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 330, Friday, April 30, 1999. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (April 21 - April 28) Czech Soldiers Will Not Fight in Yugoslavia The Czech Army will enter Yugoslavia only as part of international peace forces, and definitely not as part of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) fighting forces. This standpoint of the Czech Government was presented by Foreign Minister Jan Kavan at the NATO's 50th anniversary summit, which took place April 24 in Washington. The meeting was also attended by President Vaclav Havel, Defense Minister Vladimir Vetchy and Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus. The Czech Government is ready to consider certain support for a ground operation, such as assisting with the evacuation of Kosovo Albanians' evacuation or to deliver food and medical supplies to refugees in the mountains. Havel promised that Czech soldiers would be at NATO's disposal for a Yugoslavia ground operation. Later he qualified his words and said that they will only participate in a peace operation. Havel later criticized the Government's position. "From the standpoint of the Czech future, I consider it very embarrassing that, before a ground operation begins, our Government declares we will not participate," said Havel in Minneapolis. The Czech Republic's reputation at the NATO summit was saved thanks mainly to Havel. One compliment for Havel was the seating plan at the anniversary dinner. Havel, with Bill Clinton and Javier Solana, sat at the head of the table. Marketa Kaclova/Jakub Jirovec Prime Minister Zeman Suggests Political Solution to Kosovo Crisis The three main keys to peace in Kosovo are Russian involvement, Kosovo Liberation Army disarmament and UN Security Council guarantees, said Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman April 26 to the Parliamentary Assembly of European Council deputies in Strasbourg. Zeman also supported the peace plan of German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. "There should be no ideological barriers, because Russia is probably the only country able to get Milosevic to agree with international forces in Kosovo," said Zeman in the daily Pravo. Zeman also said that, during his negotiations in Russia, Premier Yevgeny Primakov and Foreign Minister Ivanov said they are not against cooperation with NATO. Zeman then repeated that the Czech Government is against a ground operation and refuses to dispatch the Czech army to Kosovo. Petr Kupec/Jakub Jirovec Czech Republic Helps Kosovo Refugees As refugee camps in Albania overflow, the Czech Republic joins the countries trying to give temporary asylum to refugees. April 28 a special aircraft with the first group of 115 refugees landed at the Ostrava-Mosnov Airport. The Interior Ministry is going to send another two airplanes to Macedonia next week. The Czech Republic expects about 300 Albanians from Kosovo, foremost from at-risk groups (children, the ill and the elderly). The Government promised to provide space for about 700 people, another 400 places should remain free for refugees who arrive independently. The refugees will first enter a camp in Vysni Lhoty in Frydek-Mistek County for medical inspection. Then they will be moved to centers throughout the country, though primarily in Moravia. Kosovo Albanians will not have to apply for asylum until the end of the year. The Czech Republic will provide accommodation, medical care and some money. Adults can work, children will have to go to school. Bank accounts have also been established to receive financial contributions. Marketa Lajdova/Jan Martinek Czech Military Hospital Heading for Albania The train with the first part of the military field hospital set out from Kralupy nad Vltavou April 26. The hospital will join the humanitarian efforts of NATO to help Kosovo refugees. Twenty-four railway carriages with Tatra military trucks loaded with containers of medical supplies and hospital equipment are heading for the Balkans. The journey will go through Slovakia, Hungary and Croatia to Slovenian port of Koper, then by sea to the Albanian port of Drac. Sixteen doctors and 100 support personnel should arrive May 5. Linda Kholova/Jan Martinek Czechs and Austrians Protest against Temelin The Czech-Austrian Anti-Nuclear Committee organized a demonstration against the completion and operation of the Temelin nuclear power station April 25 near Temelin. The organizers acquainted the demonstrators with alternatives to nuclear power and unveiled a statue to atomic energy. Ecologists from the Rainbow Movement (Hnuti Duha) protested against Temelin in Prague April 26. Mountain climbers suspended from Nusle Bridge a banner reading Temelin - a jump in the wrong direction. The demonstrators also hurled a Temelin effigy from the bridge. Because the demonstration was unauthorized, police took the climbers into custody. Jan Beranek from the Rainbow Movement said to the daily MF DNES, "We do not like to break the law, but there is no other way in the Temelin case. Temelin is the worst crime." On Jan Palach Square in Prague April 21 a demonstration supporting Temelin was held by energy-worker trade organizations. Speeches were given, supporters carried banners and Temelin opponents were criticized. Speakers talked of the positives of Temelin's completion, as the crowd ranged from 300 to 700 people. The location of the demonstration was kept secret until the last minute, and there were no incidents. Klara Nedvedova/Katerina Kolarova President Withdraws Libel Suit President Vaclav Havel and his wife Dagmar April 22 withdrew their libel suit against Premysl Svora, author of the book Seven Weeks That Shook the Castle, and against the dailies Blesk and Lidove noviny, which published excerpts from the book, and against TV Nova, which reported about the book. "The book published about my wife and me was full of scandals and the media widely reported about the book and cited it," said Havel. The president also criticized the quality of the Czech tabloids and "the poverty of so-called reliable journalists". Havel said now the case has been forgotten not only by public, but also by the presidential couple. Havel also said that at this moment there are other issues which should be resolved. Ondrej Fer/Katerina Kolarova FROM SLOVAKIA Presidential Primaries Coming Soon The first direct presidential primaries in Slovakia will be held May 15. According to the latest opinion poll conducted by the Institute for Public Issues (IVO - Institut pre verejne otazky), Kosice Mayor and founder of the Civic Understanding Party (SOP) Rudolf Schuster is in the lead with 36.1 per cent of respondent preferences. Former Premier Vladimir Meciar is next with 24 per cent and Magda Vasaryova has 18 per cent. April 9 was the deadline for declaring candidacy; candidates had to present either the support of at least 15 National Assembly members or submit a petition signed by 15,000 Slovak citizens. Nine candidates were registered. Three of them were nominated by political parties: Schuster, 65, by the Government coalition parties; Jan Slota, 46, by the Slovak National Party; and Meciar, 57, by his Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS). The remaining six candidates are: Vasaryova, 51, former President Michal Kovac, 69, former Slovak ambassador to Prague Ivan Mjartan, 41, Juraj Lazarcik, 50, Juraj Svec, 61, and Boris Zala, 54. If none of them wins a simple majority in the first round, the two most successful candidates will meet in a second round May 29. According to the opinion of IVO expert Michal Ivantysyn, quoted in the daily Pravda April 27, Schuster and Meciar will advance into the second round, while Vasaryova could garner a maximum of 20 per cent, which would probably not be enough to advance. Petra Machova/Lenka Nejezchlebova ECONOMY Becherovka - Problem of Four Countries The international winemaker and distillery Pernod Ricard announced April 26 an end to trademark disputes between the Czech Republic's Jan Becher - Karlovarska Becherovka (JBKB) and the Swiss-German company Underberg by Pernod purchasing the firm Johann Becher OHG from Underberg. According to Hospodarske noviny, Pernod owns 40 per cent of Salb, the company which privatized the Czech Becherovka. Underberg owner Emil Underberg bought the rights to make Becherovka from the last heir to the recipe, Heda Becherova, in the early 1970's. However, he had not used it for 20 years, just distributing the Czech product in Germany. Five years ago, when Jan Becher's representative Koospol cancelled the distribution contract, Underberg began production in Germany. Pernod is supposedly considering selling Johann Becher at cost to the Czech Becher, including all the rights for Becherovka. All production should be moved to the Czech Republic. The transaction means this Czech product will return to German stores in September. Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova Three Suitors Interested in CSOB Stake On April 26 members of the management committee for bank privatization opened the binding price offers for a nearly 67-per-cent share in the Czechoslovak Trade Bank (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka, CSOB). Offers came from the world's biggest bank, Deutsche Bank, from Germany's second-largest bank HypoVereinsbank, and the KBC Bank from Belgium. According to information in the daily Hospodarske noviny, Deutsche Bank offered 1.2 billion USD and the other banks 500 million USD. CSOB spokesman Milan Tomanek confirmed the plan to sign a contract with the new strategic partner by the end of June. It will be necessary by then to resolve relations with Slovak shareholders controlling 24 per cent of the bank's shares. Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova Government Begins Privatization of Czech Savings Bank April 22 Hospodarske noviny and the Financial Times published an advertisement on the sale of the Czech Savings Bank (Ceska sporitelna, CS). One day earlier, the National Property Fund (FNM) and Finance Ministry offered a controlling share in the bank to international financial institutions; for the time being, that means the 45 per cent owned by the FNM. However, this summer the bank will issue new shares, meaning the state share could increase up to 60 per cent. The Government will choose finalists from investors who present their preliminary offers by July 31. The suitors will submit binding offers by the end of October. The Government expects to finish privatization by December 31. Among investors said to be interested in the share are Bank Austria Creditanstalt, Societe Generale and HypoVereinsbank. Pavlina Hodkova/Denisa Vitkova ECONOMICS IN BRIEF * AliaChem, an important Czech chemical concern, announced first-quarter profits of 413 million crowns. Aliachem spokesman Miroslav Jilek said the main reason is the success of Aliachem's subsidiaries. AliaChem unites the promising companies that belonged to the former industrial giant Chemapol, now in bankruptcy. * Last year's losses at the state-owned Consolidation Bank (Konsolidacni banka) were 14.4 billion crowns, the bank's worst year ever. Bank General Director Kamil Ziegler said the losses stem primarily from the insolvency of the bank's clientele. Pavlina Hodkova/Jakub Jirovec xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SEARCHABLE CAROLINA ARCHIVE ONLINE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Prague Business Journal has added the English Carolina archive to its website http://www.pbj.cz At the bottom left of the homepage there is a special Carolina logo that will bring you to the Carolina page http://www.pbj.cz/pbj/carolina where a full-text search engine is available for the last six months of Carolina. An advanced search of Carolina is possible at the URL: http://www.pbj.cz/pbj/search/default.asp We would like to remind you that a complete, non-searchable archive of Czech and English Carolina issues from 1991 is available at the Charles University URL: http://www.cuni.cz/Carolina or at the Cesnet URL: http://listserv.cesnet.cz/lwgate/listavail.html All the English issues covering the period 1991-1998 are available in a zipped file: /pub/carolina/carolina.zip at the anonymous FTP server ftp.ruk.cuni.cz xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid April 30) ------------------------------------------------------------ 1 EUR = 37.765 country currency CZK ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 23.439 Great Britain 1 GBP 57.439 Denmark 1 DKK 5.081 Japan 100 JPY 29.928 Canada 1 CAD 24.167 IMF 1 XDR 48.230 Hungary 100 HUF 15.072 Norway 1 NOK 4.566 New Zealand 1 NZD 19.806 Poland 1 PLN 8.935 Greece 100 GRD 11.559 Slovakia 100 SKK 83.986 Slovenia 100 SIT 19.853 Sweden 1 SEK 4.243 Switzerland 1 CHF 23.486 USA 1 USD 35.594 Exchange Rates of countries particpating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) country currency CZK ----------------------------------------- Germany 1 DEM 19.309 Belgium 100 BEF 93.617 Finland 1 FIM 6.352 France 1 FRF 5.757 Ireland 1 IEP 47.952 Italy 1000 ITL 19.504 Luxemburg 100 LUF 93.617 Netherlands 1 NLG 17.137 Portugal 100 PTE 18.837 Austria 1 ATS 2.744 Spain 100 ESP 22.697 CULTURE New Czech film from Four Directors: Prague through the Eyes of... The first part, The Cards Are Dealt, was directed by Vladimir Michalek and co-written by novelist Jachym Topol. About journalists, the story features well known reporters playing themselves - Jan Machacek from the Respekt weekly plays a journalist celebrating his winning the Golden Greyhound prize, while his wife deals tarot cards at home. Another story, Absolute Love, the non-animation debut for director Michaela Pavlatova, tells the story of Anna and Petr, who just ended their respective relationships and are searching for their ideal partners in nighttime Prague. Karel Roden and Theodora Remundova play the protagonists. The humorous tale of an elderly teacher from small-town Slovakia (Prievidza) who comes to check up on her daughter living in Prague, is directed by Slovak Martin Sulik. Finishing the film quartet is Risk, directed by Artemio Benki, who spends his time between Paris and Prague, and tells the story of a French couple on a business trip to Prague. Lenka Nejezchlebova/Zuzana Janeckova CULTURE IN BRIEF * Erik Yonka's movie The Dreamed Life of Angels (Vysneny zivot andelu) opened the Festival of French Cinematography in Prague's Lucerna. The movie will premiere in Brno April 28. * English rock seniors Jethro Tull will celebrate 30 years together with a tour that stops in Brno's Rondo and Prague's Sport Hall. * The best of last year's Czech books can be seen in the National Literature Monument (Pamatnik narodniho pisemnictvi). Mojmir Horyna's book on fine arts Jan Blazej-Santini Ajchel won the competition as the year's most beautiful publication. * The grant commission of the Culture Ministry will provide its largest grant (2.1 million crowns) this year to the Karlovy Vary Festival Film Service for advertising this year's festival. Veronica Macias, Lenka Nejezchlebova, Zuzana Galova/Zuzana Janeckova SPORTS Hockey National Team Defeats Russia Twice The Czech national hockey team's preparation for the World Championships continued with two games against Russia. It won both matches, in Marianske Lazne April 21 and in Pilsen April 22, but the main goal of the games was to test the players. Players from the Extraleague finals participants (Vsetin and Zlin) did not play in the first game, although forwards Tomas Vlasak and Roman Simicek joined the team. The game was decided in the second period, in which the Russian defense made several mistakes, punished by three Czech goals. Russia's game was marked by rough play and shots from any positions. Czech goalkeeper Milan Hnilicka, however, did not allow a goal, even on Oleg Petrov's penalty shot. The Czech Republic won 5-0. An almost complete Czech team performed in the second game, including all Czech players from European teams (except for Swedish league finals participant Frantisek Kaberle) and from NHL teams that did not pass qualify for the playoffs. The Czechs took control of the game in the beginning of the third period, when the home team turned the score around from 1-2 to 3-2. Petr Wilfer/Mirek Langer Czech Team Arrives for World Hockey Championships with 13 Forwards The Czech national hockey team came to Norway with three goalkeepers, seven defenders and 13 forwards April 27 and played its last preparation game against Norway (a 6-3 win, two goals from Viktor Ujcik). According to the manager of the team, Frantisek Cernik, all goalies and 19 players will be registered. Coaches Ivan Hlinka and Josef Augusta are keeping one place free for one center from the teams in the NHL playoffs series between New Jersey and Pittsburgh - either Petr Sykora from New Jersey or Martin Straka from Pittsburgh. Goaltenders Milan Hnilicka and Roman Cechmanek (now nursing his shoulder, which was hit by a puck) should be the basis of the team's success. Three Olympic champions are among the defenders: Frantisek Kucera, Jaroslav Spacek and Libor Prochazka. Two stars from five-time Czech Extraleague champ Vsetin - Pavel Patera and Martin Prochazka - are accompanied by Montreal Canadiens player Martin Rucinsky and by Jan Caloun, the most productive player in the Finnish league. The coaches will not wait for the world's best goalkeeper, Dominik Hasek, because his Buffalo Sabres defeated the Ottawa Senators in the NHL playoffs. Hasek's save percentage is 96.3. The world championships will start May 1, the final is May 16. In the basic group, the Czech Republic will meet Austria, Japan and the United States. The two best teams will advance to the quarterfinals. Petr Wilfer/Mirek Langer Tento Czech Open Tennis Tournament Continues without Stars The organizers of Prague's ATP Tour tournament, the Tento Czech Open on the clay courts of the Stvanice island, lost one favorite after another. Just before the tournament began, the biggest star expected - the United States' Andre Agassi - cancelled, and Chile's Marcelo Rios could not come because of an injury suffered in his Monte Carlo final. Injured Andrei Medvedev from Ukraine and ill Czech Bohdan Ulihrach (the top Czech player) did not put a ball in play in Prague, either. In the tournament's second match, top men's seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov from Russia, who will move into first place in the ATP Tour rankings May 3, lost in Prague to the tour's 72nd-ranked player, Australia's Richard Fromberg. No player from the tournament's top four favorites advanced to the third round. The fans' mood could improve thanks to the side program, which includes an exhibition between legendary Swede Bjorn Borg and popular Frenchman Yannick Noah. Tomas Kohout/Mirek Langer Czech Soccer Team Loses Preparation Match in Poland Without Patrik Berger, Vladimir Smicer, Miroslav Baranek, Tomas Repka, Jan Suchoparek and Richard Dostalek, the Czech team met Poland in Warsaw April 28. The Czech Republic lost 1-2, as three novices played their first game for the national team: Libor Sionko from Ostrava, Marek Nikl from Nuremberg and 18-year-old Jan Polak from Brno. Polak had to postpone his high-school final exam because of the game. The team was surprised by Poland's rough play and its first shot, from Trzeciak, ended in Pavel Srnicek's goal's net. After the break, Wichniarek profited from a bad Jiri Nemec's pass. Substitute Pavel Horvath then hit the Polish goal's bar and another substitute Vratislav Lokvenc leveled after Pavel Kuka's pass. The Czech team however lost 1-2 and came in for a heavy critics from the sport journalists. Josef Koukolicek, Mirek Langer/Mirek Langer Viktoria Zizkov Falls among Candidates for Relegation Due to injuries and disciplinary suspensions, Viktoria Zizkov coach Petr Ulicny was missing seven regular players for the league match against Brno. Another two suspended players left Viktoria even fewer options, and Brno easily earned all three points. Sparta Praha defeated faint-hearted Dukla Pribram; Horst Siegl, who leads among individual scorers with 13 goals, assisted on all the scores. Sigma Olomouc coach Dan Matuska won his first match with his new club, as it defeated Opava. Hradec Kralove experienced a debacle. Ambitious Blsany forgot the fact it plays poorly away from home and scored four goals on Hradec mistakes. Results of the 24th round: Zizkov - Brno 0-2, Sparta Praha - Pribram 3-0, Karvina - Slavia 1-2, Olomouc - Opava 3-1, Hradec Kralove - Blsany 0-4, Drnovice - Liberec 1-1, Jablonec - Ostrava 2-2, Plzen - Teplice 0-0. Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 50, 2. Slavia Praha 42, 3. Teplice 40, 4. Olomouc 39, 5. Blsany 36, 6. Drnovice 36, 7. Brno 34, 8. Ostrava 32, 9. Liberec 31, 10. Opava 30, 11. Jablonec 29, 12. Hradec Kralove 29, 13. Zizkov 25, 14. Pribram 23, 15. Plzen 22, 16. Karvina 19. Josef Koukolicek/Mirek Langer Zlin Wins Volleyball Extraleague The men of Fatra Zlin won the Kooperativa Extraleague, taking the best-of-five final series against Jihostroj Ceske Budejovice April 26. Zlin defeated the reigning champion thanks to three tie-breakers (seris final: 3-2) and ensured itself a place in the Champions Cup next season. Zdenek Kalab, 38, was the new champion's best player. Alena Smrzova/Mirek Langer SPORTS IN BRIEF * Czech national basketball team member Jiri Zidek was part of the Lithuanian club Zhalgiris Kaunas, which won the European league tournament. Zidek became the first Czech player to play on a league champion. * The Czech under-16 soccer team is participating in the European Championships, which are taking place in Moravia. It lost to Germany 0-1 and defeated Denmark 1-0 in its first round group. After deadline: Czech Republic - Greece 2-0, the Czech team advances to the quarterfinal. * Pavel Nedved will participate in the European soccer Cup Winners Cup. His Lazio Rome will play against the Spanish club Real Mallorca. Alena Smrzova, Josef Koukolicek/Mirek Langer WEATHER Chestnut trees in bloom are a genuine sign of spring. Summer-like temperatures April 25 allowed not just the hardy to dig in to their summer wardrobes. The sky is blue, with the occasional small cloud. Birds are singing. Still, the situation is not ideal, nights and mornings remain a little chilly. Robin Rohrich/Jakub Jirovec English version edited by Michael Bluhm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with attribution to CAROLINA. Subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated. Please send them to the address: CAROLINA@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz To subscribe to CAROLINA news, send an e-mail message to the address LISTSERV@cesnet.cz The text of the message for subscription to 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, 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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