SURVEY OF THE PRESS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, 15-7-1993
by Jan Jarab
CESKY DENIK (right-wing) informs that Czech Foreign Minister Zieleniec proposes to increase to put just information tables on the "green border" between the official Czecho-Slovak border crossings. Interior Minister Ruml, however, claims that the Czech police is able and ready to control the border in its entirety.
Cesky denik also informs that a Czech organization, Nadace Tolerance (Tolerance Foundation) has joined the protests against the unconstitutional regulations against Gypsies in the Slovak town of Spisske Podhradie.
LIDOVE NOVINY (liberal) publish an interview with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé, who says he is "surprised by the ideas which some of Czech leaders have about the European Community. It doesn't mean just to abolish trade barriers; there is also an institutional system." Commenting on the fact that Czech politicians today are Anglophiles rather than Francophiles, and on the current presentation of France in Czech media as someone who blocks out entry to the EC, the Minister says: "This is entirely untrue. In fact, France had been pressing other members of the Twelve to accept the East European states as fast as possible."
MLADA FRONTA DNES (centrist). Headline: Chairman of Parliament Uhde is in deep trouble. It has been revealed that he recommended (as Minister of Culture) to the Privatization Committee to privatize (i.e., sell at a very low price) a state bookselling company into the hands of a company, in which his own wife is one of the co-owners. Mr.Uhde defends himself by saying he only wanted to save the valuable books from physical destruction.
PRACE (trade-union). Headline: The Hyenas Are Waiting. There seems to be no category of personal data which couldn't be used commercially, says Prace after revealing that at least 80 patients of the departnment of oncology in one Prague hospital have become targets of an advertising campaign. A private company which claims that cancer can be cured by "oxygenotherapy" has sent them letters informing them that they have cancer and will surely die if they continue conventional therapy. The recipients were aghast at the fact that the company knew their addresses and health conditions. The hospital informed the district prosecutor, who failed to start prosecution, however, because the "violation of medical secret" doesn't figure in the penal code.
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SURVEY OF SLOVAK PRESS by CTK News Agency
BRATISLAVA, July 15 (ÇTK) - The trade union daily +Práca+
considers the consequences if a coalition agreeement between
the ruling Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) and the
Slovak National Party (SNS) is not reached. It says that early
elections are the most likely outcome, something that neither
side desires nor fears. The power hunger of čudovít Çernák's SNS
is too great for Premier Vladimír Meçiar's liking, says +Práca+,
and the SNS may be left "high and dry" if it does not reduce
its demands. Its ambitions were partially appeased with Meçiar's
promise of two important economic posts in the government, and
once the immediate danger passes, he may decide to "throw them
overboard."
The political situation in Slovakia is being further
destabilised by the prolonging of coalition talks, comments
another paper today, the pro-HZDS +Smena+. Even parliamentary
deputies are debating whether an agreement between the HZDS and
SNS will "pull Slovakia out of the political crisis."
Negotiations have revealed personal differences between Meçiar
and Çernák, and the talks until now have shown that either of
the parties may change their approach, in which case the
situation would be brought back to square one again.
The opposition-friendly +Slovenský deník+ discusses the
"names" bill, which would have allowed women of non-Slovak
origin to choose not to add the suffix "-ová" to their last
names -- something ethnic Hungarians have called for. Premier
Meçiar refused to sign the bill passed by parliament on July 7.
The paper emphasises that Meçiar had sent an "unsigned letter of
scorn" to the Council of Europe, which might not be taken simply
as Meçiar's peculiar black humour but as an indication of
Slovakia's government's unreliability.
The tabloid +Nový Ças+ notes that crimes by Romanies in most
Slovak localities have become such a great problem partly
because the children are commiting offences, and says that the
reason is that their parents know they cannot be punished as
juveniles. The paper says that this has resulted in such
measures as the eastern Slovakian town of Spi ské Podhrdie's
general application of a night-time curfew for "Romanies and
other suspicious people." The paper calls this solution "not
the most reasonable one," even though observers there claim that
the crime rate has fallen drastically since its application. It
also says that that town will not be the last to resort to such
drastic measures. "If a more acceptable solution is not found
soon, the situation could reach alarming proportions, and will
be felt by all," concludes +Nový ças+.
The independant +Narodná obroda+ quotes Slovak Interior
Minister Jozef Tuchyńa as calling the greatest achievement of
his ministry the tasks connected with the seperation of
Czechoslovakia and the taking over of powers from the former
Federal Interior Ministry. He expressed regret over the security
situation in Slovakia, which he called poor. He also pointed out
his ministry's success in signing an agreement with Austria on
the handing over of refugees, and emphasised that similar
agreements are soon to be signed between the Slovak Republic and
Poland, Hungary, Ukraine and Romania.
The pro-government daily +Republika+ criticises a satirical
50-minute television program called "An Evening with Milana
Markoviç". It criticises the 400,000 crown (13,000 USD) cost of
a programme which "belittles the government and talks
disrespectfully of the nation", comparing it with the 1,000,000
crown (33,000 USD) cost of the recently televised 11 rounds of
soccer that "the people have always needed." The paper also
rejects the claim that an unhappy viewer should change the
channel or turn off the television.
