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 418, Friday, May 11, 2001 FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (May 2 - 9) New Defense Minister Tvrdik Told to Create Professional Army Prime Minister Milos Zeman May 3 asked President Vaclav Havel to recall Defense Minister Vladimir Vetchy. Havel called the country's defense situation "urgent" and recalled Vetchy, the following day he named Economic Deputy Defense Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik, 32, to replace Vetchy. Vetchy had been the target of criticism for months for his inability to resolve the ministry's and the army's financial problems. He was also unable to deal with problems inherited from previous governments, such the modernization of army's T-72 tanks and the purchase of L-159 planes. Vetchy said in his defense that there had been a number of economic decisions taken that prevented him from acting according to his wishes. He did admit at an April press conference that he had not tried hard enough to institute change. Vetchy was the 10th minister to leave the original 19-member Cabinet. Tvrdik, until recently a soldier himself, graduated in 1990 from the Military University in Vyskov with a degree in army economics. He was chief of financial services for the Czechoslovak contingent in Yugoslavia for a year, then he was in charge of the Military Spas and Recreation Organization. He left the army in December, when he became deputy minister. Tvrdik also recently joined the ruling Czech Social Democrat Party. Zeman said he expects Tvrdik to reduce bureaucracy, make army financing more transparent and inform the public better. Tvrdik won over Zeman with his plans to reform army financing and to investigate the suspicious tender for the L-159 planes. Tvrdik is to submit his plan for army reform, including the professionalization of the army, in three months. The Czech Republic currently requires 12 months of compulsory service from all able-bodied Czech males. Opposition leaders had demanded Vetchy's departure and criticize the selection of Tvrdik because Tvrdik had until recently been a career officer. Pavla Krizkova/Michael Bluhm Czech Republic Commemorates End of World War II State representatives and people throughout the country May 8 commemorated the end of World War II; 56 years ago, the former Czechoslovakia was liberated from Nazi domination. President Vaclav Havel, Senate Chairman Petr Pithart, Foreign Minister Jan Kavan, Defense Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik and representatives of the Czechoslovak Legionnaire Community, the Czech Union of Freedom Fighters and the Czech Sokol Organization saluted the fallen on Vitkov hill in Prague. Wreaths were laid at the memorials of Allied, Soviet and Bulgarian armies by Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus, Senate Vice Chairman Pavel Rychetsky and a representative of the president. Eight members of the Castle Guard took their oath and Havel appointed three new generals. Passion comparable to that on May 6, 1945, welcomed US soldiers in Plzen (Pilsen). The grandson of the General George S. Patton took part in the celebrations. Brno marked the occasion at memorials of the first, second and third uprising. Jakub Vavruska/Stepan Vorlicek Former Executives of H-System Receive Letter Bombs Three leaders of the company H-System received letter bombs May 2. That started a series of letter bombs delivered to several more members of company management. H-System was founded in 1993 by Petr Smetka. The firm signed contracts to build family houses and apartments with about 1,160 people in the following four years. The contracts guaranteed the property be handed over to the owners within two years. Without a building permit, H-System lured money from clients and also from the Commerce Bank (Komercni banka). The company went bankrupt in 1997. It built some 30 houses and owes more than 2 billion crowns to creditors. The first of the envelopes was delivered to H-System's former boss, Ladislav Tuma. When opening it, he noticed the wires and was quick to throw it out a window. Police experts then defused the bomb. The second letter was sent to board of directors member Zuzana Klognerova, the third went to former company Director Jaroslav Elias. The mailman did not find him at home and gave the letter to Elias' son. He opened the envelope, the bomb exploded, burning him and tearing off some of his fingers. One day later, three more members of H-System management received letter bombs. All were defused by the police, who asked all Czech post offices for assistance. Letter bombs were also sent to family members of people formerly and presently connected with H-System. An intensive police investigation is underway, police are considering inviting foreign experts. Pavla Reznickova/Stepan Vorlicek FOREIGN AFFAIRS EU Members and Candidate Countries Cannot Reach Agreement Nykoping, Sweden hosted an unofficial meeting of EU member and candidate countries' foreign ministers May 5-6. Although the unofficial negotiations could not take binding decisions, the discussions showed the possible complications of EU expansion. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan and other Czech diplomats faced the German and Austrian proposals that Czech, Polish and Hungarian citizens be limited in working in other EU countries. Kavan rejected Austria's demand for a seven-year ban on employment or a delay of EU expansion. The meeting resulted in a preliminary statement: "For all EU associate countries there will be limit of five years from the day they become members of the European Union, with the possibility of extension to seven years. During this period the requirement to request work permits from the appropriate EU country will still be valid." The EU's proposal for candidate countries be able to regulate the sale of agricultural land and forests to other EU states' citizens was considered a partial success for the Czechs. Radim Hladik/Adam Fendrych FROM SLOVAKIA Dzurinda Removes Hamzik from Office Premier Mikulas Dzurinda decided to recall Pavol Hamzik from the post of deputy premier for European integration because Hamzik concealed information and took a lackadaisical attitude regarding the possible misuse of money from various EU funds. Dzurinda demanded Hamzik resign, but Hamzik refused. Dzurinda then requested President Rudolf Schuster recall Hamzik, Schuster recalled Hamzik May 4. Hamzik disagrees with the decision and said, "There is no reason for recall, I did not fail and I do not accept the reasons given by the premier." He said the case was a fallacy. The scandal broke out April 26, when the EU held up the preparation of new projects in Slovakia because of suspicions of fraud. Roland Toth, head of the Government Office's Department of Foreign Aid fired in March, is suspected from taking bribes and defrauding more than half of the 3 billion SVK provided to Slovakia. Toth rejects the charges as well and claims to be a victim of his ex-wife's revenge. Veronika Pavlu/Adam Fendrych ECONOMY Temelin Shut down till Summer General Director of the Temelin nuclear power plant Frantisek Hezoucky May 3 decided to shut down the reactor immediately. His decision is based on an analysis showing that part of the turbine's rotor was distorted. At first it was expected that this defect in the non-nuclear section, caused by massive vibrations of the turbine, would be remedied in two weeks. The reactor was kept at minimum output levels, but the latest results showed it necessary to shut the plant down, including the nuclear reaction. The plant is scheduled to be fully operational no sooner than early July. Temelin's speaker said commercial operation should begin in September. The operators of the plant doubt this, though, and their chief Jiri Tyc said before that "exact dates of the Temelin launch are a political matter." Pavla Krizkova/Stepan Vorlicek Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid May 11) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 EUR = 34.440 country currency CZK ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 20.383 Great Britain 1 GBP 55.143 Denmark 1 DKK 4.608 Japan 100 JPY 31.693 Canada 1 CAD 25.167 IMF 1 XDR 49.064 Hungary 100 HUF 13.276 Norway 1 NOK 4.266 New Zealand 1 NZD 16.517 Poland 1 PLN 9.776 Slovakia 100 SKK 79.548 Slovenia 100 SIT 15.814 Sweden 1 SEK 3.791 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.329 USA 1 USD 38.776 Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) country currency CZK ----------------------------------------- Germany 1 DEM 17.558 Belgium 100 BEF 85.275 Finland 1 FIM 5.786 France 1 FRF 5.244 Ireland 1 IEP 43.679 Italy 1000 ITL 17.766 Luxemburg 100 LUF 85.275 Netherlands 1 NLG 15.610 Portugal 100 PTE 17.159 Austria 1 ATS 2.500 Greece 100 GRD 10.095 Spain 100 ESP 20.675 CULTURE Diva Eva Urbanova Quits Role in Smetana's Dalibor World-famous opera singer Eva Urbanova announced she would not act in reprises of Bedrich Smetana's opera Dalibor shortly after its premiere April 29. The modern interpretation by director Jan Antonin Pitinsky and stage designer Tomas Rusin was not well received, as some spectators whistled and booed. Urbanova said she had experienced such reactions abroad but booing at the National Theatre in Prague was much more depressing. But the main reason for her decision was the attitude of Pitinsky, who could not bear the criticism and left the stage during the curtain call and left the cast alone. Urbanova told the daily Lidove noviny: "Every director (with whom I had worked) stood behind his work, however bad its reception was." The affair is settling down and Urbanova said she believes that everything will be cleared up once she talks with Pitinsky. However, she refused a return to the role, now played by her understudy Jindriska Rainerova. Martina Parizkova/Simon Dominik CULTURE IN BRIEF * The 38th International Television Festival Golden Prague took place May 6-10. The international jury, presided over by Dutch producer and President of the International Music Center in Vienna Henk van der Meulen, presented prizes in four categories - music, dance, documentary and televised versions of concerts or stage work. * Popular actress Jirina Bohdalova celebrated her 70th birthday May 3. The actress, who plays serious and comic roles, studied acting at the Academy of Musical Arts. She then spent 10 years at ABC Theater and in 1967 moved to Prague's Vinohrady Theater. She left its stage in 1999 but still occasionally acts there. Bohdalova also acted in various films and on television and has received two Czech Lions for outstanding performances in motion pictures. * Opera Singer Karel Kalas died May 3 at the age of 91. He was a member of Prague's National Theater Opera from 1939-1972 and his roles included the Waterman in Dvorak's Rusalka, the Water Nixie, Kecal in Smetana's Bartered Bride and Gremin in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. Katerina Kunovska, Zuzana Boleslavova/Simon Dominik SPORTS Czech Hockey Team Advances to Final Eight at World Championships On their way to the final group of eight at the World Hockey Championship in Germany, Czech hockey players defeated Russia 3-2, Italy 11-0 and Canada 4-2 on May 4, May 6 and May 8, respectively. The Czech team finished first in Group E (1. Czech Republic, 2. Canada, 3. Russia, 4. Germany, 5. Switzerland, 6. Italy) and will meet Slovakia in the quarterfinal match. Slovakia finished fourth in Group F (1. Finland, 2. Sweden, 3. USA, 4. Slovakia, 5. Ukraine, 6. Austria). After deadline: The Czech Republic defeated Slovakia 2-0 May 10 and will meet Sweden in the semifinal match. Marie Valaskova/Milan Smid Soccer League: Plzen Will Play Second League Next Season The Pribram - Viktoria Plzen match was crucial for the both teams. Third-place Pribram was still trying to climb into second place and qualify for the Champions League. Last-place Plzen still had a theoretical chance to avoid relegation to the second league. Although Plzen scored the first goal, Pribram tied the score quickly and in the second half added two more goals for a 3-1 win. The result sent Viktoria Plzen definitively into the second league for next season. Results of the 27th round: Zizkov - Drnovice 3-1, Teplice- Liberec 0-0, Pribram - Plzen 3-1, Jablonec -Slavia Praha 1-2, Olomouc - Bohemians Praha 1-0, Brno - Stare Mesto 0-2, Sparta Praha - Ostrava 4-1, Ceske Budejovice - Blsany 1-1 Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 64 points, 2. Olomouc 48, 3. Pribram 47, 4. Slavia Praha 46, 5. Zizkov 44, 6. Teplice 40, 7. Liberec 40, 8. Drnovice 35, 9. Stare Mesto 33,10. Bohemians Praha 33, 11. Blsany 33, 12. Jablonec 29, 13. Brno 27, 14. Ostrava 26, 15. Ceske Budejovice 26, 16. Plzen 16. Marie Valaskova/Milan Smid SPORTS IN BRIEF * The Czech team of Petr Malek, Leos Hlavacek and Jan Sychra won the gold medal in the skeet shooting World Championships in Cairo May 8. Cyprus finished second, the USA third. In the individual standings Hlavacek finished seventh, Maly eighth and Sychra 19th. Martina Oplatkova * Jiri Novak won the Munich Open tennis tournament, beating the Frenchman Dupuis in the final 6:4, 7:5. It was Novak's third ATP victory, after winning in 1996 in Auckland and in 1998 in Mexico. Novak defeated countryman Bohdan Ulihrach in the semifinal match. Marketa Bartosova WEATHER The Czech Republic got a cold shower - literally. After record highs last week a storm hit late Friday afternoon and continued throughout the weekend, causing floods in some areas. Lazany and Ostrovce in the Tachov region were the hardest hit, locals said it was the worst flooding in 40 years. A mix of mud and water broke trees and carried away cars. A 70-year-old woman died of complications after being hit by a car carried in the rush. On Monday the warm weather returned as strong as the weekend storms. Jana Niklova 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. You can temporarily stop receiving Carolina by sending the command: SET CAR-ENG NOMAIL All Listserv commands should be sent to the address: LISTSERV@cesnet.cz Please, don't send the commands SUB, SIGNOFF, NOMAIL etc to the address CAR-CS@listserv.cesnet.cz or CAR-ENG@cesnet.cz! Past issues of Carolina are available at the address www.cuni.cz/carolina.