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 424, Friday, June 22, 2001. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (June 13 - June 20) Klaus Turns 60 Chairman of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and Chamber of Deputies Vaclav Klaus, one of the most prominent members of the post-1989 political scene, turned 60 June 19. Prior to this a new book of interviews with Vaclav Klaus, On the Level (Na rovinu), was published. Celebrations took place at the ODS headquarters, where Klaus received presents from his colleagues. ODS Vice Chairwoman Libuse Benesova gave Klaus a bouquet of blue roses. Supporters arrived to present him with his favorite gift, ties. Many celebrities congratulated Klaus at the Ta Fantastika Theater. Vaclav Fischer, senator and owner of the Fischer travel agency, christened the new book with the assistance of three celebrities - actresses Jana Stepankova and Jirina Jiraskova and singer Petr Janda. Singer Ivan Mladek hosted the celebration and other celebrities present were Karel Gott, Vlasta Pruchova, Jan Preucil and Ludek Sobota. Czech pop diva Lucie Bila sang Happy Birthday to the ODS chairman. Czech media paid close interest to Klaus' 11-year career, which began as federal finance minister, continued as Czech prime minister and finds him now as chairman of the Chamber of Deputies. The Czech dailies MF DNES and Lidove noviny (owned by the same German publisher) examined Klaus' career. Critics blame Klaus for the Opposition Contract, the attempt to circumvent the Constitution by changing the Electoral Act and the toleration of widespread crime in the economy. Klaus supporters see in him a guarantor of parliamentary democracy and give him the most credit for the post-1989 transformation. Jakub Vavruska/Sofia Karakeva Zantovsky to Lead ODA Again Senator Michael Zantovsky will once again chair the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), after being elected at the June 16-17 party national congress in Trest. He succeeded Daniel Kroupa, who was not elected to any leadership post. Zantovsky, who served as chairman in 1997, was not considered a candidate for the position. He was shown to be the only acceptable candidate when two votes failed to elect a new chairman. "I thank you very much for something I did not want but do value," said Zantovsky. The congress decided that ODA will not merge with the Freedom Union but will remain an independent party within the Four-Party Coalition (with the Christian Democrats, the Freedom Union and the Democratic Union). New Christian Democrat Chairman Cyril Svoboda attended the congress and made a speech. ODA has about 1,400 members and has seven senators. "Our interest is now the success of the Four-Party Coalition as a whole," said Zantovsky. Jakub Vavruska/Sofia Karakeva NEWS IN BRIEF * The Prague Municipal Court sentenced Karel Vas to seven years' imprisonment. The former communist prosecutor participated in the wrongful execution of General Heliodor Pika, who was convicted of treason in a manipulated show trial in 1949. Other post-communist coutries (East Germany, Poland, Hungary) have not yet charged any judicial officials from the Stalinist period. Vas is the first case closed in connection with the Stalinist show trials. * Thirty-two participants of a meditation session June 16 did not reach "knowledge of themselves and lucid dreams," as advertised by organizator Petr Chobot, but lost consciousness or suffered hallucinations. The afflicted had signs pointing to poisoning by durman after consuming tea at the beginning of the lecture. The lecture, called The Liberating Self-Hypnotism of Rain-Forets Shamans, was organized by Chobot in the gym of the College of Physical Exercise and Sport in Prague's Sixth District. Chobot received 2,000 crowns from each participant. "There must have been a tragic mistake in the collection of the herbs" in the tea, said Chobot. The Prague 6 District Court ordered him into police custody June 19. Marketa Bartosova and Jakub Vavruska/Adam Fendrych FOREIGN AFFAIRS * The EU summit in Gothenburg, Sweden last weekend was preceded by the rejection in an Irish referendum of the Nice Treaty (see Carolina 423), but EU representatives assured candidate countries that the process of expansion is irreversible and that it is up to Ireland to persuade its citizens of that. The conclusive text says membership talks with the leading candidates could be finished by the end of 2002, and that these countries could take part in the 2004 election of the European Parliament as full members. * The Czech Republic and Russia should sign a treaty about repayment of the former Soviet Union's debt to the Czech Republic in a month. Prime Ministers Milos Zeman and Michail Kasjanov agreed on this June 13 in St. Petersburg. Russia should pay 3.3 billion USD (140 billion CZK) over the next 20 years. Zdenek Sloboda/Adam Fendrych FROM SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF * NATO General Secretary George Robertson said June 13 that alliance representatives have decided to announce the names of the countries that will be invited to join NATO during the Prague NATO summit in the fall of 2002. Slovakia is among the leading potential candidates, along with Slovenia and the Baltic and Balkan republics. * The Italian financial group Inteza won the tender for the state's 68-per-cent share in the General Credit Bank (Vseobecna uverova banka) June 15. The price of the state-owned share will not be made public unless the new owner allows it. Zdenek Sloboda/Simon Dominik ECONOMY Tests Prove Other Cows in Dusejov Healthy Tests carried out on samples of 134 butchered cows from the Dusejov farm showed that none of them had Mad Cow Disease (BSE). The cows belonged to the herd where the BSE virus occurred in one cow (see Carolina 423). The disease was confirmed in a sample sent to Tuebingen, Germany, June 14. That result led Agriculture Minister Jan Fencl and the Central Infection Commission to order the slaughter of the entire herd. The first case of BSE in the Czech Republic was closed after tests on the remaining cattle, done in the State Veterinary Institute in Jihlava, proved negative; the situation on the consumer market calmed down as well. However, doctors will continue testing all cattle older than 30 months. After the disease was found in one cow, the Dusejov farm lost one-third of its cattle. The state and the farm's insurance company promised to give financial compensation for the butchered cows. The slaughter costs and police and army assistance were paid for by the State Veterinary Administration. The Czech Republic has lost some beef export markets, as Russia and Romania banned beef imports June 14 and June 16, respectively. Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Bulgaria, Latvia and Lithuania had done so earlier. Pavla Krizkova/Stepan Vorlicek Unions Threaten to Cut off Energy Trade unions in the electro-energy industry went onto strike alert June 18 in reaction to the government decision to privatize stakes in electro-energy companies by the end of the year. Privatization and restructuring this branch of Czech industry is likely to cause a 66-per-cent increase in unemployment in the field. Chairman of the Energy Labor Union Jiri Kubicek pointed out the lack of plans for protection of workers who will be forced to leave the industry. Union members talked with the government and want to sign a pact ensuring conditions relating to new jobs, requalification and severance pay for two years after job loss. The costs of these programs should be covered by 3 per cent of privatization income. If the government rejects the labor demands, the unions are threatening to obstruct privatization and disrupt energy supplies in the Czech Republic. After June 19 talks with the government, the unions remain on strike alert, saying the government did not state its opinion on the social programs clearly enough. Pavla Krizkova/Stepan Vorlicek Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid June 22) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 EUR = 34.025 country currency CZK ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 20.624 Great Britain 1 GBP 55.681 Denmark 1 DKK 4.562 Japan 100 JPY 31.969 Canada 1 CAD 25.900 IMF 1 XDR 49.467 Hungary 100 HUF 13.711 Norway 1 NOK 4.303 New Zealand 1 NZD 16.445 Poland 1 PLN 9.941 Slovakia 100 SKK 79.275 Slovenia 100 SIT 15.604 Sweden 1 SEK 3.716 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.304 USA 1 USD 39.649 Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro (converted from the euro rate) country currency CZK ----------------------------------------- Germany 1 DEM 17.397 Belgium 100 BEF 84.346 Finland 1 FIM 5.723 France 1 FRF 5.187 Ireland 1 IEP 43.203 Italy 1000 ITL 17.572 Luxemburg 100 LUF 84.346 Netherlands 1 NLG 15.440 Portugal 100 PTE 16.972 Austria 1 ATS 2.473 Greece 100 GRD 9.985 Spain 100 ESP 20.449 CULTURE Ten Centuries of Architecture A visit to 10 centuries of architecture is promised by a unique exhibit in the Prague Castle and its surroundings. The project presents all major architectural styles from Roman times to the present. Prague Castle, itself more than 1,000 years old, enabled the curators of the exhibit to install all the expositions in places representing the individual architectural style. Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau are mixed together to create an intriguing exhibition. For example, the Renaissance display is set in the otherwise off-limits areas of Queen Anne's Summer Castle (also known as the Belvedere) and 20th-century architecture is exhibited in parts of the castle adapted by famous Slovenian architect Josip Plecnik in the 20's. The exhibit was inspired by and is closely connected to the series of short documentaries about Czech architecture which is now in its fourth year on Czech Television. Marie Sternova/Simon Dominik SPORTS Two Czechs Win NHL Trophies, Three on NHL All-Star Team The Air Canada Center in Toronto hosted the awards ceremony June 15 that ended the National Hockey League season. Besides three trophies for Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic, some Czech players were also rewarded. Buffalo Sabres goalkeeper Dominik Hasek won the Vezina Trophy as the best goalkeeper (for the sixth time) and also received the Jennings Trophy as a goalkeeper for the team that allowed the lowest number of goals in the regular season. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jaromir Jagr received the Art Ross Trophy as the most productive player in the regular season. Both Czechs were included on the all-NHL first team, together with New Jersey Devils forward Patrik Elias. It was the first time in history three Czech players were elected to the elite line of the NHL. Philadelphia Flyers goalkeeper Roman Cechmanek was named to the second team and Ottawa Senators forward Martin Havlat was included on the all-rookie team. Havlat was a candidate for the Calder Trophy for the rookie of the year. "I really didn't expect it. Cechmanek and Brodeur had great seasons, while for me the first half wasn't so good. I hadn't prepared a speech and didn't know what to say," said Hasek. He received 85 votes, while second-place Cechmanek got 65. Hasek does not know where he will play next season. He will wait till July 1 to see whether Buffalo fulfills his demands. If the club does not, he will go elsewhere. He said it should be a team with a real chance to win the Stanley Cup. On the contrary, Jagr is prepared to go anywhere. He said he does not like it when players want to play only for strong teams with ambitions of winning the Stanley Cup. He said he would play for a team that is not sure of making the playoffs. Jagr also denied that his departure was caused by conflicts with the Penguins owner Mario Lemieux. His leaving is just a business matter, he says. "Wherever I end up, I'll try to prove my employer made a good decision well," said Jagr. SPORTS IN BRIEF * Czech national hockey team captain Robert Reichel signed a three-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs June 12 and is to return to the NHL after two years spent in Europe, last year in Litvinov. "I'd still like to try to win the Stanley Cup. They're interested in me and want to go far. That's exactly what I was looking for," said Reichel. * Pavel Nedved of Lazio Rome won his third Golden Ball award as the year's best Czech soccer player June 17. The results matched the vote taken after the first half of the season for the first time. Tomas Rosicky of Borussia Dortmund finished second and Jan Koller of Anderlecht finished third. Nedved extended his contract with Lazio Rome till 2006. "It's actually a contract to the end of my career, that's what I wished for," said Nedved. * Jan Obst was elected the new president of the Czech-Moravian Soccer Union (CMFS) June 17. The 49-year-old lawyer replaced Frantisek Chvalovsky, who is in jail after being accused of loan frauds involving billions of crowns and who was recalled by the extraordinary general meeting of the CMFS. After Chvalovsky was arrested in March, then-Vice President Obst was entrusted with the leadership of the CMFS. * Runner Ludmila Formanova (two-time world champion in the 800m) will not participate in the World Championships in Edmonton and will skip the entire season, she announced after consultation with coach Jarmila Kratochvilova June 13. Formanova cannot train for six weeks because of pain in her right groin. * Pole vaulter Daniela Bartova announced her retirement June 15. She said she feels tired after 18 years of sports (nine years of artistic gymnastics and nine years of track and field). She will not participate in the World Championships in Edmonton because of an Achilles tendon injury. Bartova broke 17 world and 26 European records, finished fourth in the Sydney Olympics and second in the 1998 indoor European Championships. Sports news by Martina Parizkova/Mirek Langer WEATHER Up and down, up and down - that was the pattern of the last week, with daily temperatures fluctuating around 20 degrees Celsius/68 degrees Fahrenheit. Sunshine was a rather scarce commodity, showers were plenty. Despite the solstice launching the season of summer, summer weather has not yet arrived. 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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