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 420, Friday, May 25, 2001. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (May 16 - May 23) Defense Ministry Shake-up, General Klima Leaving New Defense Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik decided after 12 days in office to replace all the incumbent deputy ministers. He also iniciated personnel reforms in the ministry that will cost hundreds of people their posts, mostly soldiers. Tvrdik has decided to employ only civilians, who will focus on the most important projects concerning military development. According to Tvrdik, soldiers can be employed only in the general staff and combat units under its command. Tvrdik named three new deputies May 17: Josef Jehlik for finances, Stefan Fule for security policy and Jaroslava Pribylova for personnel. They should bring to the ministry qualified and independent experts. Chief of the general staff Jiri Sedivy said he does not fear that personnel reform will have a negative influence on the ongoing army reforms - he said things cannot get any worse. Tvrdik said he expects these changes will launch a re-evaluation or a reduction of multi-billion-crown weapons projects. For example, the purchase of L-159 combat fighter planes from Aero Vodochody is to be reduced from 72 planes for 50 billion crowns to 36 planes, and the remaining 36 planes could be exchanged for products of Slovak arms-makers, such as the self-propelled howitzer Zuzana from ZTS Dubnica nad Vahom. The ministry's new management will examine other large contracts, such as those concerning hundreds of unusable parachutes, the modernization of T-72CZ tanks and the non-functional information system. General Ladislav Klima, the respected leader of the military's air force, decided to leave. He will remain in the post until November 30, despite Tvrdik's attempts to dissuade him from leaving - Tvrdik offered Klima the position of deputy chief of the general staff. Klima, 52, has flown 2,000 hours and has led the air force since 1997. He decided to leave for personal reasons. Marie Sternova/Sofia Karakeva Broadcasting Bill Passes the Senate Hurdle The new Broadcasting Bill, which was the subject of a controversy in the Chamber of Deputies in April (see Carolina 414), was approved by the upper chamber of Parliament, the Senate, by two votes May 17. The approval came as a surprise, because the Four-Party Coalition, which, together with two independents controls the Senate, criticized the bill and tried to make several amendments. However, three Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) abandoned the party line and voted for the bill. The Four-Party Coalition's criticism focused on how the Czech Broadcasting Council, a 13-member regulatory body, is appointed and recalled. The bill supposes that the Chamber of Deputies continues to be the only chamber involved with the Council, while some senators asked that the Senate be included in the procedure as well. Another key issue was the provision on the automatic extension of licenses, which guarantees existing broadcasters one more license term without any re-evaluation of license conditions. Some senators criticized it as discrimination against new potential broadcasters, other proposed auctioning licenses. It is assumed that the danger of new licensing procedures, with the possibility of licenses being lost, mobilized private radio and television broadcasters to lobby senators not to change the automatic extension of licenses. If President Vaclav Havel signs the bill, it will become law and the two nationwide private television channels - TV NOVA and TV PRIMA - will continue broadcasting for at least the next 12 years. Marie Sternova/Milan Smid NEWS IN BRIEF * About 500 people, among them Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, gathered in Terezin (Theresienstadt, a former Nazi transport camp) to pay their respects to the victims of Nazism May 20. The ceremony was organized by the Czech Union of Freedom Fighters. Representatives of the Jewish community stated in a letter their "displeasure that in the Czech Republic the activity of neo-Nazis are tolerated," and called upon Parliament, the government and the courts to stop overlooking the rise of neo-Nazism. * In Nymburk May 19, members of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) celebrated the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Czechoslovak Communist Party (KSC). KSCM's Chairman Miroslav Grebenicek said the party will no longer apologize for the mistakes of the past, because it has done so many times and no one has appreciated such apologies. "We will not follow the path of self-flagellation, let those who do some wrong punish themselves," he said. * Foreign Minister Jan Kavan completed his one-week visit to the United States, where he also suffered a mild heart attack (see Carolina 419). According to the Czech daily Pravo, Kavan did not have insurance and the expenses for his two-day stay in the hospital will be covered by the Czech government. Gabriela Pribilova, Marie Sternova/Sofia Karakeva FROM SLOVAKIA Cabinet Shuffle The Slovak government, in very tense times, negotiated on Cabinet reconstruction in Trencianske Teplice May 18 from 4 p.m. into the night. The tension has been rising since Premier Mikulas Dzurinda removed Pavol Hamzik (see Carolina 419), deputy premier and chairman of the Party of Civic Understanding (SOP), from office in relation to the alleged embezzlement of money from EU development funds. The Christian Democrat Movement (KDH) and the SOP proposed shuffling ministries according to representation in the National Assembly. The KDH spoke about the possibility of replacing Dzurinda. The government has not announced any changes, except for Ivan Simek, a new candidate for interior minister, nominated by Dzurinda in an unusual way May 17. Ivan Miklos, deputy premier for the economy, will face a vote of confidence in the assembly at the end of the week. Other Cabinet members have passed this test, but Miklos is expected to fall. FROM SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF * The population census, already taken in Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary, began in Slovakia May 19. Census-takers are distributing forms, which, unlike the Czech ones, do not require citizens to identify themselves. The census should cost about 670 million SVK. * Pharmacists have been on strike since May 25. More than 70 per cent of the nation's pharmacies are closed and long queues stand before the rest. The Chamber of Pharmacists said it wants to force negotiations with the government, which they accuse of causing a lack of funding for pharmacists. From Slovakia by Zdenek Sloboda/Adam Fendrych ECONOMY Another Stock-Market Fraud The biggest Czech broker for American securities, Private Investors, declared bankruptcy May 21. Some 2,000 people, whose assets was managed by Private Investors, lost their money and shares. In February the company announced its 2000 profits were about 11 million crowns on trades worth 17.2 billion USD. No more details about Private Investors' fall were released. According to company management, the reason for bankruptcy is the decline of share prices on the American NASDAQ exchange, particularly shares of IT and telecommunications firms. These shares lost more than half of their value last year. Private Investors' U.S. partner was A. B. Watley, which provided bank credits for some of the trades. The company had about 2,400 clients, all of whom should get part of their money back. The money will be returned if the newly created Guarantee Fund, which pays out 90 per cent of the investments (up to 400,000 crowns) in state-licensed banks, traders and funds that go bankrupt. The Czech Securities Commission (KCP), which supervises the stock market, said it will likely file a lawsuit against Private Investors. ECONOMY IN BRIEF * The consulting firm Accenture did a survey on the quality of services provided by Czech banks, primarily on customer service, employee knowledge and the overall level of the banks' branches. The results show the best Czech banks to be the Commerce Bank (Komercni banka) and the Czech Savings Bank (Ceska sporitelna). This year's results were completely the opposite as last year. Last year's winner, the Investment and Postal Bank (Investicni a postovni banka, IPB) is now a subsidiary of the Czechoslovak Trade Bank (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka, CSOB) and has fallen rapidly, while the banks that ranked worst last year are now on top. However, according to the analysis, the overall level of Czech banking is still far from Western standards. * A new director for the state-owned Consolidation Bank, which controls bad loans, was appointed May 17. Pavel Rezabek will replace former General Director and board of directors Chairman Ladislav Reznicek, who was unexpectedly fired May 15 by Finance Minister Jiri Rusnok. Economy by David Pilar/Stepan Vorlicek Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid May 18) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 EUR = 34.275 country currency CZK ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 20.518 Great Britain 1 GBP 56.528 Denmark 1 DKK 4.597 Japan 100 JPY 33.350 Canada 1 CAD 25.748 IMF 1 XDR 50.148 Hungary 100 HUF 13.346 Norway 1 NOK 4.313 New Zealand 1 NZD 16.717 Poland 1 PLN 9.989 Slovakia 100 SKK 79.774 Slovenia 100 SIT 15.759 Sweden 1 SEK 3.798 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.477 USA 1 USD 39.922 Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) country currency CZK ----------------------------------------- Germany 1 DEM 17.525 Belgium 100 BEF 84.966 Finland 1 FIM 5.765 France 1 FRF 5.225 Ireland 1 IEP 43.520 Italy 1000 ITL 17.702 Luxemburg 100 LUF 84.966 Netherlands 1 NLG 15.553 Portugal 100 PTE 17.096 Austria 1 ATS 2.491 Greece 100 GRD 10.059 Spain 100 ESP 20.600 CULTURE Dark-Blue World - Film Homage to Czechoslovak R.A.F. Pilots Jan Sverak, director of the 1996 Oscar winner for best foreign-language film Kolya, took five years to collect the money for the most expensive Czech film ever, Dark-Blue World (Tmavomodry svet, although a truer translation would be Wild Blue Yonder). The premiere of the movie, in Prague's Svetozor cinema May 16, was attended by many celebrities and politicians, including the presidential couple, as well as by numerous veterans of the Second World War. The movie, written by Kolya's scriptwriter and Jan Sverak's father Zdenek, describes the story of former Czechoslovak R.A.F pilot Lieutenant Slama (played by Ondrej Vetchy), who in a Czech prison in the Stalinst 50's recounts his past. The story starts with Slama's escape from the Nazi protectorate in the Czech lands in 1939, and continues in Great Britain, where Slama received training in the Royal Air Force and participated in cruel air battles. The film features a love story pitting Slama against his best friend Vojtisek (Krystof Hadek) for the love of a married woman. Zdenek Sverak wrote, as usual, a story full of poetry and heroism, where cowardice and cruelty are also present, mixed with love and friendship that no love interest or jealousy could break. Czech press reviews call Dark-Blue World a well made, good-looking film, without any professional flaws, which, however, is a little too sentimental in an effort to pay homage to WWII heroes. Zdenek Sloboda/Milan Smid CULTURE IN BRIEF * The 3rd international festival of Romany culture Khamoro began in Prague May 22 with a seminar called Romanies and the European Union. Khamoro means "sun" in Romany. The festival will feature a number of exhibits, concerts and theater performances of Romany artists. * Actress Iva Janzurova celebrated her 60th birthday May 19. Born in Pelhrimov, she finished the Theater Academy (DAMU) in Prague in 1963, then spent one season in the F.X. Salda Theater in Liberec. From 1964-1987 she was a member of the Vinohrady Theater troupe (Divadlo na Vinohradech), then she went to the National Theater. Janzurova is well known as a comedienne in many film and television comedies, but the center of her work was theater performance. She several times received prestigious awards like the Czech Lion (for best actress in a Czech film) or the Thalia Award (theater performance of the year). * Vladimir Valenta, 78, well known to the Czech public as the stationmaster in the 1967 Oscar-winning film Closely Watched Trains, died in Edmonton, Canada May 13. Valenta wrote several screenplays after 1945, in the 50's he was jailed for political reasons but he managed to return to the film industry as a dramaturgist in 6O's. After the 1968 occupation of Czechoslovakia he left the country. He worked as an actor and dramaturgist and published the exile newspaper Telegram from 1969-75. Until his death he wrote columns for the exile magazine Polygon. Gabriela Pribilova/Milan Smid SPORTS Tanzanian Wins 7th Prague International Marathon About 3,500 runners form more than 80 countries participated in the 7th Prague International Marathon May 20. The weather was sunny and not very hot when the main race started at 9 a.m. on Old Town Square. The marathon route went from the Old Town across the Charles Bridge to the Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana) and then along the Vltava (Moldau) River into the suburb of Zbraslav and back. Five Kenyan athletes took the lead in the second half of the race together with Andrew Sambu from Tanzania, who finished first with a time of 2:10:14. The first Czech to cross the finish line was ninth-place Jan Blaha, who arrived five minutes after Sambu. The women's race was won by Maura Viceconte (2:26:33) of Italy, third-place was taken by Alena Peterkova of the Czech Republic. Gabriela Pribilova Soccer League: Three Teams Vie for Second Place If Slavia Praha had defeated Blsany in the 28th round of the Czech Gambrinus Soccer League, its second place and qualification for the Champions League would have been assured. Due, however, to fatal mistake by goalie Cerny, who in the 82nd minute missed the ball on the muddy pitch and gave Blsany the chance to score the winning goal, Slavia's hopes disappeared. However, because Slavia's competitors - Olomouc and Pribram - also lost badly needed points in this round, second place will be decided next week. Slavia's Champions League dream will come true only if it beats Drnovice in the final, 30th round. The team that will accompany Plzen into the second league for next season is Ceske Budejovice. Results of the 29th round: Ceske Budejovice - Drnovice 0-1, Olomouc - Ostrava 0-0, Viktoria Zizkov - Viktoria Plzen 3-3, Teplice - Sparta Praha 2-3, Jablonec - Nove Mesto 1-0, Brno - Bohemians Praha 0-0, Pribram - Liberec 1-1. Standings: 1. Sparta Praha 68 points, 2. Olomouc 49, 3. Slavia Praha 49, 4. Pribram 48, 5. Viktoria Zizkov 46, 6. Liberec 44, 7. Drnovice 41, 8. Teplice 40, 9-10. Bohemians + Blsany 37, 11. Stare Mesto 34, 12. Jablonec 32, 13. Ostrava 30, 14. Brno 29, 15. Ceske Budejovice 26, 16. Plzen 18. David Pilar WEATHER While May 19 was rainy and marchers on the traditional trek from Prague to Prcice had to wade through mud and puddles, clear and cold air arrived in the Czech Republic the next day. Brisk mornings and evenings have a temperature from 5-10 degrees Celsius/41-50 degrees Fahrenheit, while daytime temperatures rise to 20-25 degrees Celsius/68-77 degrees Fahrenheit. 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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