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 394, Thursday, November 16, 2000 FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (November 8 - November 15) Senate Elections - Zielenec Only Victor in First Round About 33.6 per cent of the electorate came to vote in the first round of Senate elections November 12. The election will fill one-third (27 of 81 seats) of the upper chamber of the Czech Parliament. The only candidate to secure his place in the Senate with a simple majority in the first round was former Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec. The runoff election for the remaining 26 seats will take place November 19. The highest number of runoff candidates (19) on the ballot belongs to the Four-Party Coalition (Christian Democrats, the Freedom Union, the Civic Democratic Alliance and the Democratic Union). The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) will enter the runoff with 18 candidates, followed by the Communists (8), Social Democrats (5) and independents (2). Zieleniec, whose dramatic departure from ODS and the government served as the prelude to a fall of the Klaus Cabinet in November 1997, defeated ODS Senator Zdenek Klausner in the Prague 4 election district with 52 per cent of the vote. The incumbent Senate Chairwoman Libuse Benesova finished surprisingly second in the Benesov district, where Four-Party Coalition candidate Helena Roegnerova, former director of Prague's Motol Hospital, nearly won the Senate seat in the first round with 48 per cent. Miroslav Slouf, the controversional chief of Prime Minister Milos Zeman's advisers, lost his chance to join the Senate by finishing third in the closely followed Chrudim district. He was defeated by former Czech Prime Minister and current Senate Vice Chairman Petr Pithart (Four-Party Coalition), who will face Petr Stepanek (ODS) in the runoff. The ruling Social Democrats suffered heavy losses, including districts where the party ran its most popular names. Defense Minister Vladimir Vetchy was defeated in Brno, while the chance to compete in the runoff eluded also famous Velvet Revolution figures such as economist and former Czechoslovak Deputy Prime Minister Valtr Komarek in Teplice and former Czechoslovak Interior Minister Richard Sacher in Nachod. ODS Chairman Vaclav Klaus said he was alarmed with the strong performance of Communist candidates and asked the ODS electorate to support the Four-Party Coalition's candidates in districts without an ODS candidate. David Pilar/Milan Smid Social Democrats Thumped in Regional Elections The new regional assemblies established by the act dividing the country into 14 districts (see Carolina 367) were elected simultaneously with the Senate elections. The regional elections, using a proportional election system, decided on 675 deputies for 13 regional assemblies. The 14th region of Prague is going to elect its regional legislature in 2002, because the region is still temporarily under a different electoral act. Civic Democratic Party (ODS) candidates won 185 seats and the party won the most votes in seven regions. The second-best showing was by the Four-Party Coalition (Christian Democrats, the Freedom Union, the Civic Democratic Alliance and the Democratic Union) with 171 mandates and the most votes in five regions. Remarkable success was recorded by the Communists (KSCM), who will be represented by 161 deputies and who gained the most votes in the Usti nad Labem region in Northern Bohemia. The total of 111 seats in regional assemblies represents a big disappointment for the ruling Social Democrats, who finished in all the districts behind the Communists. Independents and small parties won 47 seats. While ODS and the Four-Party Coalition rejected any cooperation with the Communists in regional assemblies, the Social Democrats did not rule out the possibility of cooperation with the third-strongest party, which is the only pre-1989 ruling party in Central Europe not to expunge the word "communist" from its name. Prime Minister Milos Zeman took responsibility for the disastrous election results, but he said he will remain as party chairman till April, when his mandate will expire - Zeman has long said he will not seek re-election at that time. David Pilar/Milan Smid Czech Politicians Reject EU Report Prime Minister Milos Zeman received the official annual report of the European Commission in Prague November 9. In one supplemental evaluation of economic factors, the Czech Republic was placed in the third tier of EU candidate countries. The countries best prepared economically for EU membership, according to the evaluation, are Cyprus and Malta, with the second group consisting of Poland, Hungary and Estonia. The Czech Republic and Slovenia made up the third group. Overall the report sounds more positively than it did in previous years and acknowledges the considerable progress made by the Czech Republic. It warns, though, that based on economic criteria the Czech Republic is not ready to join the EU. The Czech economy "could" be considered a market economy, the report says, while the economies of Poland, Hungary and Estonia are market economies. The report says the Czech Republic has not made any progress since last year in judicial reform, in the fight against corruption, border security and restructuring Czech Railways and the energy sector. Prague was surprised by its relegation to third tier. "These are unpleasant signals that cannot be taken lightly," said President Vaclav Havel. Vaclav Klaus, chairman of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), categorically rejected placing the Czech Republic in the third tier. Pavel Telicka, the Czech Republic's chief EU negotiator and deputy foreign minister, said he considers the economic comparison with the other candidate countries non-objective. EU Commissar for Expansion Gunter Verheugen said he was also surprised by the economic evaluation of candidate countries. He said he also does not understand the stunned rejections offered by Czech politicians. He said the differences between the countries are minimal. "I do not have the slightest doubt that the Czech Republic will be among the first new members of the EU," said Verheugen to Czech journalists during a press conference in Brussels November 9. Vera Vonavkova/Sofia Karakeva Greek President Visits Prague Greek President Konstantinos Stefanopulos arrived in Prague November 13 for an official three-day visit, his first to the Czech Republic. Industry Minister Joannis Papandoniu accompanied him. Stefanopulos met November 14 with Czech President Vaclav Havel in Prague Castle. They mainly discussed the expansion of the European Union (EU). Stefanopulos said Greece (the only Balkan country in the EU and NATO) no longer makes EU expansion contingent on Cyprus being accepted in the first wave, as it had done in the past. He described relations between the Czech Republic and Greece as honest. They also discussed the political situation in the Balkans and the improvement in Greek-Turkish relations (Havel visited Turkey last month). That afternoon Stefanopulos visited Charles University in Prague and the Vision 97 foundation of Dagmar and Vaclav Havel and was told about its projects. He also met with representatives of the 7,000 Greeks living in the Czech Republic. Stefanopulos also met Prague Mayor Jan Kasl, who presented him with the symbolic keys to the city. He also met Chamber of Deputies and Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Chairman Vaclav Klaus. Relations between the countries are considered to be extraordinary. At the end of the 40's, after the civil war in Greece, the former Czechoslovakia accepted more than 15,000 leftist Greek fugitives. Both countries co-operated on a peace initiative last year during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. The two countries' foreign ministers, George Papandreu and Jan Kavan, drafted the initiative. The initiative, which went against stated NATO objectives in the conflict, was a diplomatic disaster. Stefanopulos, 74, was re-elected as president for another five years this February. After the military coup in 1967 he emigrated to France, from where, after seven years, he returned to a democratic Greece. He served in a variety of positions in conservative governments and today the leading socialist party PASOK (PanHellenic Social Party) also supports him. He is believed to support bilateral talks between Greece and Turkey. Marie Sternova/Sofia Karakeva NEWS IN BRIEF * Prime Minister Milos Zeman cancelled his planned Vienna meeting with Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel November 8. This was Zeman's reaction to the Czech-Austrian border-crossing blockade (see Carolina 393). When the blockades were suspended the same day, he asked for an official statement that they would not be renewed. * President Vaclav Havel November 14 signed into law eight bills approved both by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The Criminal Code amendments increases penalties for people who incite racist and class hatred and for movements that support the oppression of human rights and liberties. Denial of Nazi and Communist genocide will be punished by six to 36 months of imprisonment. * Squatters from the Ladronka squat were moved out by the police November 9. A luxurious medical center will be built on the premises of the former squat. Petr Frinta and Gabriela Pribilova/Simon Dominik FOREIGN AFFAIRS One Czech Dies in Kaprun A 20-year old Czech female ski-instructor is among the approximately 160 victims of the November 11 tragic explosion in the cable-car tunnel in the Austrian ski area of Kaprun. The Czech skier, who formerly represented the Czech Republic in acrobatic skiing, was added to the list of missing and probably deceased people November 14. Gabriela Pribilova/Simon Dominik SLOVAKIA Referendum on Early Elections Invalid The November 11 referendum on early elections ended in a debacle for former Premier Vladimir Meciar and his Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS). Of eligible voters, 20.3 per cent came to polling stations, which means the results of the referendum are invalid, according to the Slovak Constitution. Of those who voted, 92 per cent wanted early elections. The district of Kysucke Nove Mesto had the best attendance - 46 per cent of eligible voters came. Those in Dunajska Streda were extremely unconcerned, as 1 per cent of eligible voters cast votes. Representatives of the ruling coalition's parties, who told citizens not to vote, did not take part in voting. Meciar, as he has in the past, disappeared on the day of the vote and has not made any statement to the media. Nevertheless, it is said that HZDS might protest the result and take legal steps at the Constitutional Court with the argument that voters were being intimidated. Zdenek Sloboda/Zdenek Sloboda FROM SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF * In its annual report, the European Commission evaluated Slovakia as a functioning market economy on the right path. It criticized especially the lack of legislative changes and the way reforms are being implemented. The report also pointed out that the political discord within the government could slow economic transformation. However, Slovak politicians said they were satisfied with the evaluation, and Deputy Premier for Integration Pavol Hamzik said the report did not contain any surprises. Zdenek Sloboda/Zdenek Sloboda ECONOMY Government Extends Uranium Mining The government confirmed November 8 that uranium mining in the Czech Republic will be extended till 2003. Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr's proposal to put off the termination of uranium mining by two years was successful. The proposal consists of exploiting the full yield of the Rozna mine and setting the winding-up date as late as January 1, 2004, said government speaker Libor Roucek. The Environment Ministry criticized the plan for not being economical. According to the ministry, the decision also contradicts an agreement with the EU on ceasing the mining by the end of 2001. The state-owned mining company Diamo demanded that the mining be extended, because they have a five-year contract with the Czech Electric Company (Ceske energeticke zavody, CEZ) on the supply of uranium to the Temelin and Dukovany nuclear power plants. Diamo is to cover CEZ's needs fully until 2003; it should supply 50 per cent and 20 per cent of the uranium in the following years. ECONOMY IN BRIEF * Belgium's KBC Bank has purchased 100 per cent of the shares of the Czech investment bank Patria Finance November 11. Patria is one of the leading domestic investment banks, while KBC Bank controls more than half the Czech retail-banking market through its control of the Czechoslovak Trade Bank (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka, CSOB) and the Investment and Postal Bank (Investicni a postovni banka, IPB). * The percentage of 1999 export sales for Czech companies surveyed by the government's Czechtrade agency was 65 per cent, a 5-per-cent increase from the previous year. "The heightened sensitivity of of sales to export success cannot be evaluated negatively. particularly with the weakened purchasing power of the Czech population in 1999. This indicator shows the continuing penetration of Czech companies into foreign markets," said Czechtrade General Director Martin Tlapa November 8. * Direct foreign investment in the Czech Republic arranged by the government's CzechInvest agency should exceed 1.4 billion USD by the end of November, a 100-per-cent increase compared to last year. Economy section prepared by Ales Borovan/Stepan Vorlicek Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid November 16) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 EUR = 34.665 country currency CZK ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 20.951 Great Britain 1 GBP 57.648 Denmark 1 DKK 4.647 Japan 100 JPY 37.168 Canada 1 CAD 26.074 IMF 1 XDR 51.881 Hungary 100 HUF 13.150 Norway 1 NOK 4.311 New Zealand 1 NZD 16.020 Poland 1 PLN 8.872 Greece 100 GRD 10.193 Slovakia 100 SKK 81.007 Slovenia 100 SIT 16.394 Sweden 1 SEK 4.011 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.781 USA 1 USD 40.318 Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) country currency CZK ----------------------------------------- Germany 1 DEM 17.724 Belgium 100 BEF 85.932 Finland 1 FIM 5.830 France 1 FRF 5.285 Ireland 1 IEP 44.015 Italy 1000 ITL 17.903 Luxemburg 100 LUF 85.932 Netherlands 1 NLG 15.730 Portugal 100 PTE 17.291 Austria 1 ATS 2.519 Spain 100 ESP 20.834 CULTURE National Gallery Presents Czech Gothic Art Collection The Medieval Art in Bohemia And Central Europe (1200-1550) exhibit was opened November 14 to the public in the St. Agnes of Bohemia Monastery. The collection, which had been installed in the St. George Monastery at Prague Castle since 1976, is now presented in a Central-European context. It contains works made not only in the historical area of the Bohemian Kingdom, but also from the Danube Basin, Saxony and Southern Germany. The exhibit had to be rearranged, because it was incomplete due to the restitution of some items in the St. George Monastery. Jiri Fajtl and Stepanka Chlumska set about the task, realizing their plans as part of the Prague, European City of Culture 2000 project. Thanks to them the public can see the works as an exceptional set of liturgical tools of the period, including several items borrowed from the St. Vitus treasure. Late Gothic art makes up the majority of the exhibited works. Katerina Komadova/Adam Fendrych CULTURE IN BRIEF * Czech poet, novelist, playwright and journalist Jaroslav Strnad died November 10 at the age of 82 in the Swiss town of Obstalden. Strnad made his debut with a collection of poetry in 1946 in which he described his experiences in the concentration camp in Dachau. He emigrated to Germany in 1950, where he worked in Radio Free Europe. When he moved to Switzerland he worked as editor-in-chief of the exile magazine Newsletter (Zpravodaj) in Zurich, he cooperated with the Australian bi-weekly Voice of Home (Hlas domova) and with Toronto-based Sixty-Eight Publishers. * Culture Minister Pavel Dostal and First Councellor of the European Commission delegation Ralf Dreyer November 9 in Liberec opened the State Science Library, also called the Building of Reconciliation. The police feared anti-Jewish provocations because part of the library is a Jewish synagogue, the first synagogue built in Eastern Europe after WWII. On the same site the Nazis set fire to one of Europe's biggest synagogues November 9, 1938, during the Crystal Night. * An exhibit of the work of Czech sculptor and graphic artist Frantisek Bilek (1872-1941) will be open from November 10 till February 4 in the Riding School of Prague Castle. Bilek graduated from Prague's Academy of Fine Arts, but his work received its due years later, during his studies in Paris. The exhibit presents not only his best-known works from the 30's, but also Bilek's graphics and book illustrations. Katerina Komadova and Petr Frinta/Pavla Krizkova SPORTS UEFA Cup: Slavia Moves on, Liberec Stays Home Slavia Praha - OFI Crete 4-1 (0-0) After an inconsistent first half, Slavia defeated its troublesome opponent by three goals and, because of the 2-2 tie in the first game in Crete, it advanced to the next round. Slavia will meet Croatia's Osijek, leader of Croatian league. A scoreless tie was enough for Slavia to advance, so the home team did not attack too aggressively the opponent's goal. After the break new Slavia coach Karel Jarolim sent in two new offensive players, Tomas Kuchar and Petr Svancara, which made Slavia's play more inspired. However, Crete scored the first goal, when Munoz stole the ball from Adam Petrous in the 60th minute. One minute later Kuchar tied and Ludek Zelenka then accomplished a hat trick. Slovan Liberec - Liverpool FC 2-3 (1-1) Despite elimination from the Cup, Liberec can be satisfied. It made its famous opponent nervous about the outcome of this game. Liberec scored on its second chance, in the 9th minute, when Roman Jun got free on the left wing and Jiri Stajner's header was true. The English team, with Czech Vladimir Smicer in the lineup, started to surround Liberec's penalty box, and Nick Barmby's goal after Christian Ziege's free kick tied the score. However, the game continued at a fast pace, with Stajner and Liuni were not far from scoring, while on the Liverpool side Emile Heskey hit the post. In the 76th minute, Heskey scored the second and substitute Michael Owen the third goals for Liverpool. David Breda scored for Liberec when he touched the ball for the first time after coming onto the pitch. The fans applauded their team despite the 2-3 loss. Adam Fendrych/Mirek Langer Karjala Cup: Czechs Finish Last The hockey Karjala Cup took place in Finland November 9-12. The Czech team finished in last place after three losses to Finland, Sweden and Russia (in the order of the final standings of the tournament). The standings of the Euro Hockey Tour, the unofficial European Championships, are the same, with the Czech team in fourth place. The national team, weakened by injuries, suffered from poor shooting and mistakes on defense. "Poor finishing is a problem for all hockey players at all levels. And I cannot teach them to finish in three practices," said coach Josef Augusta after the last game. Some leaders from the past seasons left the national team for the NHL, including Frantisek Kucera, David Vyborny, Tomas Vlasak, Pavel Patera, Ladislav Benysek and Roman Cechmanek. Those expected to succeed them, such as Martin Havlat and Martin Spanhel, have followed them across the ocean. The novices are still finding their places in the team. According to Augusta, more players from the NHL, up to half the squad, could appear on the Czech team for the World Championships. Results: Sweden - Czech Republic 4-1 (Czech goal scored by Cajanek). Czech Republic - Finland 1-2 after penalty shots (Vostrak). Czech Republic - Russia 1:2 (Prochazka). Adam Fendrych/Mirek Langer Sparta Wins Autumn Half of Soccer League After defeating second-place Teplice 2-1, Sparta has sewn up the championship of the autumn part of the soccer season in the 14th round. It has nine points more than the three teams tied for second: Teplice, Pribram and Liberec. Sparta also has to play two more, postponed games. The biggest audience of the round watched the game between Sparta and Teplice and the great show by Sparta midfielder Vaclav Kolousek. He was included in the starting lineup for the second time since he came from Italy's Salernitana, and he scored both goals. Liberec's players allowed three goals at home again after losing to Liverpool 2-3. Pribram defeated the Northern-Bohemian team 3-1, tying its opponent in second place of the standings. Slavia continues its poor performance and under new coach Karel Jarolim lost in Blsany. In the game between Bohemians and Brno (2-0), referee Jaroslav Bejlek disallowed Patrik Siegl's goal for a hand touch. After the end of the game he confessed his mistake and apologized to Siegl. The referee was suspended for four games. Results of the 14th round: Ostrava - Olomouc 1-1, Sparta Praha - Teplice 2-1, Blsany - Slavia Praha 2-1, Bohemians Praha - Brno 2-0, Drnovice - Ceske Budejovice 2-0, Stare Mesto - Jablonec 1-1, Plzen - Zizkov 0-0, Liberec - Pribram 1-3. Standings after the 14th round: 1. Sparta Praha 33 points, 2. Teplice 24, 3. Pribram 24, 4. Liberec 24, 5. Olomouc 20, 6. Stare Mesto 20, 7. Bohemians Praha 19, 8. Slavia Praha 18, 9. Blsany 16, 10. Zizkov 16, 11. Drnovice 15, 12. Jablonec 13, 13. Ostrava 12, 14. Ceske Budejovice 11, 15. Plzen 9, 16. Brno 8. Petr Adam/Mirek Langer Hockey Extraleague: Budejovice Defeats First-Place Pardubice The debacle of first-place Pardubice on the ice of second-to-last-place Ceske Budejovice was the biggest event in the 22nd round of the hockey extraleague. Budejovice led 4-0 in the 25th minute, Jiri Simunek recorded a hat trick. Canadian defenseman Jonathan Aitken played his first game for Sparta Praha in a rematch of the last year's final between Sparta and Vsetin. Sparta lost after Slovak Jan Pardavy's overtime goal. Jiri Dopita scored both Vsetin goals in regulation. Results of the 22nd round: Vsetin - Sparta Praha 3-2, Trinec - Litvinov 2-3, Vitkovice - Plzen 3-1, Slavia Praha - Zlin 5-2, Havirov - Karlovy Vary 4-2, Znojmo - Kladno 4-3, Ceske Budejovice - Pardubice 7-3. Standings: 1. Pardubice 41 points, 2. Vsetin 41, 3. Litvinov 40, 4. Vitkovice 38, 5. Plzen 35, 6. Sparta 34, 7. Trinec 34, 8. Zlin 32, 9. Znojmo 29, 10. Slavia 28, 11. Karlovy Vary 26, 12. Havirov 26, 13. Ceske Budejovice 23, 14. Kladno 19. Petr Adam/Mirek Langer SPORTS IN BRIEF * Czech athletes who won medals in the Sydney Olympics received their prize money from Education Minister Eduard Zeman and Czech Olympic Committee President Milan Jirasek November 14. The gold-medal winners - canoeist Stepanka Hilgertova and javelin thrower Jan Zelezny - received 1 million crowns each, while shooter Petr Malek, decathlete Roman Sebrle and boxer Rudolf Kraj received 500,000 each for their silvers. Shooter Martin Tenk and triathlete Jan Rehula won 300,000 crowns each. * Legendary Czech track and field athlete Emil Zatopek is still fighting for his live in the Central Military Hospital in Prague and his condition is critical. According to his wife Dana, he does not recognize his environment and is not reacting. His fever and pneumonia have abated, but he remains unconscious. Zatopek, the four-time Olympic gold-medal winner from 1948 and 1952, has been in the hospital's intensive care unit since October 30. Stepan Vorlicek/Mirek Langer WEATHER It appears the weather has decided to make the best of November. The sun shines sometimes, the wind sometimes blows, daytime temperatures are about 10 degrees Celsius/50 degrees Fahrenheit. But when darkness falls (now before 5 p.m.), it gets cold. Morning motorists must scrape the frost off their windshields, but the snow is holding off, for now. Dana Zlatohlavkova 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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