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 405, Friday, February 9, 2001. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (January 31 - February 7) Pilip and Bubenik Return Home after 25 days in Cuban Jail Ivan Pilip and Jan Bubenik were released from jail in Havana and arrived at Prague's Ruzyne Airport on the evening of February 6. Former Finance Minister and current deputy Pilip and 1989 student leader and businessman Bubenik were arrested January 12 and transferred soon after to Havana's Villa Marista jail. The two were released after they signed a confession that they "unwittingly violated Cuban laws by meeting with dissidents, and apologize to the Cuban people if they were offended by these acts." Pilip, Bubenik and their families were received by President Vaclav Havel at Prague Castle February 7. After a one-hour meeting, Havel thanked everyone who contributed to the release of both men. Havel said Senate Chairman Petr Pithart's mission to Cuba (see Caroline 404), mediated by Slovak diplomats, was the turning point. Havel said the Inter-Parliamentary Union (an umbrella organization grouping 140 world legislatures) also played a significant role. "We must see our fates in connection with the fates of others, our country in connection with the whole world. We have to accept our share of responsibility for the fate of human rights and freedoms throughout the world," said Havel after the meeting. Havel said Pilip and Bubenik deserve admiration and acknowledgement, not so much for the time they suffered in prison, but rather for accepting that responsibility and wanting to do whatever was in their power to express solidarity with the dissidents. From Prague Castle Veronika Pavlu/Sofia Karakeva Jaroslav Bures Becomes New Justice Minister President Vaclav Havel named Jaroslav Bures justice minister February 2. Bures succeeded Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Rychtecky, who held the post temporarily since October. At that time former Justice Minister Otakar Motejl resigned after failing to pass through Parliament his judicial reforms, particularly revisions to the Criminal Code. Bures, 46, chaired until the end of 1999 the civil and trade collegium of the Supreme Court. He left the Supreme Court to chair the Appeals Court in Prague, which he left to become minister. Martin Roubal/Sofia Karakeva Chief of Russian Diplomacy in Prague after Seven Years Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov arrived in Prague February 2 for the first visit by a Russian minister to Prague since 1994. Ivanov and President Vaclav Havel Ivanov discussed resuscitating relations. The main subject of Ivanov's meeting with Prime Minister Milos Zeman was the repayment of Russia's debt to the Czech Republic. Ivanov also met with his Czech counterpart Jan Kavan and with Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus. It is believed that Ivanov's visit should warm relations and encourage trade, cultural and political dialogue. Martina Oplatkova/Sofia Karakeva Danish Demonstrator Found Innocent The Prague 1 City Court February 1 dismissed charges against Mads Thordal Traerup, an 18-year-old Danish student accused of assaulting a public official, a charge carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years' imprisonment. The judge ruled that police, with conflicting depositions and insufficient evidence, failed to prove Traerup attacked police officers during the anti-IMF and World Bank demonstrations last September. The state prosecutor appealed the decision. A second charged Dane missed the trial because of health reasons. Two other trials with demonstrators should have taken place February 6, but the two Spaniards and one Pole on trial did not appear. The Pole and one of the Spaniards have not yet received their subpoenas. The Spanish Embassy vouched for the release from custody of the Spaniards and that they would appear in court. Other trials with demonstrators are to follow soon. On the other hand, the Interior Ministry's Inspection has rejected most of the almost 400 complaints about the behavior of police officers and has admitted four misdemeanors and one felony, but has not identified the perpetrators. From the Prague 1 City Court Radim Hladik/Adam Fendrych NEWS IN BRIEF * The Czech Republic has introduced a visa requirement for Canadian citizens as of April 1 after talks about cancelling Canada's visa requirement for Czechs failed to bring a result. Canada initiated the visa requirement for Czech citizens after Czech Romanies begin applying en masse for asylum in 1997. Canada refuses to cancel the requirement even though Romanies have stopped coming to Canada. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan said the visa process would be as considerate as possible to Canadian businessmen. Martina Oplatkova/Veronika Hankusova * The Ferdinand Peroutka prizes for journalists for 2000 were given to commentator from the daily Pravo Alexandr Mitrofanov and Czech Radio (Cesky rozhlas) commentator Petr Novacek February 6. The Ferdinand Peroutka Association also acknowledged the news coverage done by rebellious employees in Czech Television. Lida Truneckova/Veronika Hankusova * Jiri Kajinek, sentenced to life for a contract double-murder, might get a new trial. Kajinek escaped in October from the highest-security Czech prison, Mirov, and was captured December 8. Caretaker Justice Minister Pavel Rychetsky, before handing over the office to successor Jaroslav Bures, filed a complaint in Kajinek's case with the Supreme Court, Rychetsky said February 2. Rychetsky said he did not find the investigation to have been done 100-per-cent properly. Martin Roubal/Ondrej Maly * After deadline: Parliament took another step in the continuing crisis in public-service broadcaster Czech Television (CT) when the Chamber of Deputies February 9 elected Jiri Balvin the interim general director. Balvin, 48, a former CT producer, was chosen from six candidates (see Carolina 404). FOREIGN AFFAIRS Zeman Invites Swedes to Invest in Czech Republic Prime Minister Milos Zeman presented during his two-day official visit to Sweden February 5-6 the Czech Republic as a stable investment environment for Northern European countries, with possible investment opportunities in the industrial sector and in rearming the Czech Air Force. The main purpose of his visit were talks with top Swedish politicians about EU expansion (Sweden chairs the European Council) and substantial economic cooperation. Zeman discussed in particular the purchase of Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter planes. Together with Czech Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr, Zeman tried to encourage the Swedish carmaker Volvo to bid in the privatization of truckmaker Tatra Koprivnice. According to the CTK press agency, Volvo confirmed its interest February 6. Martin Roubal/Ondrej Maly Havel Receives Prize in Paris President Vaclav Havel February 1 became the first recipient of the Grand Prize awarded by the World Academy of Cultures, founded by Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize winner. The Grand Prize, given to Havel for his writing and political activity, was presented by French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. Havel also spoke with French President Jacques Chirac, among the subjects discussed was the planned 2002 NATO summit in Prague. Martina Oplatkova/Ondrej Maly FROM SLOVAKIA Russian Foreign Minister Visits Bratislava Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov arrived on a state visit to Bratislava January 31. Ivanov met with President Rudolf Schuster, Premier Mikulas Dzurinda and government members and discussed Russia's continuing interest in economic cooperation with Slovakia. Ivanov promised that the planned Russian gas pipeline will be completed. Future cooperation should not be affected by Slovakia's plans to join NATO, Ivanov said. Ivanov and the first woman in space, Valentina Tereskovova, opened the Russian Cultural Institute in Bratislava. Zdenek Sloboda/Sofia Karakeva ECONOMY Billions from EU to Support Czech Countryside European Commissioner for Agriculture, Countryside Development and Fishing Franz Fischler and Czech Finance Minister Pavel Mertlik February 5 signed an agreement as part of the Sapard program to help support the Czech countryside with as much as 5.7 billion crowns through 2006. Two-thirds of this aid should be invested in modernization of the agriculture and food-processing industry and on the environment and water protection. The Sapard program will cover up to 75 per cent of the costs, the rest will be paid by the state. The commissioner also criticized the Czech ban on importing EU beef products. He said beef from the EU is safe and the ban does not allow for a free market in meat. Czech Agriculture Minister Jan Fencl said the ban is one of the ways the Czech Republic is managing to keep the country free of mad cow disease (BSE). Harvard Industrial Holding - No Operations Allowed The Prague City Court February 5 issued a preliminary injunction forbidding the board of directors of the Harvard Industrial Holding all operations with its assets. According to the daily MF DNES, this measure should prevent valueless coupons from Azerbaijani privatization to be transferred into the holding. Trading of shares of the holding was also stopped. Economic news by Radim Hladik/Stepan Vorlicek Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid February 9) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 EUR = 34.610 country currency CZK ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 20.261 Great Britain 1 GBP 54.231 Denmark 1 DKK 4.638 Japan 100 JPY 32.109 Canada 1 CAD 24.706 IMF 1 XDR 48.501 Hungary 100 HUF 13.034 Norway 1 NOK 4.233 New Zealand 1 NZD 16.352 Poland 1 PLN 9.157 Slovakia 100 SKK 79.137 Slovenia 100 SIT 16.051 Sweden 1 SEK 3.899 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.564 USA 1 USD 37.338 Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) country currency CZK ----------------------------------------- Germany 1 DEM 17.696 Belgium 100 BEF 85.796 Finland 1 FIM 5.821 France 1 FRF 5.276 Ireland 1 IEP 43.946 Italy 1000 ITL 17.875 Luxemburg 100 LUF 85.796 Netherlands 1 NLG 15.705 Portugal 100 PTE 17.263 Austria 1 ATS 2.515 Greece 100 GRD 10.157 Spain 100 ESP 20.801 CULTURE Slovaks and Czechs Exhibit in America Slovak Premier Mikulas Dzurinda February 1 launched a month of Slovak culture in New York. Czech artists will also display their work there together with Slovaks. The largest presentation ever of Slovak art includes fine arts and music, dance and film productions. The month began with the Slovak-Czech exhibit, which presents Czech artists awarded the prestigious Jindrich Chalupecky Prize (e.g., Vladimir Kokolia and Katerina Vincourova) and Slovaks who won their country's TONAL award (e.g., Patrik Kovacovsky and Dorota Sadovska). New York will welcome the Astorka Theater from Bratislava and Jan Durovcik's Dance Theater (Divadlo tance), soprano Lubica Vargicova and the Moyzes Quartet, which will play pieces by Slovak composers. Feature films and documentaries will be shown as well, for example Juraj Jakubisko's movies and the Oscar-winning Store on the Corso (Obchod na korze), the first Czechoslovak film to win the foreign-language Oscar and one of the harbingers of the Czechoslovak new wave of the 1960's. The exhibition will also include Days of Slovak Jewish Culture. Martina Oplatkova/Stepan Vorlicek Photographer Zdenko Feyfar Dies At the age of 87 photographer Zdenko Feyfar died February 3. His most common motif was nature, especially the Giant Mountains (Krkonose). Feyfar's photographs of Prague are also well known, as are his portraits, for example of fellow photographer and close friend Josef Sudek. Feyfar studied medicine and then at the State School of Grafic Art, where he later lectured. He also worked as a photographer at the Barrandov Film Studios and he was a member of the Manes art association. Exhibit of his work were often organized in foreign countries. According to photography experts, Feyfar was that rare photographer who resisted making easy and pleasing pictures of nature but succeeded in approaching its essence. Martina Oplatkova/Veronika Hankusova SPORTS Jan Koller Wins Belgium's Player of the Year Award Czech national team member Jan Koller won the award as the top Belgian-league soccer player of 2000. The Anderlecht forward won the trophy by a large margin ahead of his teammate Vanderhaege. Journalists, coaches, officials and past poll winners voted for the award. Koller is the seventh foreigner and the first Czech to win this trophy in its 30-year history. Koller came to Belgium in 1996 from Sparta Praha and managed to make a name for himself in Lokeren SC and was then bought by the fabled Anderlecht team. In the 1999-2000 season he was the top scorer in the Belgian league and is the third-leading scorer this year. He also helped Anderlecht during its unexpected trip to the UEFA Champions League second stage. Belgian journalists appreciate especially his commitment, devotion and team-oriented play. Renata Vlasakova/Mirek Langer Vsetin Leads Hockey Extraleague ahead of Zlin and Pardubice Slavia Praha hockey players celebrated the 100th anniversary of their club's founding with a 7-2 win against Sparta, the most lopsided win in the Prague intracity derby's history in the extraleague. Results of the 42nd round: Trinec - Ceske Budejovice 4-2, Vitkovice - Karlovy Vary 4-0, Zlin - Pardubice 3-2, Znojmo - Vsetin 2-7, Sparta - Plzen 4-2, Slavia Praha - Havirov 4-2, Kladno - Litvinov 0-5. Results of the 43rd round: Slavia Praha - Sparta Praha 7-2, Havirov - Trinec 5-4, Vsetin - Zlin 1-0, Karlovy Vary - Kladno 2-3, Litvinov - Plzen 5-2, Pardubice - Vitkovice 1-2, Ceske Budejovice - Znojmo 2-3. Standings: 1. Vsetin 80, 2. Zlin 74, 3. Pardubice 70, 4. Litvinov 70, 5. Sparta Praha 67, 6. Vitkovice 66, 7. Ceske Budejovice 64, 8. Slavia Praha 63, 9. Znojmo 63, 10. Trinec 59, 11. Plzen 54, 12. Kladno 50, 13. Havirov 49, 14. Karlovy Vary 43. Ondra Trunecka/Mirek Langer Czechs Win Six Medals in Cyclocross World Championships Czech cyclocross enjoyed great success in the World Championships in Tabor with a 1-2-3 sweep in the junior category and its first medal in the elite category since 1992. Czech cyclists started their campaign February 23, winning two medals in the under-23 race. Tomas Trunschka finished second behind Belgium's Vanthourenhout and David Kasek won the bronze with some luck in the last meters of the race. The Czechs then recorded their historic success in the juniors as they filled the podium for the first time. They determined the speed of the peloton from the start, with Radomir Simunek Jr. in first and - from the fifth lap - Martin Bina. Bina won the title, Simunek finished second and Jiri Kunta third. Petr Dlask crowned the Czech success, taking the silver medal in the biggest race of the championships, finishing only one second behind the winner, Belgium's Erwin Vervecken. Mario De Clercq of Belgium finished third. Jiri Pospisil finished in fifth place and also Vaclav Jezek fit in the top 10. The Czech Republic won its first medal in the elite category since Karel Camrda won his silver in 1992. Renata Vlasakova/Mirek Langer WEATHER Although it is winter, the actual weather (daily temperatures between four and 12 degrees of Celsius) are conspicuously reminiscent of spring. After a weekend rich in snow, a nationwide thaw followed. It hurt business in the Czech Republic's mountains, but skiers can still use the country's highest peaks. Martin Roubal/Mirek Langer 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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