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 349, Friday, October 29, 1999. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (October 20 - October 27) IVVM: Communist Are Strongest Party Ten years after the fall of the communist regime, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) became the political party with the highest voter preference in the Czech Republic. According to a survey taken by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IVVM), the Communists would win an election today with 23 per cent of the vote, leaving the previous poll-leaders, the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), with 21 per cent and the ruling Social Democrats with 15.5 per cent behind. The Communists' preferences have doubled this year and have been strengthening over the long term, IVVM analysts say. Support for parties not now in Parliament is also on the rise, chiefly for the neo-fascist Republicans of Miroslav Sladek and for the Green party. Polls taken by competing agencies STEM and Sofres-Factum still put the Communists in second place after ODS. Politicians were surprised by the poll. "I don't believe it's true. It doesn't make sense to me, I don't see every fourth person in the Czech Republic preferring the Communists," said Vaclav Klaus, chairman of ODS and the Chamber of Deputies. "The right-wing parties totally failed, professionally and personally, and unfortunately it turned out that the Social Democrats couldn't manage the situation," stated Miroslav Grebenicek, chairman of the Communists. Experts say the preferences for the Communists are more a reflection of dissatisfaction than a real change in society. Now it is said to be important how other parties react to the development. Foreign media also reported the poll results. The German daily Die Welt attributed the Communists' showing to the fact that the Government is not fulfilling the promises it made before the election and that the democratic parties are incapable of cooperation. Iva Potrebova and Ondrej Maly/Ondrej Maly Fruitless Discussions on Changes in Government No dramatic changes have occurred in the two weeks since the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the opposition side of the Opposition Contract allowing the Social Democrats (CSSD) to rule, initiated discussions on changing the Cabinet (see Carolina 347). During this week, however, some movement resulted from the Chamber of Deputies' rejection of the Government's 2000 budget proposal (see below). Finance Minister Pavel Mertlik described the rejection as "an escalation of political tension...a bad signal to the outside world." The ODS proposal for a super-coalition of all parties in Parliament except the Communists (see Carolina 348) was first rejected October 19 by the Four-Party Coalition (the Freedom Union, the Christian Democrats, the Civic Democratic Alliance and the Democratic Union), followed by the same reaction from the Social Democrats. They deny ODS claims of deepening economic stagnation, and do not wish to change the Government. On the contrary, at an October 14 extraordinary meeting the Social Democrat leadership proposed expanding the Opposition Contract. "The Opposition Contract can be changed only into a coalition contract," said ODS Chairman Vaclav Klaus. According to ODS Parliament club Chairman Vlastimil Tlusty, ODS has ruled out the possibility of forming an ODS-CSSD coalition. For the first time in two years (since the split in ODS and the formation of the Freedom Union), Klaus and Freedom Union Chairman Jan Ruml met October 15. "We want to say seriously that a new level of communication has been inaugurated," said Klaus. However, the chairmen agreed neither on a super-coalition nor a non-socialist majority coalition of ODS, the Freedom Union and the Christian Democrats. ODS and the Social Democrats categorically refuse to discuss early elections. Tomas Havlin/Sofia Karakeva Academic Senate Elects 506th Charles University Rector From February 2000, the oldest Czech university will be led by Ivan Wilhelm, born in 1942, who was elected October 22 by the Academic Senate of Charles University. His victory was a surprise, since it was not believed that a new rector could be settled upon on the first ballot. Thirty-five votes out of 68 favored Wilhelm over Josef Koutecky, born in 1930 and former dean of the Second Medical College and founder of child oncology, and Pavel Klener, born in 1937 and former health minister (1989-90) and functionary at the First Medical College. Wilhelm's platform emphasized more student and teacher exchanges, unification of the credit system and greater variety during undergraduate studies. He also unveiled plans to fight the recent scandal involving the sale of entrance examinations to the Law School. Wilhelm, born in Trnava, Slovakia, studied at the Czechoslovak Technical University (CVUT) and shortly after his graduation in 1961 began his career as an assistant in the nuclear physics department. In 1967, he left for a study stay in Dubai in the then-Soviet Union. Daniela Vrbova/Daniela Vrbova Winton and His Children in Prague Nicholas Winton, an Englishman who saved 669 mostly Jewish children in 1939, visited Prague to mark the premiere of Matej Minac's new film All My Loved Ones (Vsichni moji blizci) October 21. There were specialized organizations in central Europe in 1938 transporting endangered people to safe places: most of the people were Jews, communists or political dissidents. But safe countries placed strict immigration limits and England was the only country to accept unlimited numbers of refugees under 18. Winton, after being asked, was helping with the organization of children's transports (kindertransports). He was organizing permits and searching for parents or groups willing to take in the children. The first children's transport left for England June 30, 1939, but the last transport of September 1, 1939 failed to depart because war had begun. Winton could no longer help children, but he joined the Red Cross and enlisted in the RAF in 1942. The world found out about his heroic deed in 1988 when Winton's wife found several documents about the transports and letters from the parents of evacuated children in their house. She gave these materials to the BBC, which organized a meeting of Winton and "his children," who came to London from throughout the world. "It was an incredible feeling to sit next to the man who saved your life," said writer Vera Gissing, who left on the first transport. Winton visited the Czech Republic last year and was presented the T.G. Masaryk Medal by President Vaclav Havel. Veronika Hankusova and Daniela Vrbova/Daniela Vrbova Charles University Medal for Irish President Irish President Mary McAleese ended her first official visit to the Czech Republic October 21 (see Carolina 348). In the morning she had breakfast with Czech entrepreneurs. She said it was important not to be afraid to open the domestic market and to attract foreign investors with lower taxes. In the Patriot Hall in the Carolinum, McAleese received the Charles University Memorial Medal from Vice Rector Pavel Klener. In her speech she pointed to the need of "bridge-building" not only among European universities, but also among individuals. During her lunch with Prime Minister Milos Zeman, McAleese said she would do anything to help speed the accession of the Czech Republic to the EU, because it would improve Czech-Irish relations. Lubos Kratochvil/Ondrej Maly NEWS IN BRIEF * Helena Rognerova, director of Prague's Faculty Hospital in Motol, filed a criminal complaint against Health Minister Ivan David, who, she alleges, is blackmailing and manipulating her. David responded with a criminal complaint against Rognerova. The cause of the conflict is the company providing food services to the hospital. David calls it improper that the hospital would own the company and still pay it for its services. Rognerova says the ministry manipulated the new public tender and the minister himself forced her to sign the result of the tender. * The wave of Czech Romany refugees to Britain is receding. In September 195 Romany families requested asylum, a 25-per-cent decline from the previous month. The British Home Office released the data October 25. * The Czech Independent Television Company (CNTS), American-owned former exclusive service provider for TV NOVA, fired effective January 31 editors of the so-called emergency team, including one of the most popular anchor teams, Eva Jurinova and Zbynek Merunka. * Five deputies from Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the ruling Social Democrats and the Freedom Union proposed amendments to the Criminal Code strengthening the prosecution of expressions of fascist and communist ideology. According to the proposal, people publicly instigating class or religious hate would face up to two years in prison. * Three people have filed lawsuits against a Romany woman from Maticni Street in Usti nad Labem who insulted non-Romany citizens in a television interview. Iva Potrebova and Ondrej Maly/Ondrej Maly FROM SLOVAKIA State Medal for Chinese Ambassador Slovak President Rudolf Schuster decorated outgoing Chinese ambassador to Slovakia Tao Miao Fa with the Order of the White Cross October 21 in Bratislava. Fa said, "This is one of the greatest days in my life. The medal to me means an expression of the eternally good relations between the Slovak and Chinese people." Unlike in the Czech Republic, where the proposal by Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr to decorate the Chinese ambassador to Prague caused a wave of repulsion, there were no significant protests in Slovakia. Foreign Ministry official Jozef Chlebo said China is an important country and awarding a medal to the ambassador is not just a question of the preservation of democratic rights. Veronika Hankusova/Andrea Slovakova National Property Fund Management Ousted Premier Mikulas Dzurinda succeeded October 20, after more than three months of battles, to get the National Assembly to recall Ludovit Kanik and Ladislav Sklenar, respectively the president and vice president of the National Property Fund (FNM). Dzurinda presented the Nafta Gbely scandal as the main reason for their dismissal. FNM management allegedly enabled Vladimir Poor, an entrepreneur and former high-ranking official in former Premier Vladimir Meciar's Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), to sell Arad, the controlling owner of Nafta Gbely, to another company. In reality, however, the sale was not realized and the shares of Nafta Gbely remain in the hands of the FNM. Lubos Kratochvil/Andrea Slovakova ECONOMY Metallurgical Consortium Created With Prime Minister Milos Zeman looking on, the Czech Republic's three most important metallurgical companies - Nova Hut, Vitkovice and the Trinec Ironworks - signed an agreement October 25 to form a consortium. The assets of the consortium should be worth about 30 billion crowns with annual sales of 75 billion crowns, according to estimates in the daily Hospodarske noviny. The intention of the consortium will be to coordinate technology, production, strategy and purchasing effectively. Purchasing larger quantities of raw materials and limiting duplicate production should bring greater profits and eliminate mutual competition. Analysts praised the move from an economic standpoint and as a positive signal to the EU, which sets demanding conditions for metallurgical concerns. Lubos Kratochvil/Michael Bluhm Positive September Czech Trade Balance "The best result since April 1994," claims a report from the Czech Statistics Office about the billion-crown surplus in the September trade balance of the Czech Republic. Exports rose 11 per cent and imports 9.8 per cent over the past 12 months. September exports of 83.7 billion crowns are the second-highest in Czech history, trailing only June's total. Exports have been rising in crowns and in deutschmarks, and experts also praise the territorial and goods structures of export: exports to the EU are increasing (they now comprise 65 per cent of all export), particularly to Germany, and for the year the Czech Republic has a trading surplus of about 9 billion crowns with all EU countries. Czech companies are also exporting more goods with a higher added value. The greatest export growth is in automobiles, other means of transportation and industrial consumer goods (up 11 per cent since September 1998). Other signals of economic revival are the halt in the rise of the unemployment rate and the increase in foreign investment - foreign investment in the Czech Republic came to 2.5 billion USD for the first seven months of 1999. Dita Eckhardtova/Michael Bluhm Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid October 22) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 EUR = 36.615 country currency CZK ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 22.313 Great Britain 1 GBP 57.041 Denmark 1 DKK 4.925 Japan 100 JPY 33.044 Canada 1 CAD 23.371 IMF 1 XDR 47.872 Hungary 100 HUF 14.247 Norway 1 NOK 4.431 New Zealand 1 NZD 17.592 Poland 1 PLN 8.246 Greece 100 GRD 11.098 Slovakia 100 SKK 83.788 Slovenia 100 SIT 18.606 Sweden 1 SEK 4.232 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.880 USA 1 USD 34.430 Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) country currency CZK ----------------------------------------- Germany 1 DEM 18.721 Belgium 100 BEF 90.766 Finland 1 FIM 6.158 France 1 FRF 5.582 Ireland 1 IEP 46.491 Italy 1000 ITL 18.910 Luxemburg 100 LUF 90.766 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.615 Portugal 100 PTE 18.263 Austria 1 ATS 2.661 Spain 100 ESP 22.006 CULTURE National Gallery Buys Waldes Collection National Gallery General Director Milan Knizak October 20 signed a purchase contract with Jiri Waldes, heir of the valuable Waldes collection. The state will pay 102 million crowns for the collection, which, for example, contains some 20 works by Frantisek Kupka. The transaction took place at the last minute, because the next day the National Gallery would have lost its exclusive right to buy the collection. The original owner, Jindrich Waldes, lost the collection twice. It was first confiscated by the Gestapo and then by the later Czechoslovak communist regime. All the paintings were given back to the family after a 1996 court decision. The transaction occurred greatly thanks to Culture Minister Pavel Dostal, who was the first minister willing to negotiate the purchase, and to the Government, which quickly freed 100 million crowns for the purchase. Iva Potrebova/Jakub Jirovec Czech Film Returns to Holocaust All My Loved Ones, the new Czech-Slovak-Polish film, is the debut of Slovak director Matej Minac. The script was written by experienced playwright Jiri Hubac, the cast includes Josef Abrham, Jiri Bartoska and Libuse Safrankova - and the movie is not about Nicholas Winton (see above). His deed served the authors as a background theme for a serious drama about an ordinary family. The fictitious Jewish Silberstein family believed for a long time that in the 20th century the word genocide was only a historical relict. The occupation of Bohemia and Moravia in March 1939 caught them absolutely unprepared for the future. Only sudden clashes with the occupying forces made them fully aware of what was happening. It was too late to save the whole family and only little David, thanks to Winton's decisiveness, left on the last transport for Great Britain. Winton, played by British actor Rupert Graves, is not the central character and enters the film near its conclusion. The film deals with the motives that led parents to accept the departure of their children and the dilemma of whether to let them go and save them, even if it meant maybe never seeing them again, or to risk an uncertain future in the protectorate. The story does not end optimistically by emphasising the fact that 669 children were saved by Winton, but reminds viewers that the next transport could not depart from Prague because of the outbreak of World War II. The film tries to ease the tragic aspect of the story by closing with the BBC documentary sequence showing the reunion of Winton and "his children" after nearly 50 years from their first, fleeting encounter at Woodrow Wilson Station in Prague. Simon Dominik/Simon Dominik Ephraim Kishon Visits Prague The premiere of Israeli playwright Ephraim Kishon's The Marriage Certificate took place October 24 in Prague's Rokoko Theater with the author in attendance. The absurdist play is about the foibles of a modern Israeli family when a daughter decides to marry. Her parents cannot find their marriage certificate, which is necessary for their daughter's marriage. Uncertainty begins to creep into the family, and their situation absurdly unravels. The play is directed by Ondrej Zajic, while Jan Vlasak, Tatjana Medvecka and Marika Prochazkova perform in the main roles. Tomas Havlin/Jakub Jirovec CULTURE IN BRIEF * Sasa Gedeon's film Return of the The Idiot (Navrat Idiota) October 23 received the main prize at a festival of television and radio production in Berlin. The film was also nominated for the Felix, the European Oscar, in the category for best screenplay. The Return of the Idiot is one of the favorites to be selected as the Czech Republic's candidate for next year's Oscar for best foreign-language film. * Czech-Israeli writer Viktor Fischl October 25 received an honorary doctorate from the Charles University Evangelical Theological College. Fischl, who immigrated to Israel in 1949, writes about the Holocaust. Simon Dominik, Pavel Korinek/Jakub Jirovec SPORTS Sparta Advances to Champions League's Second Phase after Tie in Bordeaux Thanks to Tilburg's tie in Moscow, Sparta knew before its game against Bordeaux October 26 that a draw would be enough to advance to the Champions League second phase. Its strategy thus was not to allow a goal, and, after a scoreless tie, the team moved on. Sparta had to fight off a number of Bordeaux attacks. Sylvain Wiltord had an especially good chance to score after Jean-Christophe Rouviere's pass, but goalkeeper Tomas Postulka managed to divert the ball away from the goal. Postulka's confidence helped Sparta several more times, especially after a risky pass by Jiri Novotny and a near own-goal by Martin Hasek. Darina Johanidesova/Mirek Langer Sparta back from the Dead against Tilburg In its fourth game in the Champions League, Sparta defeated Tilburg 4-3 October 20 (also included in Carolina 348 after deadline). Sparta was down 0-2 after Mariano Bombarda's header in the 30th second and Dmitri Shoukov's goal in the fifth minute. The Czech team began to play more aggressively and scored before halftime as Jiri Novotny's header was successful after Vladimir Labant's corner kick. However, Mark Schenning's beautiful shot from a free kick quieted Sparta's new confidence. The game's turnaround began in the 54th minute, when Tomas Galasek, a Czech playing for Tilburg, fouled Libor Sionko and Labant converted the penalty kick. In the 62nd minute Miroslav Baranek tied the game at 3-3 and at the end of the game referee Oguz Sarvan from Turkey ordered another penalty kick and Labant's second goal gave Sparta all three points. David Luksu/Mirek Langer UEFA Cup: Slavia Prague Beats Grasshoppers Zurich 3:1 (Halftime 2:1) Slavia's manager Frantisek Cipro looked more like the looser than the winner at the end of the first match of the UEFA's Cup second round. "No, I am happy that we won," he assured all those present at the press conference and smiled a bit after all. Slavia beat Grasshoppers Zurich on home ground but the coach was worried about the received goal . "There's a lot to pay them back, and as regards this evening's match I thought we would do a bit better. I'd rather win 2:0." The cup's draw was filled with irony, sending Grasshoppers into Slavia's path in the second round. It was the team from Zurich that stopped Slavia on its way to the Champion's League three years ago by beating Slavia 5:0 and 1:0 - one of the worst defeats in the club's history. No trauma was apparent when Pavel Horvath ideally found Ivo Ulich, who was speeding upfield and whose accurately aimed shot opened the scoring. The joy did not last long, because after a corner kick the Grasshoppers' Hakan Yakin sent the ball just under the bar and tied the score. Tomas Kuchar literally blasted onto the pitch straight from the bench and shortly thereafter snatched the lead for his team. His shot bounced just in front of the Swiss goalkeeper and hit the net - 2:1. Zurich's defense couldn't stand up to the high-speed combination of their opponents. In the 51st minute the Swiss defense cracked under pressure as Horvath tipped the ball to Ulich, whose blistering shot from the box resulted in the final margin - 3:1. Slavia's chances in the away match are still quite high. "We have nothing to celebrate yet. The result is good but anything can happen," said Ulich. David Luksu/Simon Dominik UEFA Cup: Teplice Loses at Home to Mallorca Teplice's chances to advance to the third round of the UEFA Cup were lowered from 30 per cent to 15 per cent, said coach Josef Pesice. Teplice lost to Mallorca in the first game 1-2 (0-2 at the half). Both goals by the opponent were scored by Diego Tristan. First he scored in the 28th minute with a precise header, four minutes later his shot was deflected by defender Miroslav Rada past goalkeeper Libor Machacek. Pavel Verbir lowered the deficit in the 68th minute and Teplice shut down Mallorca, but another nice shot by Verbir bounced off the post. Martin Moravec/Mirek Langer Soccer League: Goalkeeper Cerny Scores The top Czech soccer league moved to the 11th round with second-place Sparta wining in Liberec thanks to an extra-time goal by Milan Fukal. First-place Slavia defeated another northern Bohemian team, Jablonec, more easily 4-0. Lukas Dosek and goalkeeper Radek Cerny, on a penalty shot, scored their first goals for Slavia. Slavia remained three points ahead of Sparta. Hradec Kralove left last place after a 1-0 win over Ceske Budejovice. Results of the 11th round of the soccer league: Liberec - Sparta Praha 1-2, Hradec Kralove - Ceske Budejovice 1-0, Ostrava - Brno 1-0, Bohemians Praha - Pribram 2-0, Olomouc - Opava 2-1, Drnovice - Zizkov 1-0, Blsany - Teplice 0-2, Slavia Praha - Jablonec 4-0. Standings: 1. Slavia Praha 27, 2. Sparta Praha 24, 3. Drnovice 20, 4. Ceske Budejovice 20, 5. Bohemians Praha 17, 6. Teplice 17, 7. Ostrava 16, 8. Liberec 12, 9. Brno 12, 10. Jablonec 12, 11. Olomouc 11, 12. Blsany 11, 13. Opava 10, 14. Pribram 10, 15. Hradec Kralove 9, 16. Zizkov 8. Martin Moravec/Mirek Langer Hockey Extraleague: Coach Chalupa Sacked The management of the Pardubice hockey club fired coach Milan Chalupa after a losing streak during which Pardubice failed to earn a point in five consecutive games. Club sports director Josef Palecek, who replaced Chalupa, will try to stop the streak. Illness affecting the majority of Trinec's players affected the schedule of the 15th and 16th rounds of the extraleague. Trinec had to postpone games against Sparta and in Havirov. Sparta and Havirov thus preplayed their game of the 20th round. Vsetin found another new player: Belarussia's Oleg Antonenko played quite well in the game against Vitkovice (particularly considering his three-day train trip to the Czech Republic). In other news, Litvinov has not lost in seven games, and Zlin goalkeeper Vladimir Hudacek recorded his fifth shutout this year at home against Havirov. Results of the 15th round: Ceske Budejovice - Plzen 1-1, Pardubice - Litvinov 1-2, Kladno - Karlovy Vary 2-1, Slavia Praha - Znojmo 1-4, Zlin - Havirov 4-0, Vitkovice - Vsetin 1-1. Results of the 16th round: Vsetin - Zlin 3-3, Plzen - Kladno 6-3, Litvinov - Ceske Budejovice 2-1, Karlovy Vary - Slavia Praha 1-1, Znojmo - Vitkovice 2-2. Preplayed game of the 20th round: Havirov - Sparta 3-5. Standings: 1. Plzen 25, 2. Zlin 22, 3. Vsetin 21, 4. Litvinov 19, 5. Sparta Praha 18, 6. Ceske Budejovice 17, 7. Trinec 15, 8. Vitkovice 13, 9. Karlovy Vary 13, 10. Slavia Praha 13, 11. Kladno 12, 12. Pardubice 12, 13. Znojmo 12, 14. Havirov 8. Darina Johanidesova/Mirek Langer SPORTS IN BRIEF * Five goals in seven minutes of the second period broke Sparta Praha's back in a European Hockey League game in Helsinki. Sparta lost 3-6 to IFK Helsinki and is third in its group. * Czech track cyclists in the World Championships in Berlin won four qualifying places for the Sydney Olympics. Pavel Buran again confirmed his membership in the world elite, finishing ninth in the men's pursuit. Martin Moravec/Mirek Langer WEATHER Individuals keen to celebrate outdoors the 81st anniversary founding of Czechoslovakia October 28, can expect gloomy weather with morning fog. Daytime temperatures will not rise far past 10 degrees Celsius/50 degrees Fahrenheit, and at night might fall to freezing. Walks through the autumn foliage could be accompanied by rain: more proof, that fall is upon us. Daniela Vrbova/Daniela Vrbova 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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