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 366, Friday, March 10, 2000. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (March 1 - March 8) Madeleine Albright Visits Czech Republic The United States' Secretary of State Madeleine Albright arrived March 5 in Prague for a three-day official visit. Her visit's was foremost to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, the founder and first president of Czechoslovak, and the first anniversary of the Czechs' entrance into North Atlantic Treaty Organization. After meeting with Czech President Vaclav Havel, Albright said she views the current situation in Kosovo with alarm. She also thanked the Czech Army for joining the international peace action, but she asked for more Czech soldiers in Kosovo. Havel assured Albright that the Czech Republic will not export anything to the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran. On March 6, Albright visited Brno and Masaryk's supposed birthplace near Hodonin. Albright talked with young Romany representatives and received an Honorary Medal from Masaryk University in Brno. Albright then visited Masaryk's Museum in Hodonin. Albright also talked with Prime Minister Milos Zeman and she said she hopes the fight over TV NOVA will be finished soon. She then gave a speech at the Foreign Ministry. She called Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic a criminal and told Serbian opposition and independent media to fight against him. She said the USA wants peace in the Balkans, but Europe must also help. Albright unveiled a new statue of Masaryk on Prague's Hradcany Square. In her speech, made in Czech, Albright talked about Masaryk with admiration. She also compared Havel to Masaryk. Alzbeta Trousilova/Jakub Jirovec Czech Republic Celebrates Anniversary of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk's Birth Celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk (March 3, 1850) began March 2 at a conference attended by Prime Minister Milos Zeman and Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus. President Vaclav Havel opened Masaryk's Museum in the presidential residence in Lany and with American Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Prague Mayor Jan Kasl unveiled the new Masaryk statue in Prague. The celebrations ended March 7 at a ceremony in the Vladislav Hall in the Prague Castle. Klaus exploited the conference to air the harshest criticism of Masaryk heard since 1989, although his words were but a thinly veiled attack on Havel. Klaus criticized Masaryk for alleged ideological neutrality, being non-partisan, leftist leanings and for trying harder to impress abroad than at home. Masaryk (1850 - 1937) was a sociologist, philosopher and politician. He was elected the first president of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Jakub Tronicek/Jakub Jirovec Deputies Pass 2000 State Budget The longest provisionary budget has ended. Deputies from the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) and the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) March 3 outvoted in the Chamber of Deputies the other parties by 127 to 36. Thus, the state will have plan for income of 592.2 billion crowns and expenses of 627.4 billion crowns. The deficit should be 35.2 billion crowns. ODS support for the budget was based on a January agreement with the Social Democrats in exchange for personnel changes in the Social Democrat's government, lowering the deficit and trimming social expenses. Communist deputies and six ODS deputies abstained, while the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), Freedom Union (US) and deputies Jiri Payne (ODS) and Marie Machata (independent) voted against the budget. The budget still has to be signed by the president. Compared to last year, expenses will increase by about 22 billion crowns. The Ministry for Labor and Social Affairs will have largest share of the budget (225 billion crowns). The Army will have more money - it is going to invest in repairing and buying aircraft. Also, the Interior, Justice and Education ministries will have more money, dividing among themselves tens of billions. The Health, Agriculture and Transportation ministries will receive less than a year ago. Jan Skala/Ondrej Maly Chamber of Deputies Passes Law Banning Export to Iran "You can't get plutonium from ventilators," said Communist deputy Vojtech Filip about the forthcoming ban on the export of technical devices for the Bushehr Iranian nuclear power plant by ZVVZ Milevsko (see Carolina 365). The Chamber of Deputies March 8 decided to ban all possible exports to the Bushehr power plant. The law was passed into the Senate and discussions continue about how to deal with similar export plans. Prime Minister Milos Zeman said he is afraid other companies will use the state budget for their enrichment, if state compensation for lost exports does not include only ZVVZ Milevsko. Compensation should be substitute contracts and financial help organized by the state worth 230 million crowns. The owner of ZVVZ Milevsko, GES Holding, presented their own view on compensation: contracts for a Ukrainian nuclear power plant and an evaluation of the Iranian export at 500 million crowns. The government refused to discuss GES Holding's proposals and told them to sue. The Trade Ministry emphasized in their statement that the company did not suffered any loss, because the contract had not yet been signed and ZVVZ Milevsko knew last year about negative reactions toward the deal. Marek Uhlir/Veronika Hankusova Personnel Changes in Government Coming Soon Shortly after the state budget bill was approved March 3, Prime Minister Milos Zeman announced that within two days he would inform the ministers who will be recalled soon. Later that day he met Interior Minister Vaclav Grulich. Regional Development Minister Jaromir Cisar, Transportation Minister Antonin Peltram and Minister without Portfolio Jaroslav Basta met with Zeman March 6. The Social Democrats promised to reconstruct the government if the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) voted for the state budget bill, which they did (see above). Zeman said he had discussed changes in his Cabinet with the above ministers, who have long been expected to be recalled from the government. Ministers Grulich and Cisar said after the meetings with Zeman that he had given them time to think whether they would resign. Grulich's deadline is in 14 days, while Cisar has to respond by the end of March. Media speculate that the likely future ministers will be Social Democratic Parliamentary Club Chairman Stanislav Gross (Interior), party Vice Chairman Petr Lachnit (Regional Development), deputy Miroslav Kapoun (Transportation) and Office of the Government Chief of Staff Karel Brezina (Minister without Portfolio). The atmosphere surrounding the changes has been tense for some time; politicians, including President Vaclav Havel, urged Zeman to act more quickly and more transparently. The ministers waited with uncertainty about what Zeman would do. Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Rychetsky said March 5 that the prepared Cabinet changes are too extensive. Jan Skala/Simon Dominik NEWS IN BRIEF * U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright does not aspire to be the Czech president, said a statement presented to the Czech media by the American Embassy to the Czech Republic in Prague March 1. In September 1998, Czech President Vaclav Havel hinted publicly that he would like to see Albright as his successor. According to Havel spokesman Ladislav Spacek, Havel did not mention Albright as a specific candidate, he just wanted to describe the type of personality appropriate for the office of the presidency. The concept of Albright's candidacy was raised in Time magazine February 28 and Albright said she was flattered by the speculation, but she will not be a candidate for the office. She said she loves the place of her birth but her loyalty belongs to the United States. * The new Copyright Act, corresponding with EU standards and passed by the Chamber of Deputies March 3, will bring pronounced changes. The protection of the copyrights has been prolonged from 50 years to 70 years after the author's death. According to Culture Minister Pavel Dostal, authors' rights are inalienable, non-transferable and cannot be given up. The new bill will include dubbers, who no longer will have to give up the rights to their voices and will get the money from re-runs of programs they dubbed. * The Czech Republic lost for the first time at the European Court of Human Rights. According to the European Court, the Czech Constitutional Court violated certain rules of legal procedure in the case of the Otto family, descendants of the Rakona detergent producer, and therefore the state is obligated to pay more than 10 million crowns in compensation. Because Rakona was nationalized in 1946, before the Communists took control in 1948, the Restitution Act does not apply in the case. The state sold the factory in 1991 and the Otto family began legal proceedings against the state. Gabriela Bobkova, Petra Kovacova, Lenka Ludvikova/Darina Johanidesova FROM SLOVAKIA Great Britain Supports Slovak EU Membership, Will Still Require Visas There was no answer for Slovakia concerning when Great Britain will cancel visa requirements for Slovak citizens. At the same time, London expressed support for the European integration efforts of Slovakia, during the one-day visit of British Foreign Minister Robin Cook to Slovakia March 6. Although Slovakia expects reassessment of the decision to require visas from fall 1998 (introduced because of the large number of Romanies requesting asylum there) later this year, Cook did not make a clear statement about the issue. In his interview for the daily Pravda and Slovak Television, he said the problem would be followed. Cook said he believes the changes taking place in Slovakia and the changes being made in Britain will combine to change the situation and allow Britain to re-evaluate its position. During the first visit to Slovakia by a high-ranking representative of Great Britain since Premier Mikulas Dzurinda came to power, Cook spoke about the planned memorial for President Jozef Tiso of the wartime Nazi puppet state of Slovakia. He complimented the opposition to the memorial expressed by Slovakia's leaders and said the West appreciates and respects people who fought against Nazi ideology and fought in the Slovak National Uprising, and that these people are heroes worthy of esteem. Andrea Slovakova/Daniela Vrbova Slovakia Expects Referendum, Early Elections Not Certain About 500,000 people have signed a petition to hold a referendum on calling early elections (the minimum number of signatures for a referendum is 350,000). The referendum, proposed by the opposition Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS, see Carolina 365), will be held, but its results will be valid only if more than half of Slovakia's eligible voters participate. The Constitution, however, gives the plebiscite the character of a recommendation, which the government coalition can decide to ignore. Andrea Slovakova/Daniela Vrbova ECONOMY New Mobile Phone Operator on Czech Market The mobile phone operator Czech Mobile launched commercial operation of its Oskar network March 1. Czech Mobile is the Czech market's third mobile phone operator, in addition to Eurotel and RadioMobil. By the end of the year Czech Mobile said it hopes to attract up to 200,000 clients, offering low prices and quality service. The most serious problem for the new operator is its low coverage, currently reaching about half the Czech population. Czech Mobile says it will increase coverage to 83 per cent by June and up to 95 per cent by the end of the year. Czech Mobile also said it plans to sell telephones on the Internet. In reaction to Czech Mobile, Eurotel and RadioMobil have reduced the prices of some of their services. Czech Mobile is a consortium of the Canadian telecommunication company Telesystem International Wireless and the local Investment and Postal Bank (Investicni a postovni banka, IPB), and with a minority share held by the Italian company Priority Telecom. Gabriela Bobkova/Denisa Vitkova ECONOMY IN BRIEF * Air Ostrava March 1 cancelled because of financial problems its flights between Prague and Ostrava. The company had daily flown about 200 passengers on two flights each way. The connection between Prague and Ostrava is now served by the company Fischer Air, which has one flight daily. In the near future the empty corridor should be filled by Czech Airlines (CSA), which says it is preparing aircrafts and a flight schedule. * In connection to the worldwide rise in oil prices, the price of gasoline in the Czech Republic continues to climb - drivers now pay more than 27 crowns for one liter, with further price increases expected. Pavel Novotny, Lenka Ludvikova/Denisa Vitkova Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid March 10) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 EUR = 35.545 country currency CZK ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 22.659 Great Britain 1 GBP 58.381 Denmark 1 DKK 4.771 Japan 100 JPY 34.665 Canada 1 CAD 25.341 IMF 1 XDR 49.428 Hungary 100 HUF 13.846 Norway 1 NOK 4.376 New Zealand 1 NZD 18.143 Poland 1 PLN 8.970 Greece 100 GRD 10.652 Slovakia 100 SKK 85.558 Slovenia 100 SIT 17.549 Sweden 1 SEK 4.205 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.129 USA 1 USD 36.939 Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) country currency CZK ----------------------------------------- Germany 1 DEM 18.174 Belgium 100 BEF 88.114 Finland 1 FIM 5.978 France 1 FRF 5.419 Ireland 1 IEP 45.133 Italy 1000 ITL 18.357 Luxemburg 100 LUF 88.114 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.130 Portugal 100 PTE 17.730 Austria 1 ATS 2.583 Spain 100 ESP 21.363 CULTURE Return of the Idiot Wins Five Czech Lions The seventh Czech Lion film awards ceremony took place March 4 in Prague's Lucerna Palace. The jury of the Czech Motion Picture and Television Academy chose from the 17 movies filmed in the Czech Republic in 1999. The most Lions were taken by the prohibitive favorite, the bittersweet tragicomedy Return of the Idiot (Navrat idiota). The 10-pound crystal glass statuette was given to Anna Geislerova for Best Supporting Role, composer Vladimir Godar for the Score, director Sasa Gedeon for the Original Screenplay and Direction and producer Petr Oukropec for Best Picture. Five wins out of 11 nominations were still not the domination many expected, but still represents the third-largest collection, tied with The Garden (Zahrada). More Lions were given only to Kolya (six) and to the record-holder from last year, Sekal Must Die (Je treba zabit Sekala, 10). The drama Chicken Melancholic (Kure melancholik) received two statuettes. Awarded were architects Karel Vacek and Vaclav Vohlidal for Creative Execution and Martin Cech, Jiri Macak and director Jaroslav Brabec (his second Lion) for Cinematography. Eliska Loves the Wild Life (Eliska ma rada divocinu) gained one Lion for Sound, the work of Radim Hladik Jr., Ivo Spalj (both two-time winners) and Radek Rondevald. Two motion pictures were 100-per-cent successful, turning their one nomination into an award - Alois Fisarek, a two-time winner, received a Czech Lion for his Editing of Canary (Kanarek), and Tereza Brodska as Best Actress for her part in Double Role (Dvojrole). The actress received her second Lion from the hands of Academy-Award winner William Hurt. The movie All My Loved Ones (Vsichni moji blizci, see Carolina 349) was honored with a Lion for Jiri Bartoska, the Best Supporting Actor. The ceremony was somewhat of a disappointment for the creators of the popular retro-comedy Cozy Nests (Pelisky) which had six nominations. The film won the prize as last year's most successful movie at the box office (it is heading for the 1-million-viewers mark) but took only one Lion, for Best Actor. That went to Jiri Kodet for his perhaps once-in-a-lifetime performance. The 62-year-old received the statuette for the second time in the last three years and did not hide tears of emotion. One other Czech cinematography legend appeared on the stage at the beginning of the ceremony. The Czech Lion for Lifetime Achievement was given to cameraman Miroslav Ondricek, who filmed most of Milos Forman's movies and was nominated for an Academy Award for Amadeus. Foreign directors he worked with include Lindsay Anderson (The White Bus, If...), George Roy Hill (The World According to Garp), Mike Nichols (Silkwood) and Penny Marshall (Awakenings, A League of Their Own). Simon Dominik/Simon Dominik CULTURE IN BRIEF * The exhibit Birth of the Metropolis - Modern Architecture and the City in Central Europe 1890-1937 closed in the Municipal House in Prague March 1. The exhibit, part of the project Prague European City of Culture 2000, will move to Montreal, Los Angeles, Vienna and Paris. * New York musician, producer, essayist, vegetarian and fighter for animal rights Moby performed in front of a sold-out Lucerna Hall March 6. Moby, a descendant of Herman Melville, presented hits from his last album and performed songs also done at his last show in Prague two years ago. Dita Eckhardtova, Michal Pospisil/Michael Bluhm SPORTS Sparta Won First in Champions League Sparta Praha hosted Hertha Berlin in a UEFA Champions League game March 7. One week after Sparta tied them in Berlin 1-1, it won 1-0 at home and with four points in four games it is third in its group's standings and has a chance to advance. Milan Fukal's boot from at least 20 meters in the 90th minute miraculously got past goalie Christian Fiedler. Thanks to Fukal's goal, Sparta won its first game in the second phase. "I think we have a chance (to advance) and we'll fight for it. We'll take it by the throat foremost in the game in Porto, where (the advance) will be decided," said Coach Ivan Hasek. Dita Kristanova/Mirek Langer Slavia Advances to UEFA Cup Quarterfinal Slavia Praha went to Italy's Udine for a UEFA Cup rematch March 7. Although Slavia lost 1-2, it advanced to the quarterfinal; the first game in Prague finished with Slavia's 1-0 win, and Slavia advanced because it scored more goals on the opponent's pitch. Slavia opened the game promisingly, but its opponent took the lead. Stefano Fiore scored after an unintentional pass from Petr Vlcek. Slavia did not give up. In the 42nd minute Pavel Horvath centered a free kick and Libor Koller's header tied the score. When the Italian club scored a second goal after the break, Slavia tightened its defense and preserved the 1-2 score. Slavia will play Leeds in the quarterfinals. Dita Kristanova/Mirek Langer Sparta and Slavia Win on Last-Minute Goals Liberec, which had not scored a goal in the spring session of the soccer league, met league's leader Slavia; in an average game, both teams vainly struggled to score. At the end of the game, Slavia goalkeeper Radek Cerny saved Lazzaro Liuni's chance, and then Slavia's Pavel Horvath's shot in added time ended in Liberec's net. Sparta started the game against Teplice with two early goals from Miroslav Baranek (in the first and ninth minutes). Sparta then failed to convert any more chances and its game stalled. Teplice took advantage and tied within four minutes. In the 89th minute, Petr Fousek's shot hit Sparta's crossbar. Sparta substitute Tomas Rosicky kicked from the corner one minute later and Milan Fukal ensured a win for Sparta with his header. Results of the 19th round: Liberec - Slavia Praha 0-1, Bohemians Praha - Zizkov 1-0, Sparta Praha - Teplice 3-2, Ostrava - Drnovice 3-1, Brno - Opava 1-0, Blsany - Pribram 2-1, Hradec Kralove - Olomouc 0-0, Ceske Budejovice - Jablonec 2-0. Standings: 1. Slavia Praha 49, 2. Sparta Praha 45, 3. Drnovice 33, 4. Ceske Budejovice 27, 5. Bohemians Praha 27, 6. Blsany 27, 7. Ostrava 24, 8. Teplice 24, 9. Pribram 24, 10. Olomouc 22, 11. Brno 22, 12. Liberec 22, 13. Opava 20, 14. Zizkov 17, 15. Hradec Kralove 16, 16. Jablonec 16. Mirek Langer/Mirek Langer Hockey Extraleague: Two Rounds to Playoffs The two rounds played in the past week (the 49th and 50th) and one postponed game treated fans to a rain of goals. For example: Havirov defeated Znojmo in a 49th-round game 8-2. In a game in Kladno, Litvinov players Karel Sterbak, Daniel Branda, Petr Rosol and Robert Reichel scored four goals in 114 seconds. Kladno got healthy in the next round, taking one point from the leader Sparta with a 3-3 tie. Karlovy Vary forward Miroslav Barus scored three goals (two of them shorthanded) and added one assist in a game against Havirov. Slavia Praha's Vladimir Ruzicka, captain of the Nagano Olympics gold-medal winners, played the last game of his career in Litvinov (his former team). With a good performance, he helped Slavia to a 4-1 win. Two teams from the top of the standings, Ceske Budejovice and Sparta Praha, met in a postponed game of the 43rd round played March 7. In the second period, Budejovice led 7-2, but the game finished with a thrilling 7-6 win. Ceske Budejovice has not lost in its last 25 home games. Results of the 49th round: Sparta Praha - Karlovy Vary 4-0, Vsetin - Plzen 1-2,, Havirov - Znojmo 8-2, Ceske Budejovice - Slavia Praha 4-2, Pardubice - Vitkovice 4-2, Litvinov - Kladno 6-2, Trinec - Zlin 5-3. Results of the 50th round: Slavia Praha - Litvinov 4-1, Plzen - Trinec 3-4, Zlin - Pardubice 5-2, Vitkovice - Ceske Budejovice 6-1, Kladno - Sparta Praha 3-3, Karlovy Vary - Havirov 8-2, Znojmo - Vsetin 3-3. Postponed game of the 43rd round: Ceske Budejovice - Sparta Praha 7-6. Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 73, 2. Zlin 62, 3. Trinec 61, 4. Vsetin 61, 5. Ceske Budejovice 60, 6. Plzen 59, 7. Litvinov 54, 8. Pardubice 44, 9. Znojmo 43, 10. Slavia Praha 39, 11. Karlovy Vary 38, 12. Kladno 37, 13. Havirov 36, 14. Vitkovice 33. Jaroslav Sauer/Mirek Langer WEATHER My winter boots fell apart unexpectedly yesterday. Never mind, I told myself and fished out my spring shoes from the closet. Aaaargh, cold, wet weather with temperatures about 3 degrees Celsius/37 degrees Fahrenheit reprimanded me severely for being an early bird. But what to do? Use my ski boots? Perpetual rains in the mountains made the snow melt so fast that the Labe and Jizera rivers overflowed their banks and flooded (after deadline) the streets of Trutnov, Zelezny Brod and Hostinne. Petra Kovacova/Milan Smid 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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