslavian army will clean out Kosovo. And great cruelty might occur," Dienstbier said to the Czech daily MF DNES March 25. The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) categorically condemned the operation. "I consider it a gross breach of international conventions, foremost in relation to the UN Security Council," said KSCM Chairman Miroslav Grebenicek to the Czech daily Lidove noviny. The opinions of ODS and CSSD members raised consternation among experts. Sociologist Ivan Gabal criticizes particularly Klaus, whom he told to choose between NATO General Secretary Javier Solana and Milosevic. "Our political leaders should simply realize that we are no longer a member of the Warsaw Pact, but a country that entered NATO," said Gabala to the Czech daily MF DNES. Jan Urban, editor-in-chief of Transitions, a magazine about the former communist countries, said Czechs should be ashamed by the cowardly reaction of their Government and Klaus. Urban worked as a journalist in the war in Bosnia and published a book about it in Czech. Marketa Lajdova and Ondrej Fer/Sofia Karakeva Czech Polls Show Opposition to NATO Operation Two public opinion polls were taken on the Yugoslavian crisis March 25. Both showed the opinions of the Czech public are ambiguous but tend toward the negative. The Factum agency's poll found that almost half (48 per cent) of the Czech respondents are against the military operation. About 36 per cent agreed with the air raids. The rest did not have a clear opinion. Jan Herzmann, director of the Factum agency, said he believes the high percentage of negative opinions is due to the fact that the Yugoslavian operation does not have the support of the UN Security Council and reflects worries about Russia's reaction. The STEM agency also found negative reactions to the attack. According to its poll, almost one-quarter of respondents are undecided. About 35 per cent were in favor of the NATO operation, against it were 40 per cent. Responses to the question whether the Czech Republic should do more than send a field hospital were mostly positive. Almost 62 per cent fear that the Kosovo could lead to a military conflict affecting the Czech Republic, most of them older than 55 and without higher education. Tomas Polacek/Sofia Karakeva Protests in Czech Republic against NATO Attack Demonstrations and petitions against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) attack on Yugoslavia emerged also in the Czech Republic, most organized by the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM). Demonstrators March 27 on Prague's Wenceslas Square demanded a halt to the bombing of Yugoslavia, the dissolution of NATO and the resignation of President Vaclav Havel. The demonstration was attended by all members of the Communist Party's (KSCM) Central Committee, its Parliament deputies, senators and supporters, estimated at 3,000 to 4,000 by organizers. Some demonstrators later set up at the American Embassy and laid siege with eggs. They broke one window, but police did not intervene. Other KSCM demonstrations took place in Ostrava and Brno. During the weekend Liberec Communists organized a petition against NATO and collected several hundred signatures. About 100 Serbians March 25 organized a protest march through Prague and signed a petition against NATO in front of the American Embassy. Another petition was organized by the neo-fascist Republicans. They say they found 10 persons ready to be a living shield in Yugoslavia. Jan Mates/Jakub Jirovec One Albanian Killed during Prague Demonstration A 39-year-old Albanian from Kosovo was shot during a demonstration against violence in Kosovo on Prague's Peace Square (Namesti Miru) March 29. The killer, also a Kosovo Albanian, was immediately arrested by the police. According to policemen, the motive was not political but a dispute between two families from the same town. The demonstration was organized by the Tolerance civic association, Czech Television's Man in Distress Foundation, the Helsinki Civic Assembly and the Czech Helsinki Committee. About 200 people, mostly Kosovo Albanians, joined the meeting. Participants attacked a man holding a banner with "My heart beats for Serbians" and a man holding a picture of a bomb with a cross through it. Jan Mates/Jakub Jirovec NEWS IN BRIEF * The Czech Government sent 60,000 USD to the account of the Red Cross and UN High Commission for Refugees. The money was given to help refugees from Kosovo in Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro. "For now it's only a first step. The Government is ready and is continuously following the situation and we will react adequately," said Deputy Prime Minister Egon Lansky to the daily Hospodarske noviny March 31. * The expert commission for relations between the state and the church, the Culture Ministry's second advisory body on this issue, should start its work soon. Culture Minister Pavel Dostal met March 28 with the head of the Czech Catholic church, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, the head of Evangelical church and Chairman of the Ecumenical Council of Churches Pavel Smetana, and Tomas Kraus, secretary of the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic. According to spokesman of the Catholic Bishops Conference Daniel Herman, they agreed on the statute of the commission and its standing in relation to the existing Government-appointed commission (for details see Carolina 322). * About 300 young people gathered in downtown Prague March 27 to protest against tests performed on animals, against the abuse of animals in circuses and against the breeding of pigs and cattle in conveyor-belt farms. Those attending the peaceful demonstration distributed leaflets denouncing the consumption lifestyle. * The historic Carolinum buildings, seat of Charles University in Prague, were opened to the public on the weekend of March 27-28. The Open Door Days were used by 3,000 visitors, who had the opportunity not only to see rooms usually closed to the public but also to visit the exhibition on the history of the university since its founding April 7, 1348. Petr Kupec, Veronica Macias, Lenka Nejezchlebova/Jakub Jirovec FROM SLOVAKIA Assemblymen Uphold Deficit Budget The Slovak National Assembly passed March 26 the new budget bill after four days of debate. Despite an attempt by the opposition parties to return the bill to the Cabinet for further work, the Assembly adopted only minor amendments to the bill and required the Government to adopt some additional economic and social measures established by the Party of the Democratic Left (SDL) as a precondition for supporting the budget bill. The 1999 state revenues shall be 179.9 billion Slovak crowns while expenses are projected to be 194.4 billion Slovak crowns. Slovak Premier Mikulas Dzurinda said he was sure that the deficit budget, for all the risk factors involved, is the first step on to road toward order in public finances and the macroeconomic stability of the country. Alena Smrzova/Milan Smid Massacre in Dunajska Streda Connected to Minister Ducky's Murder? Police investigation revealed that the biggest homicide in the Slovak history was committed by contract killers for a price of 1 million USD, said Slovak Interior Minister Ladislav Pittner to the Czech daily Slovo. Three masked men killed 10 mobsters in the Fontana restuarant in Dunajska Streda March 25, and according to one police theory the massacre was committed by foreigners, probably Ukrainians, connected to the underworld in Hungary and the Czech Republic. Pittner also said "two groups of Ukrainian mafia are active in Slovakia," and one of them allegedly participated in the January 11 murder of Jan Ducky, former economy minister in Premier Vladimir Meciar's Cabinet (see Carolina 315). Sasa Jokic/Milan Smid ECONOMY Economic Council Gives Support to Mertlik's Revitalization Plan The Government Economic Council, the Cabinet's official economic advisory organ, supported a program to revitalize industrial firms drawn up by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy Pavel Mertlik, and, with proposals for its amendment, recommended the government adopt it. The government discussed two revitalization proposals March 29 - Mertlik's and a proposal presented by Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr. The Social Democrat's (CSSD) Parliamentary Club had approved Gregr's plan, but the Economic Council returned it for revision. The Government made its decision March 31. The revitalization plan, a combination of both proposals, should be finished within 14 days by a commission formed of Mertlik, Gregr, Minister for Local Development Jaromir Cisar, Justice Minister Otakar Motejl and Finance Minister Ivo, who will chair the commission. Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova Drevic Appeal - Salvation of the Czech Economy or Empty Words? Representatives of banks, companies, schools and the press presented a document called the Drevic Appeal, which contains a complex proposal of measures to resuscitate the Czech economy, and will lobby for public and state support. The appeal, published March 25, aims to draw attention to the ecomomy's problems and to show possible solutions. Appeal initiators consider the obstacles to economic growth to be: incompetent owners and law-breaking owners, the slowness of state authorities and justice, the weak position of creditors, delays in privatization, the weak capital market and the unsustainable pension system. Economists react to the document positively, but they are somewhat skeptical about its realization. Some analysts are afraid the proposal might remain only on paper. Prime Minister Milos Zeman, according to the March 25 edition of daily Hospodarske noviny, said he is skeptical of the appeal, if only because of the fact that it was in part prepared by people who share some of the blame for the economic crisis. Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid April 1) ------------------------------------------------------------ 1 EUR = 38.390 country currency CZK ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 22.574 Great Britain 1 GBP 57.720 Denmark 1 DKK 5.164 Japan 100 JPY 29.998 Canada 1 CAD 23.172 IMF 1 XDR 48.513 Hungary 100 HUF 15.070 Norway 1 NOK 4.600 New Zealand 1 NZD 19.105 Poland 1 PLN 8.954 Greece 100 GRD 11.782 Slovakia 100 SKK 85.397 Slovenia 100 SIT 20.145 Sweden 1 SEK 4.319 Switzerland 1 CHF 24.045 USA 1 USD 35.800 Exchange Rates of countries particpating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) country currency CZK ----------------------------------------- Germany 1 DEM 19.628 Belgium 100 BEF 95.166 Finland 1 FIM 6.457 France 1 FRF 5.853 Ireland 1 IEP 48.745 Italy 1000 ITL 19.827 Luxemburg 100 LUF 95.166 Netherlands 1 NLG 17.421 Portugal 100 PTE 19.149 Austria 1 ATS 2.790 Spain 100 ESP 23.073 CULTURE Frantisek Nemec and Iva Janzurova Receive Thalia Prizes On International Theater Day March 24, the Actor's Association awarded its Thalia prizes to the best Czech theater performers of 1998. The awards ceremony, hosted by Boris Rosner, took place in the historic National Theater. The prizes were presented by last year's Thalia laureates. First lady Dagmar Havlova presented the prize for lifetime achievement to Jirina Jiraskova. The staging Isadora received two Thalias in the ballet, pantomime and contemporary dance category for female and male performance. National Theater actors Frantisek Nemec and Iva Janzurova were awarded for their dramatic work. Eva Drizgova-Jirusova, from the National Theater of Ostrava, was the winner in the female opera performance category, Vladimir Chmelo took home the Thalia for male opera performance of the year. The Thalia for musicals belongs to Petra Jungmannova for her performance in Babylon in Ostrava. Ladislav Zupanic of the Karlin Musical Theater won the Thalia for male operetta and musical performance, Theater pod Palmovkou's Jiri Langmajer won the special Thalia for actors under 33 for his role as Caligula. The Thalia ceremony was not marked only by good manners but the atmosphere was elevated thanks to the good humor of Czech actors. Ivo Zidek presented the Thalia prize to Milada Subrtova, recalling how many times he had declared his love to her in Dvorak's Rusalka. A special Thalia prize was given to Tomas Topfer and Eliska Balzerova for resurrecting the Na Fidlovacce Theater. Pavel Sladky/Zuzana Janeckova SPORTS Soccer Team Finishes First Half of Euro 2000 Qualification Undefeated After two games last week, the Czech national soccer team is close to the Euro 2000 finals. It has not lost a point in the qualification round and after five wins, it leads the standings of the ninth group. Lithuania started the game in Teplice March 27 without evident fear of the group leader, Ivanauskas' scoring chance was stopped by defender Repka, who took a yellow card. The Czechs fortunately managed to score soon after Patrik Berger's free kick and Michal Hornak's header in the 10th minute. The rest of the first half and the beginning of the second, however, disappointed the crowd. Everyday charges through the packed center of the defense and individual play at the expense of teamwork was not good enough for Lithuania's courageous play. Any possible drama was cut short in the 72th minute, when substitute Jan Koller passed to Pavel Nedved, who was fouled in the box by defender Skarbalius. Berger scored on the penalty kick, deciding the match. The rest of the game was played to the applause of the crowd. A much harder test (although a game they did not need to win) awaited the Czechs March 31 in Glasgow. The Czechs' expected toughest opponent in the fight to advance, Scotland, pressed the guests to their goal and goalkeeper Srnicek had to make some good saves. As soon as the Scottish pressure subsided, Nedved played a free kick off the head of Matt Elliot into the Scottish net. Nine minutes later, Berger assisted Vladimir Smicer for the Czechs' second goal. After the break, insurance goals could have come from chances by Lokvenc and Berger, but after a long throw-in, Eoin Jess scored in the 68th minute. Poor shooting prevented Scotland from tying the match, leaving the Czechs with a 2-1 victory, their first in Scotland after four losses by teams from the former Czechoslovakia. Jirka Wazik, Vladimir Vorechovsky, Mirek Langer/Mirek Langer Hockey Extraleague: Vsetin, Sparta, Zlin and Trinec to Semifinals In the semifinals of the top hockey league in the Czech Republic, Trinec will meet Zlin, which advanced with a sweep over Pardubice. In the second series, Sparta will meet four-time reigning champion Vsetin. Vsetin complicated its advance in the third game of its first-round series against Vitkovice, losing on the road 2-4. In the next game it managed to win 3-1 and advanced. Vsetin star Martin Prochazka scored 3 goals and 2 assists in the series. The games between Plzen and Trinec were the most dramatic. After two matches in Trinec, the series moved to western Bohemia tied at 1-1. Plzen then won 3-2 and took a 2-1 lead in the series. In the fourth game Plzen was disappointed by the performance of its star, goalkeeper Dusan Salficky, who was replaced after allowing three goals. Trinec won 6-3 and tied the series at 2-2. The last game was played in Trinec, which took advantage of its home crowd and with a 4-1 win advanced to the semifinals. Also the tournament began for the last place in the next year's extraleague, in which the last-place team of this year's extraleague, Jihlava, meets Znojmo, the winner of the First DZ League. Jihlava lost both games on its own ice, 1-6 and 2-3 in overtime. Znojmo now needs to win two more games in the best-of-seven series. Stepan Etrych/Mirek Langer Sparta Praha Plays in Hockey Extraleague's Playoffs for Last Time An unprecedented change awaits hockey's Sparta Praha before next season. According to a declaration from club co-owner Antonin Charouz, announced to journalists April 1, Sparta will participate in the new league organized by the management of the NHL. That will end its participation in the Czech extraleague, meaning Sparta's games in the ongoing extraleague playoffs should be its last there for a long time. The first information about the plan for NHL European expansion was published in the daily MF DNES March 5-6. Charouz denied the report and labeled the author of the article, Ivan Hamsik, a liar. Eight European cities will host teams in the European NHL. Teams from Canada and the United States will travel to Europe for longer stays, during which they will meet the European elite several times. "We see only one chance to play a worthy role in such prestigious competition - by purchasing the best Czech players. Sparta's co-owners from Los Angeles have enough money to buy even Vsetin," Charouz said, in reference to the four-time defending extraleague champions. According to unofficial information, the Prague team should change its name to the Prague Tigers. Vladimir Vorechovsky, Jirka Wazik/Mirek Langer SPORTS IN BRIEF * In its fifth qualification game for the Sydney Olympics in 2000, the Czech national under-21 soccer team defeated Scotland 1-0 on Libor Sionko's goal. The team has not allowed a goal since the beginning of the qualification round and leads the ninth group's standings, six points ahead of Lithuania. * Hockey player Robert Reichel, the captain of the Czechs' World Championships winner in Vienna, was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes by the New York Islanders. He will not be able to help the Czech national team during the World Championships in Norway. * Tennis player Ivan Lendl, 39, the best male player in Czech history, announced his intention to return to the ATP Tour. He wants to prevent Pete Sampras from breaking his record for the number of the weeks spent atop the ATP rankings. Lendl, who ended his career five years ago, said he believes he will play as well as he ever did. * The figure skating World Championships in Helsinki finished without marked success for the Czech Republic. Katerina Berankova and Otto Dlabola finished 12th in the pairs competition, the best Czech result. Josef Koukolicek/Mirek Langer WEATHER A heatwave hit the Czech Republic last week. Some people had to be taken to hospital because of the so-called spring syndrome. The thermometer rose to an incredible temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius/68 degrees Fahrenheit. Mainly elderly people could not cope with the temperatures shocks. The political party Retirees for Life Security drew attention to itself by arranging a demonstration, where the return of past good winter times was demanded. "We had better living standards under communism. We never had to deal with change," sighed deeply one of the pensioners. The owners of swimming pools made a profit on the change of weather. Particulary outdoor pools were crowded with people over the weekend. "It is absolutely great," said one swimming instructor. I doubt that he will be satisfied forever. There should be a radical change in the weather next week. No one knows what can be expected. Tradition holds that the April weather is just unpredictable. Katerina Kolarova/Katerina Kolarova P.S. Dear Readers, perhaps you realised that some of our articles are little bit confusing. We are deeply sorry. The reason is that we decided to enter the competition for The Baby of the Year 2000, which was announced by the daily Blesk and TV NOVA. The winner has to give birth to a baby right after the midnight January 1, 2000. According to specialists, sex experts and astrologers, the ideal date of conception is now!!!!!! Carolina staff is working very hard to win. We are very sorry, we promise this will not happen again. To be clear: - there was really nice weather in Prague last weekend, but no one demonstrated or went swimming (we think), - the baby competition is for real, but we think no one from the staff has joined the competition - the news of the ice hockey club Sparta Praha joining the NHL was prepared specially for this issue, as was the brief about Ivan Lendl's return. We were trying to amuse you with some April Fool's humor. We'd like to thank you for your understanding and sense of humor. Katerina Kolarova and Tomas Kohout/Katerina Kolarova 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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