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 334, Friday, May 28, 1999. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (May 19 - May 26) Havel in Hospital Again President Vaclav Havel was diagnosed May 18 with symptoms of a light virus of his upper respiratory tract. Even though doctors did not expect any serious complications and did not prescribe any antibiotics for the president, Havel was May 19 brought to the Military Hospital in Prague's Stresovice neighborhood. According to presidential spokesman Ladislav Spacek, Havel might be showing signs of chronic bronchitis. Doctors began giving the president antibiotics and managed to control his bronchial infection and to improve his overall condition. There were plans to release the president May 26 and have medical personnel care for him at his home. Havel was forced to postpone the May 27 planned visit of Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus. Discussions on Havel visiting the Balkans have also been put aside. The rest of his schedule should not be affected. Havel has a history of respiratory problems. In 1996 the president underwent an operation to remove a malignant lung tumor. Since then Havel has suffered from respiratory viruses four times. The last time, in November, Havel was hospitalized for a week. Alena Smrzova/Sofia Karakeva After deadline: Doctors May 26 delayed Havel's release from hospital, because his infection has not receded. Czech-Greek Peace Proposal Meets with Silence in Brussels NATO General Secretary Javier Solana has refused to comment on the Czech-Greek Peace Proposal for resolving the Kosovo crisis, presented to him May 25 by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan and Greek Foreign Minister Jorgos Papandreu. The Czech Republic and Greece propose an end to the bombing of Yugoslavia as a gesture of good will. NATO, however, insists that in order to end air raids the Serbians have to remove their soldiers from Kosovo, one of the terms accepted at the beginning of May by the G8. The Czech-Greek initiative does not require the withdrawal of military, police and paramilitary units from Kosovo. The initiative proposes mixed police units, which should, together with UN peace forces, assure the return of refugees. According to the Czech media, the initiative met with a negative reaction from some politicians of NATO member countries, including the Czech Republic and Greece. They pointed out that the proposal was being discussed with countries outside NATO, such as Russia, China and Yugoslavia. Former Czech Defense Minister and current Freedom Union Parliament deputy Michal Lobkowicz said he considers the peace proposal a step toward dissolving NATO's cohesion. He said it was a mockery of NATO that Kavan and Papandreu signed the proposal in China, which had its embassy in Belgrade mistakenly bombed by allied forces. Petr Necas (Civic Democratic Party), chairman of Parliament's Defense and Security Committee, said he does not like the idea of the mixed police units. He said he doubts whether Albanians will return to Kosovo in the presence of the Serbians who drove them out of their homes. On the other hand, Lubomir Zaoralek (Social Democrat), chairman of Parliament's Foreign Committee, welcomed the initiative and said he hopes the Czech Republic will continue to be active internationally in the future. Alena Smrzova/Sofia Karakeva Klaus and Ruml Go to Prcice Among the 10,755 hikers taking part in the 34th year of the legendary Praha-Prcice march were Parliament Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus and Freedom Union (US) Chairman Jan Ruml. "We each came from somewhere else and met in Prcice, it's a good beginning," said Ruml in connection with the government coalition negotiations he proposed to Klaus May 17. The Prcice mayor offered Klaus and Ruml the Prcice Town Hall for negotiations for the symbolic fee of one crown. Alena Smrzova/Jakub Jirovec FROM SLOVAKIA Large Voter Turnout Expected for Presidential Election Most polls predict that about two-thirds of eligible voters will come out for the presidential election runoff May 29. That would mean the same turnout as in the first round, although the number of voters might be influenced by the hot weather predicted for the weekend. Polls say Kosice Mayor and Party of Civic Understanding (SOP) Chairman Rudolf Schuster should receive about 56 per cent of the vote. His rival, former Premier and current Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) Chairman Vladimir Meciar, should expect about 40 per cent of the vote. Experts assume Schuster will rake in votes given in the first round to actress Magda Vasaryova, while Meciar should tally votes cast in the first round for Zilina Mayor and Chairman of the ultra-nationalist Slovak National Party (SNS) Jan Slota. Chairman of the Czech Republic's Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and Parliament's Chamber of Deputies Vaclav Klaus made waves with his comments on the election. Klaus said to the Slovak daily Narodna obroda May 18: "I think Slovakia, just like the Czech Republic, should in its presidental election vote for a candidate who has a strong political idea behind him, a political opinion group, a group of people. If a politician is a totally isolated soloist, he has no chance to do anything. Among the Slovak politicians, I would vote someone from this category. Vladimir Meciar definitely belongs there." Katerina Kolarova/Katerina Kolarova ECONOMY CKD Shuts down, Workers Protest About 1,000 CKD Transport Systems employees gathered May 24 in front of CKD Holding headquarters mainly to protest their forced layoff and the fact that approximately 1,800 employees have not received their wages since March 18. The employees also called for restructuring the holding's assets, which is also one of the conditions of CKD's creditors and banking consortium for the resumption of production. The company needs 2.5 billion crowns for production and wages, and 900 million crowns to begin work on new orders. CKD has 7.5 billion crowns in loans and share capital of 4.74 billion crowns. Changes could occur May 28, when CKD's biggest creditors (the Investment and Post Bank (IPB), the Consolidation Bank and the Czech Savings Bank (CS)) will meet to discuss the situation. "A creditor committee should be formed and a standstill agreement made," said IPB spokeswoman Barbora Tacheci for the daily Hospodarske noviny May 25. Such an agreement would ensure that the banks will not force CKD into bankruptcy but will provide it with time to recover and partial financial stabilization. Discussions on restructuring could also begin. The first step was the resignation of CKD Holding General Director and Chairman of the Board Jiri Marousek May 24. Employees and creditors demand he give up the approximately 38 per cent of CKD he owns through his company INPRO. Zuzana Galova/Denisa Vitkova Consumption Tax Will Rise, Income Taxes to Fall The Government's third try at raising the consumption tax was successful in Parliament may 21. From July 1, gas, oil and cigarettes will be more expensive. Beginning next year, entrepreneurs can expect tax cuts. One liter of gas will cost 1.39 crowns more, motor oil 1.14 crowns more and a pack of cigarettes an average of 1.12 crowns more. Corporate income tax will decrease next year from 35 per cent to 31 per cent, while individual income tax in the highest bracket of more than 1.1 million crowns annually will decline from 39 per cent to 32 per cent, and taxes on dividends will decline from 25 per cent to 15 per cent. Finance Minister Ivo Svoboda said he expects the changes will bring increased revenues to the state ranging from 3 billion crowns to 4 billion crowns. The budget deficit could thus decrease to 40 billion crowns, he said. Zuzana Galova/Denisa Vitkova ECONOMY IN BRIEF * There has been no decision made as to which foreign suitor will be sold the state's share of the Czechoslovak Trade Bank (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka, CSOB). The Government was to decide May 26, but Finance Minister Ivo Svoboda announced to the surprise of fellow Cabinet members one day earlier that the sale will be discussed May 31. The finalists are Deutsche Bank, Hypovereinsbank and KBC Bank. Tomas Kohout/Jan Martinek Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid May 28) ------------------------------------------------------------ 1 EUR = 37.825 country currency CZK ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 23.675 Great Britain 1 GBP 57.749 Denmark 1 DKK 5.092 Japan 100 JPY 29.717 Canada 1 CAD 24.736 IMF 1 XDR 48.851 Hungary 100 HUF 15.176 Norway 1 NOK 4.593 New Zealand 1 NZD 19.532 Poland 1 PLN 9.114 Greece 100 GRD 11.640 Slovakia 100 SKK 81.843 Slovenia 100 SIT 19.891 Sweden 1 SEK 4.219 Switzerland 1 CHF 23.746 USA 1 USD 36.325 Exchange Rates of countries particpating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) country currency CZK ----------------------------------------- Germany 1 DEM 19.340 Belgium 100 BEF 93.766 Finland 1 FIM 6.362 France 1 FRF 5.766 Ireland 1 IEP 48.028 Italy 1000 ITL 19.535 Luxemburg 100 LUF 93.766 Netherlands 1 NLG 17.164 Portugal 100 PTE 18.867 Austria 1 ATS 2.749 Spain 100 ESP 22.733 CULTURE Zlin Animated by Childrens' Movies The 38th International Childrens' Film Festival is taking place May 24-28 in Zlin. The festival's gala opening, however, presented a movie for all ages, the new film Return of Paradise Lost (Navrat ztraceneho raje) from Vojtech Jasny, respected director from the 1960's Czechoslovak New Wave who has long lived in New York and taught film and Columbia University. The reason was not only the fact that the film was shot in in Moravia but also because Jasny presided over the international jury of the festival last year. The official five-member international jury will vote on awards, and a 17-member childrens' jury will vote on its special prize. Fifteen films from 13 countries are to participate in the festival competition, among them two new Czech fairy tales: Lucky as Hell (Z pekla stesti), directed by Zdenek Troska (see Carolina 323), and The Emperor and the Drummer (Cisar a tambor) from director Vaclav Kristek. The bulk of the screened movies consist of childrens' dramas, but the Zlin audience will have the opportunity to see animated films and Czech childrens' classics like Indians from Vetrov (Indiani z Vetrova) and The Top Boys (Pani kluci) as well. Several cultural events are taking place in Zlin simultaneusly with the festival, e.g. the exhibition of early photographic works by Alexander Hackenschmied (living in the USA under the name Alex Hamid), the presentation of artwork from visually impaired children, an exhibit by painter Libor Vojkuvka and an auction of decorated clapper-boards, the proceeds of which are to be given to the local film school in Zlin. Part of the festival's program will take place in the nearby Moravian towns of Veseli nad Moravou, Kromeriz a Kyjov. Petra Machova/Milan Smid This Year's World of Books Belongs to France The World of Books international book fair took place May 20-23 at the Prague Fairgrounds (Vystaviste). About 590 foreign exhibitors from 18 countries took part in the fifth year of the fair. France was the most visible country, represented by writers like Pierre Assoulin and Yves Berger. Many special programs went on during the exhibition, such as talks with famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner and French artist Jean-Jacques Sempe. Petra Machova/Jakub Jirovec Metallica Plays in Prague Some 20,000 people came May 25 to Prague's Slavia Stadium to see American heavy-metal colossus Metallica. Although the opening acts were to begin at 5 p.m., fans started filling the stadium in the morning. Because Metallica arrived in Prague later than expected, the opening acts, which included Simoriah (Australia), Mercyful Fate (Denmark) and Monster Magnet (USA), began at 6 p.m.. Metallica took the stage at about 10 p.m. and played for more than two hours. Petra Machova/Jan Martinek SPORTS Prague Marathon Lures Record Number of Participants Kenya's Eluid Keiring won the fifth edition of the Prague International Marathon May 23. Keiring took part in his first marathon and finished in 2:11:19. In the finish he overcame another surprise leader, Russia's Dimitri Kapitonov. Italian favorite Franca Fiacconi was the best women's finisher. The best Czech finishers, Martin Klimes (14th overall) and Tatana Metelkova (eighth among the women), automatically became the winners of the Czech Republic championship. This year's edition of the run, which continues to become more popular, saw more than 3,400 participants at the start of the marathon, while thousands more took part in additional races: the in-line marathon, the junior marathon for relay teams and two non-competitive runs of nine and 4.5 kilometers. The race was started by Jan Zelezny, the best javelin thrower of the 90's, assisted by his two English training partners, javelin thrower Steve Backley and triple-jumper Jonathan Edwards. Tomas Kohout/Mirek Langer Teplice Will Participate in Soccer Champions League Qualification Round Teplice players recorded their greatest success ever in the soccer league, defeating Slavia Praha 3-1 in the 29th round. Fans in the sold-out Teplice Stadium celebrated their squad assuring themselves of second place in the league's final standings, which qualifies them for next year's Champions League qualification round. Jablonec needs at least a tie in its next game to stay in the league next season, Plzen has to win or can be saved with an Opava loss against Ostrava. Opava's chances to avoid relegation are mostly hypothetical if it does not win. Three teams can still advance to the UEFA Cup from fourth place in the final standings: Ostrava, Olomouc and Blsany. The teams are bunched, with only six points separating eighth and 15th place. Results of the 29th round: Teplice - Slavia Praha 3-1, Jablonec - Hradec Kralove 1-2, Zizkov - Plzen 3-0, Pribram - Opava 3-1, Blsany - Liberec 2-2, Ostrava - Drnovice 2-1, Brno - Karvina 4-2, Sparta Praha - Olomouc 2-2. Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 60, 2. Teplice 55, 3. Slavia Praha 52, 4. Ostrava 44, 5. Olomouc 44, 6. Blsany 42, 7. Brno 40, 8. Zizkov 37, 9. Hradec Kralove 36, 10. Drnovice 36, 11. Liberec 35, 12. Pribram 33, 13. Jablonec 32, 14. Plzen 32, 15. Opava 31, 16. Karvina 22. Tomas Kohout/Mirek Langer Slavia Praha Wins Soccer's Czech Cup Slavia Praha managed to compensate for its disappointing finish in the soccer league by defeating Liberec in overtime in the Czech-Moravian Soccer Union Cup May 25. It advanced to the first round of the UEFA Cup, which will be united with the Cup Winners Cup. Slavia was slightly better during the game than Liberec, which defended well in the first half and was more active after the break. In the 8th minute of overtime, Vladimir Malar and Robert Vagner set up a goal for Pavel Horvath, Slavia's best player. Slavia won its first Cup in 1997, while last year belonged to Drnovice. Petr Novy/Mirek Langer Hockey Extraleague's Trophies Go Mainly to Vsetin and Sparta Players Sportswriters' awards for the best players of the Staropramen Hockey Extraleague were handed out during a ceremony in Prague's Zofin May 20. Vsetin and Sparta players each got three trophies, Zlin has two and Slavia, Ceske Budejovice and Trinec each won one. Only one trophy was not voted on by journalists - a nationwide poll decided that Martin Prochazka of Vsetin was the league's best player. He also received the trophy as the best player in the playoffs. Sportswriters, unlike the fans, proclaimed Jiri Dopita of Vsetin the best player in the league. Winners of other trophies: Best goalie: Roman Cechmanek (Vsetin), best defenseman: Frantisek Kucera (Sparta Praha), best rookie: Vaclav Pletka (Trinec), best goal scorer: David Vyborny (Sparta Praha), points leader: Jan Hlavac (Sparta Praha), most sportsmanlike: Roman Meluzin (Zlin), best veteran: Vladimir Ruzicka (Slavia Praha), best coach: Zdenek Venera (Zlin), best referee: Frantisek Rejthar, most valuable player: Vaclav Kral (Ceske Budejovice). Tomas Kohout/Mirek Langer SPORTS IN BRIEF * Czech soccer player Pavel Nedved of the Italian club Lazio Rome scored the deciding goal of the Cup Winners Cup against Mallorca (final score 2-1) and became the first and last Czech to win the trophy - the Cup Winners Cup will be combined with the UEFA Cup. * Slavia Praha handball players defeated Veseli nad Moravou 3-1 in the best-of-five final series of the women's league and won the Czech Republic champions' title. Tomas Kohout/Mirek Langer WEATHER Those who have not yet taken their summer vacation are wondering what the weather will be like this summer. Those who went sunbathing at Czech ponds made no mistake, because the weather has been beautiful: temperatures are about 20 Celsius degrees/68 degrees Fahrenheit. A heat wave is predicted for the end of the month, while now we have to cope with humidity. The most affected group were runners in the Prague Marathon May 23, many of whom appeared to have broken a sweat by the end of the race. Typical Czech gardeners also worked up a sweat just watering their plants. Fortunately, the nights were often visited by rain. Katerina Kolarova/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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