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 407, Friday, February 23, 2001. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (February 14 - February 21) American Lawyer Ed Fagan Starts Fighting against Temelin American attorney Edward Fagan said he will get the Temelin nuclear power plant closed. At a press conference in Wullowitz, Austria February 19 Fagan gave an ultimatum of March 20 for the Czech Energy Company (CEZ) and Westinghouse (which refitted the Soviet-planned plant) to provide complete documentation on the plant. The Czech and Austrian governments have an agreement in place calling for making all documentation available except that which is subject to trade secrecy. It is unclear how Fagan plans to achieve his stated goal. He is not licensed as a lawyer in the Czech Republic and as such cannot argue before Czech courts. Fagan gained fame representing Holocaust victims' relatives against Swiss banks and negotiating compensation in Germany and Austria for former forced laborers in World War II. He recently represented the relatives of victims of the funicular explosion in Kaprun in the Austrian Alps. Fagan taking the Temelin case was front-page news for many Czech dailies, three of which February 20 used the same photo of Fagan from the previous day's press conference - a close-up of Fagan with his mouth wide open and a fiery expression in his eyes. Petr Frinta/Veronika Hankusova NATO General Secretary Visits Prague NATO General Secretary George Robertson arrived on an official two-day visit to Prague February 21. He visited President Vaclav Havel in hospital (see below). He later met with Foreign Minister Jan Kavan and Defense Minister Vladimir Vetchy. The next day he was to meet Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus and Senate Chairman Petr Pithart, and also with Prime Minister Milos Zeman. Robertson mainly discussed the performance of the Czech Army in NATO and the planned purchase of supersonic fighters. NATO is said to oppose the purchase strongly, and many local commentators see the purchase as a waste of about 120 billion crowns desperately needed elsewhere in the army and the budget. Robertson also discussed the future enlargement of the alliance, its relations with Russia and Ukraine (before arriving in Prague Robertson paid a visit to Moscow) and also the NATO summit to be held next autumn in Prague. Vera Vonavkova/Sofia Karakeva Zelezny: I Can Pay 27 Million USD, But... Vladimir Zelezny, general director and co-owner of the most popular Czech TV channel TV NOVA, said at a press conference February 20 that he is ready to respect the verdict of the International Court of Arbitration and will return 27 million USD to his former business parter, Central European Media Enterprises (CME, see Carolina 406). However, some of Zelezny's remarks at the press conference indicate he is trying to find a way to avoid payment. For example, Zelezny said he wants CME to upheld its obligation in the verdict - CME must return Zelezny shares in the company CNTS, but Zelezny said he wants shares with a corresponding value. Shares of CNTS are almost worthless because the company ceased to be the exclusive service provider to TV NOVA after Zelezny cut them off. In the meantime, Zelezny's company CET 21 made a counterclaim of about 30 million USD against CME in the Czech courts. CME published the arbitration court's decision on the Internet at the address http://www.cnts.cz. Petr Frinta/Milan Smid President's Health Stable President Vaclav Havel's health worsened during the night of February 18. Havel has been hospitalized in Prague-Stresovice's Central Military Hospital since February 12. Because of health problems the president had to cut short his visit to Kuwait (see Carolina 406). Two days later, the president's temperature dropped and his condition improved. Havel is breathing by himself and will remain in the hospital until the end of the week. After his release Havel will undergo rehabilitation at the Lany Chateau. Dana Zlatohlavkova/Sofia Karakeva NEWS IN BRIEF * After 10 years a new census will be taken from the end of February till mid-March. According to a poll taken by the Public Opinion Research Center (STEM) for Czech Television and Czech Radio, 61 per cent of respondents do not believe personal data will be kept secret, 42 per cent will not answer all the questions and about 50 per cent consider the census necessary. It is not possible, though, to estimate how people will fill out the questionnaires, because the majority has not yet seen the forms. More importantly, the census is required by law, with a fine of 10,000 crowns for anyone who refuses to answer. According to the poll, 91 per cent know a census will be taken. * Deputies, senators and employees of the National Property Fund should without extra compensation represent the interests of the state on boards of companies under majority control of the state. This amendment to the Conflict of Interest Act was approved by the government February 14. It is expected that the Chamber of Deputies will discuss the bill in a heated atmosphere. Many politicians come into tens of thousands of crowns each month thanks to their positions on various boards of directors and supervisory boards. * Vlastimil Tlusty (Civic Democratic Party, ODS) and Finance Minister Pavel Mertlik (Social Democrats, CSSD) discussed February 20 fulfillment of the Opposition Contract. Tlusty said the Social Democrats are not fulfilling some of the contract. Mertlik, on the other hand, said his party is fulfilling the agreement in principle. An expert group representing both is working on an economic analysis, which, according to ODS, will decide the future of the Opposition Contract. Vera Vonavkova/Sofia Karakeva FROM SLOVAKIA Ludovit Kanik New Chairman of Ruling Coalition's Democratic Party After the resignation of Jan Langos, former Czechoslovak Interior Minister, from the post of chairman of the Democratic Party (DS), the government-coalition partner will be led by Ludovit Kanik. He was elected by the party congress in Banska Bystrica February 18. Originally, incumbent Vice Chairman Frantisek Sebej won the election as party chair. In the battle for first vice chairman, however, Kanik beat out Langos. Because Kanik is the leader of a party faction opposed to Langos and Sebej and is unacceptable to previous party leadership, Sebej chose to resign his new post. In a new vote Kanik was elected chairman. Apart from former party leaders, five of the party's six legislators in the National Assembly voiced their disapproval of Kanik. As such, the future of Kanit and the party remain unclear. FROM SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF * Guenter Verheugen, EU commissar for expansion, is on a three-day visit to Slovakia. He will of course talk with Slovak politicians about joining the EU, but he will also visit several Romany communities in the Kosice region. News from Slovakia by Zdenek Sloboda/Veronika Hankusova ECONOMY "Big Bang" to Save Czech Economy Trade Minister Miroslav Gregr presented the government an ambitious plan to accelerate growth in the Czech economy February 14. The plan, called Strategy for Strenghtening Economic Growth, calls for an injection of 264.7 billion crowns. This money should increase growth to 4 per cent this year. In 2002 growth should reach 5 per cent to 6 per cent. Massive support would go to the 13 regions with the highest rates of unemployment. Investments would support industry, export, transportation, housing construction and the systematic elimination of past environmental damage. The strategy, labelled the "Big Bang," is very financially demanding and many experts called the plan unrealistic, even megalomaniac. Gregr plans to take money from budget, transportation, housing and environmental funds and mainly from EU subsidies, as well as privatization proceeds, bank loans and government bonds. The government approved the program and so did union leaders. ECONOMY IN BRIEF * The Office for the Protection of Economic Competition approved the merger of the Czechoslovak Trade Bank (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka, CSOB) and the Investment and Postal Bank (Investicni a postovni banka, IPB). The office permitted the creation of the largest domestic bank, which will control 30 per cent of all personal deposits and mortgages. According to the office, it approved the merger to stabilize the banking sector and to create greater competition. * The Japanese investment bank Nomura, former largest shareholder of the Investment and Postal Bank (Investicni a Postovni banka, IPB) filed a suit February 14 against the Czech Republic at the European Court for Human Rights in Strasburg for violation of Nomura's rights during the forced administration of IPB and the following sale of the bank to the Czechoslovak Trade Bank (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka, CSOB). Nomura wants 30.5 billion crowns as compensation for damages. The Finance Ministry rejects the accusations. "In the IPB case all state institutions acted in accordance with valid laws and international agreements," said Finance Ministry speaker Libor Vacek. * Environment Minister Milos Kuzvart February 17 permitted an exception for building a controversial segment of D8 highway through a nature preserve. D8 will connect Prague and Dresden in 2005. The issue has been fought over for years by ecological organizations that did not agree with building the highway through the Central Bohemian Mountains (Ceske Stredohori) nature preserve. Kuzvart's exception was warmly accepted by officials in Usti nad Labem, but ecological activists have not given up. "We will appeal to the court and EU authorities," said spokesman for the Children of the Earth (Deti Zeme) movement Jindrich Petrlik. The minister permitted construction last year in July. It was stopped by activists, who appealed the decision. Economy news by David Pilar/Ondrej Maly Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid February 23) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 EUR = 34.695 country currency CZK ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 20 008 Great Britain 1 GBP 55.238 Denmark 1 DKK 4.648 Japan 100 JPY 33.009 Canada 1 CAD 24.948 IMF 1 XDR 49.410 Hungary 100 HUF 13.026 Norway 1 NOK 4.214 New Zealand 1 NZD 16.374 Poland 1 PLN 9.198 Slovakia 100 SKK 79.226 Slovenia 100 SIT 16.107 Sweden 1 SEK 3.851 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.670 USA 1 USD 38.333 Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) country currency CZK ----------------------------------------- Germany 1 DEM 17.739 Belgium 100 BEF 86.007 Finland 1 FIM 5.835 France 1 FRF 5.289 Ireland 1 IEP 44.054 Italy 1000 ITL 17.918 Luxemburg 100 LUF 86.007 Netherlands 1 NLG 15.744 Portugal 100 PTE 17.306 Austria 1 ATS 2.521 Greece 100 GRD 10.182 Spain 100 ESP 20.852 CULTURE Valerie Zawadska Voted Most Popular Television Personality in 2000 Winners in the 10th annual TyTy popularity contest for television personalities were announced February 17. There were no big surprises, although the number of Television Weekly (Tydenik Televize) readers who participated in the poll rose to about 148,000 - about one-third more than last year. The conservative taste of the Czech viewers was confirmed by the results. Announcer Marie Retkova (Czech Television, CT) won for the third time, entertainer Petr Novotny (TV NOVA) and dubbers Miroslav Moravec and Valerie Zawadska also won their third awards. Zawadska was also the top vote-getter in the poll. The category for hosts was ruled by TV NOVA. Pavel Zuna won among the newscasters for the second time, Radek John as current-affairs host enjoyed his sixth victory and and sportscaster Pavel Poulicek was voted the best for the fifth time. There were also no surprises among the actors and actresses. Recent 50-year-old Miroslav Donutil received the prize for the fourth time and Jirina Bohdalova for the eight time. As usual, Lucie Bila reigned among female singers (for the seventh time) and male singer of the year could not have been anyone else but communist-era legend Karel Gott, who has won this award in each of the 10 years it has been given. Only Banana Fish (CT) made waves in the calm waters of the ceremony, being chosen as show of the year for the first time. Director Ivo Paukert entered into the Hall of Fame to a standing ovation. He was brought to prominence as director of New Year's Eve programs, Televariete (with Jirina Bohdalova and Vladimir Dvorak), Videostop and other variety shows. The host of the ceremony, aired on Czech Television from Prague's Karlin Theater, was Marek Eben. Gabriela Pribilova/Pavla Krizkova SPORTS Czechs Do Poorly in Nordic Skiing World Championships Katerina Neumannova returned home early from the nordic skiing World Championships. After finishing ninth in the opening 15k classic race she fell ill with a virus. She did not take part in the classic/freestyle combination and returned home February 20. Kamila Rajdlova finished 29th in the combined event and 20th in the 10k classic. Although he failed in the jumping events, Ladislav Rygl finished sixth in the nordic combined. The Czech Republic finished seventh in the team competition. Of four Czech ski jumpers, two advanced to the second round of the K-116 hill competition, Jaroslav Sakala finished 24th. UEFA Cup: Slavia Praha Ties 0-0 in Opening Match of UEFA Cup Fourth Round Slavia Praha played surprisingly well in the UEFA Cup's round of 16, although it did not manage to score against 1.FC Kaiserslautern February 18. Almost 18,000 fans saw Tomas Dosek's shot hit the bar. The rematch will be played February 22 in Germany. Slavia included defender Jan Suchoparek in its line-up, as he returned to Slavia after playing abroad for four years. Forward Pavel Kuka, who played for Stuttgart in the summer UEFA Intertoto Cup, was not eligible to play and watched the game from the stands. Slavia's combinations caused a lot of problems for its opponent, in particular Ivo Ulich, Tomas Kuchar and Ludek Zelenka tested the skills of Kaiserslautern goalkeeper Koch. Kaiserslautern's play at the forward position was strenghtened after Vratislav Lokvenc, a former Sparta Praha player, entered the game. Mario Bassler's shot hit the post in the 77th minute. After deadline: Kaiserslautern - Slavia Praha 1-0. Goal: Lokvenc. Slavia is eliminated from the UEFA Cup. Hockey Extraleague: Trinec and Plzen Back in Fight for Playoffs The fight for eighth place in the hockey extraleague's standings - and the last spot for the playoffs - is still ongoing with five rounds till the end of the regular season. Trinec (in 10th place) and Plzen (11th) are still in the hunt, as they made up ground with their improved performances in the last two rounds. Slavia is holding on to the eighth position: after losing to Pardubice it won four points in the last two games. The Havirov-Vsetin game ended surprisingly: the first-place team lost 1-8, which is the biggest win ever for Havirov and the worst loss ever for Vsetin in the extraleague. Karlovy Vary got closer to the qualification tournament for next season's extraleague. The team, which had lofty ambitions at the beginning of the season, recorded three losses in its last three games, scoring three times and conceding 10 goals. It is now 13 points behind Kladno. Results of the 45th round: Sparta Praha - Trinec 3-6, Havirov - Ceske Budejovice 5-3, Kladno - Vitkovice 2-1 OT, Litvinov - Zlin 4-3 OT, Pardubice - Slavia Praha 5-2, Vsetin - Plzen 2-0, Karlovy Vary - Znojmo 1-4. Results of the 46th round: Havirov - Vsetin 8-1, Znojmo - Sparta Praha 3-2 OT, Ceske Budejovice - Karlovy Vary 3-0, Trinec - Pardubice 3-5, Slavia Praha - Litvinov 6-1, Plzen - Kladno 8-0, Zlin - Vitkovice 3-3. Results of the 47th round: Karlovy Vary - Trinec 2-3, Vsetin - Ceske Budejovice 5-3, Sparta Praha - Havirov 5-1, Kladno - Zlin 4-1, Vitkovice - Slavia Praha 2-2, Pardubice - Plzen 1-5, Litvinov - Znojmo 1-3. Standings: 1. Vsetin 89 points, 2. Pardubice 76, 3. Zlin 76, 4. Znojmo 74, 5. Litvinov 73, 6. Sparta Praha 73, 7. Vitkovice 70, 8. Slavia Praha 69, 9. Ceske Budejovice 68, 10. Trinec 65, 11. Plzen 63, 12. Havirov 58, 13. Kladno 56, 14. Karlovy Vary 43. Soccer League: Competition for Bids in European Cups Continues The spring session of the soccer league started with the 17th round. Teplice and Pribram proved in the opening game February 16 that the competition for playing in European Cups (the first six teams in the standings will qualify) will be very dramatic. Pribram, strenghtened by former Sparta Praha leading scorer Horst Siegl, played better till the last 10 minutes and had a two-goal advantage. Michal Kolomaznik then managed to lower the lead and then had a penalty kick in the last minute. He did not score, so Pribram recorded the full three points. Spectators saw an unusual turnaround in the Bohemians Praha-Ceske Budejovice game. Ceske Budejovice ruled the first half, scoring twice. After the break and inspired by the emotional speech of coach Vlastimil Petrzela in the locker-room, where he kicked over some laundry hampers, Bohemians Praha players scored four times and won the game 4-3. Sparta played without Tomas Rosicky (read about his transfer to Dortmund in Carolina 401) for the first time and defeated Brno 1-0. Results of the 17th round: Olomouc - Blsany 3-0, Teplice - Pribram 1-2, Sparta Praha - Brno 1-0, Ostrava - Zizkov 2-2, Liberec - Jablonec 3-1, Bohemians Praha - Ceske Budejovice 4-3, Plzen - Slavia Praha 1-3, Stare Mesto - Drnovice 1-2. Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 43, 2. Olomouc 30, 3. Pribram 28, 4. Teplice 27, 5. Liberec 27, 6. Zizkov 26, 7. Stare Mesto 25, 8. Slavia Praha 24, 9. Bohemians Praha 22, 10. Drnovice 20, 11. Jablonec 19, 12. Blsany 17, 13. Brno 17, 14. Ostrava 16, 15. Ceske Budejovice 15, 16. Plzen 9. Sports by Petr Adam and Dana Zlatohlavkova/Mirek Langer WEATHER Northwesterly winds brought snow to the Czech Republic again. A wind storm on the summits of the Giant Mountains (Krkonose) reached up to 100kmph/60mph, and after the winds came a blizzard. Snow appeared in the mountains exactly when our summer semester began here. Temperatures are oscillating around the freezing point, but in the lowlands the heavy snows of February 22 are disappearing quickly. We shall still wait for spring. Marie Sternova 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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