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 ISSN 121-5040 tel: (+4202) 22112252, fax: (+4202) 22112219 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 383, Monday, July 17, 2000. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (JUNE 28 - JULY 12) Deputies Override Havel's Veto of Electoral Act The Chamber of Deputies overrode President Vaclav Havel's veto of the new Electoral Act (see Carolina 382) July 10. The changes to the act should, according to their supporters, make easier the creation of the majority government. According to the act's opponents, however, it favors larger parties by adding majority elements to the present proportional system. As expected, the Civic Democrats (ODS) and all but four deputies of the ruling Social Democrats (CSSD) voted for the Electoral Act. Both parties agreed on the amendments to the act in January. Communist (KSCM), Christian Democrat (KDU-CSL) and Freedom Union (US) deputies left the voting hall in protest. Even if they had voted, they would not have had an influence on the voting, because a simple majority of 101 votes was sufficient (ODS and CSSD have together 137 deputies). Senators from the US, KDU-CSL and the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) delcared they will appeal to the Constitutional Court if Havel does not. Havel said he will act as his conscience leads him, but only after the act is officially published. If the Constitutional Court does not declare the act unconstitutional, it will be used in next general elections in 2002. Czech citizens abroad should also be able to vote for the first time. Jakub Trnka/Ondrej Maly Temelin Nuclear Power Plant Being Fueled The Temelin nuclear power plant may be functional sooner than expected. The Czech Energetic Company (CEZ) obtained July 5, almost two months before a government deadline, permission to fuel the power plant from the State Office for Nuclear Safety (SUJB) and the next day CEZ started to fuel the reactor in the first block. Ecological activists from the Rainbow (Duha) movement began to mark out the boundaries of the 13-kilometer radius around Temelin, calling it the danger zone. The movement July 11 submitted its petition Referendum 2000 to the Chamber of Deputies. About 115,000 citizens signed the petition, demanding a plebiscite on the opening of the power plant. According to Vaclav Klaus, chairman of the Chamber of Deputies, it is too late to stop the costly project. Austria (Temelin is located in southern Bohemia) talked about Temelin at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrer complained that the Czechs did not inform Vienna about the progress in construction as promised, and unexpectedly started to fuel the power plant. The Czech daily Pravo quotes Dana Drabova, chairwoman of the SUJB, who said all nuclear safety offices in EU member states had been informed, including the International Agency for Atomic Energy. Mirka Stipkova/Ondrej Maly Chamber of Deputies Fails to Elect Ombudsman Czech citizens will wait for their defender against the caprices of bureaucracy - the ombudsman - for months. The law creating the office took effect in April, but the deputies Refused to accpet any of the nominees. Charter 77 signatory Anna Sabatova and computer expert and human-rights activist Vaclav Trojan, both proposed by the president, did not make it past the first round. In the July 11 second round, deputies could choose between Chairman of the Political Prisoners Confederation Stanislav Drobny, proposed by the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), and School Office Director in Zdar nad Sazavou Simeona Zikmundova, proposed by the Christian Democrat senators. The Senate and the president must propose new candidates. Mirka Stipkova/Ondrej Maly FOREIGN AFFAIRS Havel Stays in Croatia for Vacation after Two-Day Visit President Vaclav Havel met July 11 in Dubrovnik with the presidents of Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia. Tension between Montenegro and Serbia (which escalated after the recent decision by the Belgrade Parliament to change the rules for electing Serbia's president) should be resolved peacefully, but aside from political means "it is necessary to consider even the alternative of a show of strength." Czech Foreign Ministry speaker Ales Pospisil expressed his displeasure with recent events in Serbia but rejected any resolution by force. Jakub Trnka/Michael Bluhm FROM SLOVAKIA President Schuster Wins Fight for His Life The condition of 66-year-old President Rudolf Schuster, whose life was in danger after the perforation of his large intestine, has significantly improved since he was moved to the University Clinic in Innsbruck, Austria.The president is able to communicate non-verbally, is breathing on his own and has resumed eating. Schuster underwent his first operation June 19 in Bratislava (see Carolina 381) and his second June 23 (see Carolina 382). The situation was at its worst on the night of June 28, when his brain, liver and kidneys began to fail as a result of a serious infection of his stomach cavity. Pneumonia had been diagnosed three days earlier. At his family's request a special airplane flew Schuster to Innsbruck, where he was treated by a team of specialists led by Ernst Bodner, known for perhaps saving Czech President Vaclav Havel's life with a an operation on Havel's perforated intestine. Schuster's condition was considered stable but serious the day after his arrival. In the following week doctors began reducing reducing the drugs keeping Schister unconscious and gradually took him off repiratory machines. Schuster was nearly breathing on his own July 7 and reacted to doctor's questions with hand and eye movements. Schuster appears to have avoided brain damage and his circulation and kidneys are in excellent condition. The unwillingness of the Bratislava doctors to consult foreign experts, serious problems with providing truthful information and criticism of the quality of healthcare led to the founding of an expert commission by Premier Mikulas Dzurinda. The commission's report on the period of June 14-25 states that the treatment of Schsuuster cannot be charactertized as ideal, that necessary methods of diagnosis were not used and that documentation was handled improperly. After the report was issued, Interior Ministry Hospital Director Ivan Hantak and Health Minister Tibor Sagat resigned (see below). Presidential authority is split among Dzurinda, National Assembly Chairman Josef Migas and the government during Schuster's illness. Migas can sign bills into law, while Dzurinda is in charge of the armed forces and represents Slovakia abroad. Andrea Slovakova/Michael Bluhm Health Minister Resigns Health Minster Tibor Sagat resigned July 6, taking political responsibility for the mistakes made during President Rudolf Schuster's treatment. Roman Kovac was named July 12 to replace Sagat. Saget had July 3 called his own performance "excellent" during Schuster's illness, but his resignation was called for from many corners. Sagat reportedly later said he could have proceeded more agressively, but did not always receive truthful information. He called the direction of healthcare transformation correct, while pointing out its financial problems - the Health Ministry is expected to post a deficit of 2.5 - 4 billion Slovak crowns this year. Andrea Slovakova/Michael Bluhm FROM SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF * A nationwide search was called July 4 for former Slovak Information Service chief Ivan Lexa. Lexa, charged with orchestrating the kidnapping of former President Michal Kovac's son, had failed to appear for a scheduled doctor's visit. Lexa's lawyers had claimed Lexa's high blood pressure and various other ailments prevent him from being able to stand trial. Andrea Slovakova/Michael Bluhm ECONOMY Ten deputies, two from each party represented in the Chamber of Deputies, will have one year to investigate the case of the Investment and Postal Bank (see Carolina 381, 382). This investigative commission was founded in a nearly unanimous vote by deputies July 4, with the lone no vote coming from chamber Chairman Vaclav Klaus. The commission, against the wishes of Klaus and his Civic Democratic Party (ODS), will also be able to investigate the state's role in IPB when Klaus was prime minister and when the state also lost its majority control over IPB. The commission will have the same authority as any organ in the criminal process but will not have access to material subject to banking secrecy. A permanent 13-member Banking Committee was also established July 4 at the suggestion of the Communists (KSCM). Jakub Trnka/Michael Bluhm Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid July 17) ---------------------------------------------------------- 1 EUR = 35.460 country currency CZK ---------------------------------------- Australia 1 AUD 22.143 Great Britain 1 GBP 56.833 Denmark 1 DKK 4.753 Japan 100 JPY 35.076 Canada 1 CAD 25.496 IMF 1 XDR 50.066 Hungary 100 HUF 13.628 Norway 1 NOK 4.345 New Zealand 1 NZD 17.422 Poland 1 PLN 8.735 Greece 100 GRD 10.530 Slovakia 100 SKK 82.842 Slovenia 100 SIT 17.041 Sweden 1 SEK 4.238 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.890 USA 1 USD 37.854 Exchange Rates of countries participaiting in the euro (converted from the euro rate) Belgium 100 BEF 87.903 Finland 1 FIM 5.964 France 1 FRF 5.406 Ireland 1 IEP 45.025 Italy 1000 ITL 18.314 Luxemburg 100 LUF 87.903 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.091 Portugal 100 PTE 17.687 Austria 1 ATS 2.577 Germany 1 DEM 18.130 Spain 100 ESP 21.312 CULTURE Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Begins The 35th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival began with the traditional carriage ride by visiting stars and the showing of the film Aberdeen from Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland. The festival, in which 19 films from around the world will compete in the competition section, will last until July 15. In the competition section the Czech representataive is Drahomira Vihanova's The Pilgrimmage of Students Peter and Jacob, which deals with the ambiguity of justice and the uniqueness of the Romany. Other sections at the festival include independent films, Czech films of the past year, a documentary competition, award-winning films from other festivals, Variety magazine's Critics' Choice and a special section on Bosnia-Hercegovina. Stars attending this year's festival include Woody Harrelson, Alicia Silverstone, Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, Eli Wallach, Ed Norton, Carlos Saura and Franco Nero. The opening of the festival was marked by rain and remarkably cold weather. Lenka Nejezchlebova/Michael Bluhm SPORTS Sokols Meet For 13th Time in Prague The 13th Sokol Meeting (Vsesokolsky slet) took place in Prague's Strahov Stadium during the first July weekend. This year, Sokol members rented and filled to capacity the smaller, Evzen Rosicky Stadium instead of the Grand Strahov Stadium, the site of their previous meetings. Spectators could watch the mass physical exercises of up to 2,860 gymnasts. Also, members of Sokol organizations of the United States, Canada, Slovakia, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Great Britain, Italy and Germany came to Prague. According to the Czech Sokol Community, 21,000 men, women and children exercised during the weekend. The July 8 afternoon program started with a performance of 1,728 members of the Faithful Guard, who commenced their exercises to the accompaniment of the fabled march Into the New Life by Josef Suk. It was followed by an exercise by parents with children to a composition of Slovak sokols, It Is Us (To sme my). Although there were only 416 Slovaks, they were rewarded with a large ovation for their excellent synchronization and color effects made with their dresses and scarves. Younger schoolchildren and preschoolers also performed in the first half of the program, which was ended by a number for men and women called Enthusiasms and created by the Czech Association of Sport for Everyone (CASPV). In the evening, the first National Meeting Evening was organized, accompanied by other performances by CASPV members and ended by fireworks. Sokols then showed themselves to Prague citizens and tourists in their garb and exercise costumes July 9, when they went through the city in their traditional Meeting March. Older Sokols often did not hide their tears of emotion and younger ones seemed to be proud of the Sokol insignia. The gymnast society Sokol (the Czech word for falcon) was found in 1862 by Miroslav Tyrs and Jindrich Fugner. The first meeting was organized in 1882 and 10 more followed till 1948. Sokols were members of foreign armies and anti-Nazi resistance groups in World Wars I and II. In 1948, the largest Sokol meeting ever took place in the Grand Strahov Stadium, in which more then 100,000 gymnasts participated; in the same year the communist government disbanded the Sokols. The tradition of the mass exercises continued under the Czechoslovak Union of Physical Education as the Spartakiads, while the Sokols continued their activities abroad. After 1989, the Czech Sokol Community quickly returned to activity, in 1990 its representatives participated in a meeting in Vienna and in 1994 organized the 12th Slet in Prague. From Strahov Daniela Vrbova/Mirek Langer SPORTS IN BRIEF * The Czech team won two complete sets of medals in the flatwater anoeing uropean Championships in Poznan, Poland. Two-time Olympic champion Martin Doktor won the 1,000m race and finished third in the 200m sprint. Also, the canoe foursome of Petr Prochazka, Jan Brecka, Karel Kozisek and Petr Fuksa won the 200m. The double-canoe of Prochazka and Brecka and the double-kayak of Radek Zaruba and Pavel Holubar won silver medals and the canoe-four team of Fuksa, Netusil, Machac and Jirasky added the last bronze. * Swimmer Ilona Hlavackova won a bronze medal in the European Championships in Helsinki. In the 50m backstroke she broke the Czech record by nine-hundredths of second with a time of 29.18 seconds. The Czech Republic won two bronze medals in the championships - Jana Pechanova finished third in the 5-km race. * All three Czech teams - Chmel Blsany, Sigma Olomouc and Marila Pribram - advanced to the third round of the UEFA Intertoto Cup. Blsany defeated Belarus' Transmash Mogilev 6-2 and 2-0, Olomouc, after a 0-2 loss in Bulgaria, hammered Velbazd Kjustendil 8-0. Pribram advanced past Austria's LASK Linz at the end of their rematch. After a 1-1 tie in Linz, Pribram won 3-2 on the goals of Marek Kulic and Daniel Smejkal in the 87th and 90th minutes. Pribram will host Aston Villa in the third round; if both teams advance to the fourth round, Olomouc will meet Blsany. Sports in brief by Ondrej Trunecka/Mirek Langer WEATHER The beginning of July this year looks suspiciously like fall. It's cloudy, rainy nighttime temperatures are around 10 degrees Celsius/50 degrees Fahrenheit, and in the daytime they do not approach 20 degrees Celsius/68 degrees Fahrenheit. The strongest earthquake in 20 years (4.8 on the Richter scale) was recorded July 11 in Austria and Hungary. Just outside Prague, in Pruhonice, the Richter scale registered a 4.4. Dear Readers, We wish to apologize for the tardiness of this issue and Carolina 381, and we believe your Carolina will not be afflicted again this summer. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by the delay and hope you enjoy our service. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with attribution to CAROLINA. Subscription is free. 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