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 341, Friday, July 30, 1999 FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (JULY 14 - JULY 28) After One Year, First Personnel Change in Social Democrat Cabinet Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Mertlik July 21 replaced Ivo Svoboda as finance minister, after Svoboda was charged with Damaging creditors in connection with his role in the bankruptcy of the Liberta baby-carriage manufacturer (see Carolina 325). Mertlik is the Social Democrat Government's youngest member. Born in 1961, he was a member of the Communist Party from 1981-1990 and a university professor of economics. He became a member of the Social Democrats in 1995. Prime Minister Milos Zeman July 16 proclaimed he was not satisfied with the work of Deputy Prime Minister Egon Lansky (because of errors in preparing the Czech Republic for European Union membership), Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslav Basta (because of his failure to begin Operation Clean Hands, the Social Democrats' key election promise of a fight against corruption) and Regional Development Minister Jaromir Cisar (because of delays in creating a housing policy). Zeman called his criticism a "serious warning" for the Cabinet members. UN General Secretary Kofi Annan Visits Prague UN General Secretary Kofi Annan, in the Czech Republic July 16-18 with his wife Nane, said the war in Kosovo could help bring about UN reform. "Because of the crisis in Kosovo, states realized it is necessary to reform the Security Council, because military intervention occurred without its prior approval," said Annan. During his first visit to the Czech Republic, Annan met with President Vaclav Havel, Prime Minister Milos Zeman, Foreign Minister Jan Kavan, Defense Minister Vladimir Vetchy, Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus, Senate Chairwoman Libuse Benesova and special UN envoy to the former Yugoslavia Jiri Dienstbier. Impulse 99 The intellectual initiative Impulse (Impuls) 99 said in its declaration, released July 23, that it wants to ensure the Czech Republic's integration into European structures, to develop a civil society here, to renew moral values, to overcome indifference, provincialism, and intolerance, to support solidarity and responsibility, to nurture interpersonal relationships, to encourage lawfulness and to care for the education of society. The speakers of the initiative will be former presidential advisor Jiri Pehe, theologian Tomas Halik and journalist Jana Smidova. The declaration was signed by 200 individuals, including political analyst Jacques Rupnik, writer Ludvik Vaculik, writer and actor Zdenek Sverak, Cardinal Miroslav Vlk, Bishop Vaclav Maly and union leader and Senator Richard Falbr. Poll Shows Communists as Second-Strongest Party The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) would receive the votes 17.8 per cent of respondents in a poll taken in the first week of July by the Center for Empirical Research (STEM). The Communists have the third-largest contingent in the Chamber of Deputies, having received 11,03 per cent of the popular vote last summer). The poll was the first since 1992 in which the Communists finished ahead of the Social Democrats (preferred by 16.8 per cent of the poll's respondents) and showed the best result for the party since November 1989. The leader in the poll was the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) with 23.4 per cent, while fourth and fifth places were taken, respectively, by the Freedom Union (US) with 12.7 per cent and the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) with 10.4 per cent. About 1,600 people were polled. Other polls also confirm the rising popularity of the Communists, although they still show the Communists trailing the ruling Social Democrats. Analysts attribute the Communists' improving showing to disappointment with the Social Democrat Government (latest polls show 27 per cent of respondents satisfied with the Government), while President Vaclav Havel has credited the Communists' popularity to the Opposition Contract, signed by ODS and the Social Democrats after last summer's general elections. Communist Vice Chairman Vaclav Exner said the party's preferences were also influenced by its stance during the Kosovo crisis. "In the question of NATO aggression our stance concurred with that of the majority of Czech citizens, and for that was appreciated," Exner said. "We aren't overestimating thew success (in the polls). Polls aren't elections." News in Brief * The Government July 22 to uphold its plan to stop uranium mining in the Czech Republic by 2003. Environment Minister Milos Kuzvart supported adhering to the plan, while Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr advocated the continuation of mining. Key issues were that Czech uranium is many times more expensive than foreign uranium, potential environmental damage from further mining and the ensuing unemployment after the mines close. FROM SLOVAKIA Kofi Annan Visits Slovakia Kofi Annan made the first visit of a UN general secretary to Slovakia July 14 with a two-day stay in Bratislava. Annan said he had two goals in going to Slovakia - to renew the prestige of the UN after NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia and to express the improvement of Slovakia's international standing after the departure of former Premier Vladimir Meciar. Annan met with President Rudolf Schuster, Premier Mikulas Dzurinda, National Assembly Chairman Jozef Migas and Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan, who was recently named special envoy to Kosovo. Annan denied speculation that his visit was connected to the possible naming of Slovakia as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. President Signs Minority Language Act President Rudolf Schuster July 20 signed the Use of Minority Languages Act, which the National Assembly had passed 10 days earlier. The final version of the law does not include any of the riders proposed by the Hungarian Coalition Party, which wanted minority languages to be accepted in administrative regions where minorities comprise more than 10 per cent of the population (the law provides for the use of minority languages in communities where minorities comprise 20 per cent of the population) and the possibility to hold high-school entrance exams and ceremonies in minority languages. The law was the last political condition of the EU, and was welcomed by OSCE High Commissar Max van der Stoel. Norway Introduces Visas for Slovaks After Great Britain, Ireland and Finland, Norway became he fourth European country to introduce a visa requirement for Slovak citizens wishing to enter the country. The requirement, introduced in response to fears of a flood of Romany (Gypsy) immigrants, should last until November 6. ECONOMY Consolidation Bank to Take Control of Czech Financial and Czech Collection Agency The Cabinet July 14 decided to merge three key state institutions involved in the transformation to a market economy. As of January 1, the Consolidation Bank (Konsolidacni banka) should acquire the bad assets of Czech Financial (Ceska finacni) and the Czech Collection Agency (Ceska inkasni). The bank would then control all the so-called "hidden costs" of transformation, which are now estimated at 250 billion crowns. The bank would attempt to sell what it can of the bad debts to foreign investors. Debts that cannot be sold and the losses from debts sold would go into the state budget. Another part of the plan would be the transfer of development programs from the bank to the Czech-Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank (Ceskomoravska zarucni a rozvojova banka), which would be the lone institution administering development programs in the country. Experts consider the entire Government plan a continuation of the concept put in place by former Prime Minister Josef Tosovsky. Questions Hang over Skoda Pilsen Prime Minister Milos Zeman July 19 promised ailing engineering giant Skoda Pilsen (Plzen) that the Government would help Skoda through its continuing financial difficulties. Skoda showed losses of 3.7 billion crowns in 1997 and predicts losses of at least 3.5 billion crowns this year - Skoda's past losses now stand at 5 billion crowns. The Cabinet's goal will be to find a long-term strategic partner who will ensure jobs, continue production and maintain research and development. The company's general meeting August 20 will vote on decreasing Skoda's basic capital from 9.5 billion crowns to about 950 million crowns by decreasing the nominal value of Skoda's shares. Economy in Brief * An administrator for the Revitalization Agency, which will oversee the Government's industrial revitalization program, will be chosen from seven unnamed applicants, all renowned and experienced firms, said agency Board Vice Chairman Jaromir Mrkva July 27. Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid July 29) -------------------------------------------------------- 1 EUR = 36.805 Kc country currency CZK ---------------------------------------- Australia 1 AUD 22.344 Great Britain 1 GBP 55.066 Denmark 1 DKK 4.944 Japan 100 JPY 29.898 Canada 1 CAD 22.901 IMF 1 XDR 46.999 Hungary 100 HUF 14.557 Norway 1 NOK 4.407 New Zealand 1 NZD 18.133 Poland 1 PLN 9.043 Greece 100 GRD 11.333 Slovakia 100 SKK 82.339 Slovenia 100 SIT 18.786 Sweden 1 SEK 4.176 Switzerland 1 CHF 23.035 USA 1 USD 34.658 Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) Germany 1 DEM 18.818 Belgium 100 BEF 91.237 Finland 1 FIM 6.190 Frane 1 FRF 5.611 Ireland 1 IEP 46.733 Italy 1000 ITL 19.008 Luxemburg 100 LUF 91.237 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.701 Portugal 100 PTE 18.358 Austria 1 ATS 2.675 Spain 100 ESP 22.120 CULTURE Journey to the South in Prague's Municipal House Journey to the South, an exhibit in Prague's Municipal House (Obecni dum) open until October 10, is a unique display of Czech painters and architects inspired by Italy, southern France and Spain in the last two centuries. On the oil paintings of Josef Manes, Antonin Barvitio, Benes Knupfer and Josef Navratil, one can see a fascination with southern Europe, as well as in the watercolors of Antonin Balsanek and Osvald Polivka. Artists' diaries of their travels there and some antique artifacts are also displayed, including some pieces from the former collection of Baron Frantisek Kollerm, who was one of the visitors to Pompei. SPORTS NHL Clubs Buy Dozen Czech Extraleague Players One year after a gold medal in the Nagano Olympics and months after the Czech Republic won the World Championships, after Jaromir Jagr and Dominik Hasek triumphed in the NHL Awards Ceremony and after young Czech players Brendl and Patrik Stefan were among top four in the NHL draft, Canadian and American clubs acknowledged the quality of Czech hockey and chose more than 10 Czech Extraleague players. The expansion Atlanta Thrashers will probably test a Czech line: Vladimir Vujtek and Martin Prochazka with first overall draft pick Stefan. Vujtek and Prochazka played together on Pavel Patera's national-team line. Patera is also leaving the Czech league for the Dallas Stars, the reigning NHL champion. Sparta Praha was disappointed with the loss of three players: besides Vujtek, who recently signed a contract with Sparta after coming from Vitkovice, Sparta also lost forward Jan Hlavac and goaltender Milan Hnilicka (a trade of Hnilicka had been discussed after Sparta got Petr Briza from Germany's Landshut). Hlavac and Hnilicka will play for the New York Rangers. Three other national-team members will try to make NHL rosters: Defensemen Frantisek Kaberle (Los Angeles) and Libor Prochazka (St. Louis) and forward David Moravec (Buffalo). Besides these three, five other extraleague players signed contracts with NHL teams: Jindrich, Mika, Rachunek, Sulc and Skoula. Defenseman Milos Holan should also return to the NHL, he is talking with Atlanta. He stopped playing in the NHL because of leukemia, but after treatment began playing again for Vitkovice. On the contrary, Robert Reichel will probably play for Litvinov, because he cannot agree on a new contract with Phoenix. NHL clubs were also interested in Frantisek Kucera and David Vyborny of Sparta and Jiri Dopita of Vsetin, but they will remain in the extraleague. Soccer League Starts This Weekend The new season of the Gambrinus Soccer League will open with the Prague intracity derby between Sparta Praha and Viktoria Zizkov July 30. The season will end in mid-May, when the Czech national team will participate in the European Championships. Some of the teams will be very busy: Sparta will participate in the Champions League, Teplice will try to qualify for that, but their opponent in the qualification, Germany's Borussia Dortmund, is a superb team. Only three teams will probably be able to compete for the title: Sparta Praha, Slavia Praha and Teplice. Sparta, with a new owner, lost sweeper Votava, but got Slovakia's Labant from Slavia and two good players from Ostrava. Slavia then made the most expensive trade of the summer break, buying the Dosek twins from Plzen for 30 million crowns. Teplice should be strenghtened by Euro 1996 silver medalist Martin Frydek, who is returning from Germany. Olomouc, Ostrava, Blsany and Brno are the strongest candidates for the UEFA Cup. Olomouc will play without Pavel Hapal, who returned to Tenerife. Ostrava has big problems with its finances, with the players considering a strike. Blsany bought Frantisek Koubek from Hradec Kralove, who was one of the top scorers in last season's spring session. Some seven teams should battle for their future in the league. Hradec Kralove's roster became quite poor after letting some players go. Slovan Liberec kept Argentinian striker Lazzaro Liuni, after the best foreign player in the league could not find engagement abroad. Viktoria Zizkov signed a contract with Radovan Hromadko, who played in the UEFA Cup quarterfinal with Maccabi Haifa last year. Two big stars came to Dukla Pribram: goalkeeper Zdenek Janos and Daniel Smejkal. Opava, Jablonec and Petra Drnovice also made some trades to attempt to avoid the league basement. The two team promoted from the second league, Ceske Budejovice and Bohemians Praha, have players good enough to stay in the league. Summer transfers include: Tomas Votava from Sparta to Munich 1860 (Germany), Rene Bolf and Libor Sionko from Ostrava to Sparta, Vladimir Labant from Slavia to Sparta, Martin Frydek from Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) to Teplice, Lukas Dosek and Tomas Dosek from Plzen to Slavia, Frantisek Koubek from Hradec Kralove to Blsany, Radovan Hromadko from Maccabi Haifa (Israel) to Zizkov, Daniel Smejkal from Bayer Uerdingen (Germany) to Pribram. Radek Onderka from Uerdingen to Opava Some Czech players were also traded in Europe. Vladimir Smicer joined Liverpool FC from France's Racing Lens for 4 million pounds, the highest amount ever paid for a Czech player. Other top Czech players traded in Europe: Jan Suchoparek from Racing Strassbourg (France) to TeBe Berlin, Pavel Kuka from FC Nuremberg (Germany) to VfB Stuttgart (Germany), Jan Koller from SC Lokeren (Belgium) to RSC Anderlecht Brussel. Javelin Thrower Zelezny Wins Golden League's Meet in Paris Jan Zelezny, who resurrected his career after a shoulder injury, won the javelin competition at the Golden League meet in Paris with a throw of 89.06 meters. Runner Ludmila Formanova (eighth in the 800m) and high-jumper Zuzana Hlavonova-Kovacikova (ninth) also participated in Paris. It was Zelezny's second French victory, after the meet in Nice, where Formanova finished seventh in the 1,000m run and Hlavonova second in the high jump. Zelezny missed the Golden League's first meet in Oslo because of illness (his first start was in Nice); in Oslo Czech athletes finished fourth twice in the high jump (Tomas Janku and Hlavonova), while Formanova added a sixth in the 800m. Capalini Wins World Championships Silver, but Misses Olympics Qualification Libor Capalini recorded a success in the modern pentathlon World Championships in Budapest. finishing second overall to Hungary's Balogh. He missed the first chance to qualify for the Sydney Olympic Games, because only the winner qualified. Capalini will have other chances to qualify in World Cup events and at next year's World Championships. Sports in Brief * The Stanley Cup arrived in the Czech Republic for the first time July 26. According to a new policy, each member of the winning team gets the cup for a day, so the cup came to the Czech Republic to visit goalie Roman Turek. * Lubos Racansky won the gold medal in the European Shooting Championships in Bordeaux, France in the moving-target competition. He added another gold with his colleagues from the Czech team in the same discipline. Pistol shooter Pavel Safranek won a bronze medal. * Czech triathlets won three medals in the European Championships in Funchal, Portugal. Jan Rehula and Martin Krnavek finished second and third among the men behind Switzerland's Hug, while the women's team finished third. * The women's national softball team improved its reputation after its failure in the Olympic qualifications - it won a silver medal in the European Championships in Antwerp. It managed to beat Italy for the first time since the czech Republic was created, but in the final it lost to Italy 1-6. * Michaela Vernerova will probably have to return the bronze medal she won in the European Judo Championships in Bratislava because of a positive doping test. * Two Czech cyclists on the Lampre team took part in the Tour de France. Jan Svorada finished fourth in one stage. Pavel Padrnos finished 18th in the time trial around Metz. However, they finished only nine stages and both withdrew in the 10th stage in the Alps. * Skiers Katerina Neumannova and Pavel Elsnic won the elite categories in the MTB Czech Republic Cross-Country Championships in Most. Elsnic finished fourth, behind Kondis of Slovakia and two juniors. * Czech pilot Petr Biskup won the overall Advanced category at the World Championships in aerial acrobatics in Mnichovo Hradiste. * Two chess grandmasters, Russian-born Spanish national Alexei Shirov and Hungarian Judith Polgar, competed in Prague's Archa Theater for the Eurotel Trophy. Polgar managed one tie in six games and lost 1/2 to 5 1/2 points. WEATHER This summer's weather is very summery. This issue of Carolina was written by Pavlina Hodkova, Mirek Langer, Linda Kholova and Lida Truneckova, and was translated by Langer, Zuzana Janeckova and Michael Bluhm. 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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