The Race to the Bottom the Sorry State of the Czech Republic's

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THE PRAGUE JOURNAL OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN AFFAIRS www.new-presence.cz

The Weeds of Czech Corruption

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Editor’s Notes Dominik JÛn - 2 News Roundup A look at events in the Czech Republic as well as key stories from Central and Eastern Europe from the last few months – 3 Opinions The Czech BBC: End of an Era – Jaroslav Weis – 5 Everyone Wants to be a Liberal – Simon Pardek – 6 Is Fear Our Only Motivator? – Václav Mezfiick˘ – 7 winter 2006 winter Point-Counterpoint Our Elites are Weak – Jan Hartl – 8 Our Elites are too Strong – Dominik JÛn – 9 The Czech Republic The Weeds of Corruption - Drahomíra Tleskaãová – 10 Rath and Healthcare – Martin Jan Stránsk˘ – 12 Waiting for a Pension - Libu‰e Bautzová – 14 How Past Communists Expel Present Heroes – Ondfiej Aust - 16 The World Thirty years of Spanish Transformation –Jaroslav ·onka – 18 Why the US wants Turkey in the EU – Viktor A. Debnár and Alan Smith - 20 In Focus Will the Real Budweiser Please Stand Up? – Asmara Ghebremichael – 22 A Nation Unto Itself –Whitney Laemmli –25 The Decline of Political Responsibility –Jifií Pehe – 28 Media Czech Radio Today: Political Correctness or Boredom? –Jan PotÛãek – 31 Interview with Petr Bísek, publisher of Americké listy – 33 The Race to the Bottom – David Pomerantz – 35 Spotlight on Bulgaria RESENCE Fake Revolutions – Jordan Vasilev – 40

Bulgaria’s Journey –Vladimír KﬁíÏ – 42 P Czech Fervor in the Balkans –RÛÏena Havránková – 44 The Poison Umbrella – Yveta Kenety – 46 From Balkan to Brother? –Lubo‰ Palata – 49 Culture American Ex-Pats Come-Of-Age – Kate Schmier – 50

Interview with Czech documentary filmmaker Bﬁetislav Rychlík –Irena JirkÛ – 52 EW Tour D’Europe – A Short story by Jaroslav Rudi‰ – 54

Then & Now N Czechs in Iran – A Pﬁítomnost article from 1939 Letter From… Eric Volkman describes a visit to Latvia – 59

Parting Shots HE William and Democracy – Martin Jan Stránsk˘ – 60

Cover photo: Krist˘na Urbánková and Tomá‰ Haman (Graphic layout) T The New Presence is the sister publication of the Czech magazine Pﬁítomnost. Both magazines are published by Martin Jan Stránsk˘, grandson of the original publisher of Pﬁítomnost, which under renowned editor Ferdinand Peroutka, became inter- war Czechoslovakia’s most widely respected periodical publication. The New Presence is published on a quarterly basis. It features a mixture of original material and translated articles from our sister publication. Due to considerations of space and style, some translated articles may vary in style and/or length from the original.

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EDITOR’S NOTES

Dear Readers, yet reshape the country’s television landscape for the better. Frequent contributor Asmara Ghebremichael turns her probing A new year is upon us and I wel- eye to the seemingly never-ending battle of the breweries – name- come you to the very first issue of ly that of Czech Budweiser Budvar company and the American 2006. In this special issue, we take Anheuser-Busch Budweiser company – and looks at the history a look at some of the thorns in the behind their ongoing and often acrimonious trademark dispute. paw of the Czech lion. With Looking further afield, Jaroslav ·onka takes a detailed look at Transparency International’s recent Spain’s transformation from a dictatorship under General Franco damning report, Drahomíra to a modern-day constitutional democracy,and asks whether there Tleskáãová examines the problem are lessons that can be learnt by today’s post-communist countries of political corruption in the Czech from this process. In our special section looking at Bulgaria, Yveta Republic. Libu‰e Bautová touches Kenety remembers a dark and mysterious chapter in the Cold War, upon another thorny issue, that of the Czech pension system, and that of the death of the Bulgarian exile Georgi Markov at the hands asks whether a political compromise can truly be reached and the of a poison-tipped umbrella. Meanwhile, Jordan Vasilev looks at current system can finally be reformed. Meanwhile, Whitney Bulgaria’s recent history and argues that the influence of the Laemmli looks at the role of NGO’s in the Czech Republic and asks Communists is still felt to this day. In a special article, JiﬁíPehe whether they really are as dangerous as Czech President Václav examines the subject of political and personal responsibility in the Klaus has repeatedly and controversially suggested.As part of our Czech Republic and beyond. We also a short story from the Czech special look at the Czech media, Jan PotÛãek puts Czech public award-winning author Jaroslav Rudi‰,alook at the American ex- radio under the spotlight and argues that this respected institution pat community in Prague, interviews, commentaries and much, is in danger of becoming bland and irrelevant. And in our feature much more.As ever, I hope you will enjoy the magazine. article, writer David Pomerantz takes an in-depth look at the Czech Republic’s television sector, examining how a recent spate of fines levied against the country’s two commercial networks may Dominik JÛn

“Hloup˘ kdo dává, hloupûj‰í kdo nebere” “It’s stupid to offer, but even stupider to refuse” – Old Czech proverb.

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NEWS ROUNDUP

A look at events in the Czech Republic as well as key stories from Central and Eastern Europe from the last few months

4th October 2005 - The Czech Finance Ministry reports crime,border controls,food hygiene and the management of farm a budget surplus of 25.8 billion crowns (873 million Euros) in subsidies.If both countries fall short on the required reforms,their the first nine months of this year, the strongest result since the entry into the EU could be delayed until January 2008. country gained independence in 1993. However, Czech state debt is recorded at a record 662.6 billion Crowns,with a19 31th October 2005 – Following the recent presidential elec- billion crown increase (792 million US dollars) in the third quar- tion in which the conservative candidate Lech Kaczynski ter of 2005. secured a victory,a conservative minority government takes office in Poland. The cabinet is dominated by the traditional- 6th October 2005 – Private doctors around the Czech ist Law and Justice party (PiS), which won last month's elec- Republic stage a one-day strike in protest at repeated late pay- tions pledging to defend Catholic values. The Law and Justice ments by the state-run health insurance company VZP.Around party secured 155 seats in the 460-seat legislature, while the fifteen hundred demonstrators gather in front of the Health Civic Platform - a key member of the minority coalition - Ministry building in Prague including pharmacists,dentists,and obtained 133. Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz’s gov- several politicians from the right-wing opposition Civic ernment ends the rule of former communists and has pledged Democrats. There are numerous calls for the resignation of the to root out corruption. Health Minister Milada Emmerová, who is partly blamed for a cash-flow crisis within the health sector. 2nd November 2005 – Following a series of media reports that the CIA has been keeping terrorism suspects in secret deten- 7th October 2005 – Austrian anti-nuclear activists project tion centres or “black-sites” somewhere in Eastern Europe,the slogans alleging the Czech Temelín nuclear power station is Czech Interior Ministry denies that such facilities could be locat- unsafe onto one of its cooling towers. The protest marks five ed within the Czech Republic.Speculation mounts that the secret years since the launch of the plant, which is around 60 km from prisons could be located in either Romania or Poland. The exis- the border with nuclear-free Austria. tence of such sites, coupled with stories of CIA flights crossing EU territory cause a major transatlantic diplomatic headache for 12th October 2005 – A report by the Organisation for the US. Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) points out that the Czech Republic remains one of the worst polluters 4th November 2005 – Following the dismissal of Milada and least efficient users of energy within the organisation. Emmerová, Czech President Václav Klaus appoints David According to the report, the production of hazardous waste in Rath as the country’s new health minister.The appointment the Czech Republic remains three to four times higher than else- comes after weeks of controversy between the President and where in Europe and limits on the levels of dangerous sub- Prime Minister Jiﬁí Paroubek over whether Dr. Rath was a suit- stances in water are often significantly exceeded. Moreover, the able candidate for the post.He is the tenth minister to take up the report also warns that poor air quality, particularly in Prague post in the past 12 years and is expected to launch a radical and the industrial regions in the north and north east of the reform of the money-strapped health sector. country pose a genuine threat to people's health. 10th November 2005 – Health matters continue to dominate 13th October 2005 - The European Parliament decides to strip the Czech Republic as Health Minister David Rath imposes Czech MEP and former TV Nova director Vladimír Îelezn˘, forced administration on VZP, the largest state-owned Czech of his immunity from prosecution.Mr Îelezn˘ is under investi- health insurance company.The minister says the company is not gation for tax evasion as well as issues regarding his tenure as fulfilling its legal obligations and has been given enough time to Nova’s director. try to resolve its problems. VZP has accumulated severe debts which stand at 14 billion crowns (just over 570 million US dol- 25th October 2005 - The European Commission announces that lars). Bulgaria and Romania must root out corruption and speed up reforms in order to join the EU on schedule in 2007. In an 22nd November 2005 - Angela Merkel, leader of the annual progress report, the commission's enlargement commis- Christian Democrats (CDU), is sworn in as Germany's sioner,Olli Rehn,states that Bulgaria and Romania have made sig- first woman chancellor at a ceremony in the country's par- nificant progress in their preparations for accession. However, liament. Mrs Merkel, a conservative, will head a coalition with concerns remain about a variety of issues including organised the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). She is the first chan-

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NEWS ROUNDUP

cellor to have grown up in the former communist eastern part 13th December 2005 - A 39-year-old Swedish national of the country. However, the ceremonies are notably muted, Oussama Kassir, wanted by both the US FBI and the Central stemming from the widespread belief that Merkel’s Christian Intelligence Agency on terrorism charges,is arrested in the Democrats could have done far better in the elections, and Czech Republic. The suspect is detained at Prague’s Ruzynû air- avoided the need to form acoalition with their Social port on a Stockholm flight en route to Beirut,after an interna- Democrat opponents. tional warrant was issued for his arrest.Mr Kassir denies charges of aiding terrorism and called the case “manufactured.” 25th November 2005 - The environmental group Greenpeace says carp (the traditional Czech Christmas meal) caught in the 20th December 2005 - The lower house of the Czech parlia- Czech Republic and neighbouring countries contains worrying- ment passes a bill under which state-controlled rent is set to ly high levels ofphthalate, a harmful chemical compound increase by 14.2% annually between 2007 and 2010.Some found in plastics,particularly PVC.A spokesperson for the organ- 750,000 flats in the Czech Republic, about one fifth of all apart- isation, which carried out the tests, claimed that it had found ments in the country, have controlled rent. Czech MPs also traces of the chemical far above prescribed limits in carp being approve a bill on the compulsory purchase of land for projects in sold by three leading supermarket chains in the Czech Republic. the public interest.This will give the state an instrument to speed up construction of major infrastructure projects, such as roads 3rd December 2005 - Following talks on the EU budget in and railways.The bill has yet to go before the Senate or be signed Budapest, Prime Minister Jiﬁí Paroubek states that Britain's by the President. proposal to slash spending should affect all member states equally, not just the newcomers, arguing that an estimated 73 21st December 2005 - The lower house of the Czech parlia- percent of the proposed cuts would be made at their expense. ment passes a bill on public tenders aimed at curbing cor- Britain, which currently holds the presidency of the EU also ruption and increasing transparency. Under the legislation it encounters opposition from other Eastern European member will no longer be possible to "direct" a public tender towards one states, which also strongly criticise Britain’s multi-million Euro company. The bill's authors also hope that announcing tenders rebate. Eventually a new EU budget is passed, with a reduction in on the internet will lead to a decrease in corruption levels. the proposed cuts, and also a reduction of the British rebate. 22nd December 2005 - The Czech Syndicate of journalists 6th December 2005 – Czech Prime Minister Jiﬁí Paroubek issues a warning about efforts to curtail freedom of the press meets German counterpart Chancellor Merkel during a visit in the Czech Republic. In a published statement, the syndicate to Berlin. The two politicians state that their countries enjoy states that its concerns stem from a recent amendments to the excellent relations, with Chancellor Merkel reiterating that any penal code which will make slander a criminal act and tighten restitution claims made by Sudeten Germans expelled after the rules for the use of a hidden cameras. Miroslav Jelínek, the World War Two will not be backed by her government. syndicate chairman also states that he is concerned about the government's efforts to interfere with or restrict the work of 8th December 2005 - The lower house of Parliament votes to radio and TV journalists. extend ongoing Czech military and peacekeeping missions in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan until the end of 2006. 23rd December 2005 - The Czech-language service of the Deputies also agree to increase to 150 the number of Czech sol- BBC broadcasts its final programme.However,the station, diers and personnel dispatched to Afghanistan, where a Czech which has a small but influential audience, will continue to contingent is set to take control of the Afghan capital's airport.In broadcast news bulletins until the end of January. Meanwhile, Iraq, Czechs will maintain about 100 experts mainly involved in the BBC World Service is hoping to persuade the Czech training Iraqi security forces or assisting a British military hos- Broadcasting Council to continue its English language FM pital. The main opposition Civic Democratic Party agrees to the broadcasts in the Czech Republic. extensions but adds that it would like the Czech Republic to participate in fewer missions, in order to make better use of "limit- 27th December 2005 – Poland’s new conservative government ed resources". announces that it will extend its military deployment in Iraq until the end of 2006. The decision reverses the previous leftist 10th December 2005 - Poland announces a formal inquiry administration's plan to pull troops out in early 2006. Poland, into claims that the CIA operated secret prisons or interroga- a staunch ally of the US,has about 1,500 troops stationed in Iraq. tion centres on its territory. Announcing the move, Prime It is the fifth biggest foreign contingent in the country, after the Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz states that the issue needs to US, Britain, South Korea and Italy. Among other US European be resolved. Though the Polish government has continued to allies, Bulgaria, Hungary and Ukraine have already opted to deny the existence of such facilities on its soil, a spokesman for withdraw their forces. The last Ukrainian forces serving in Iraq, the US-based group Human Rights Watch is quoted as saying recently left the country. that Poland had been the main base for interrogating terrorist suspects, but that such centres have been closed down since the news became public.

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OPINIONS

far more crucial to Czechs than the BBC Czech service. However, The Czech BBC following the fall of Communism, the BBC once again proved its worth and provided a much needed and otherwise missing level - End of an Era of journalistic impartiality. Ever since the announcement was made several months ago Paradoxically, the BBC’s success came despite a relatively that the BBC would be redirecting some of it’s energies towards the small pool of listeners. Being sandwiched amongst a morass of creation of an Arabic television news channel, many Czech radio commercial radio stations and also the BBC’s insistence on qual- listeners have been in mourning.The announcement,made by the ity and content condemned it to a minute audience (a less than BBC World Service in London, stated that in order to finance this 1% audience share, but said to largely comprise of the country’s new television station,cuts would have to be made to the Service’s intellectuals and decision-makers –Ed.). budget. The primary victims of this financial axe were the former However, the BBC’s impact in this country was never a ques- Eastern bloc countries of Europe, who, in the BBC’s eyes had now tion of numbers. In recent times, it served as a guiding light of sufficiently developed free and varied home-grown media. journalistic integrity. In a country where shallow infotainment Amongst those radio stations slated for cancellation was the Czech and politically motivated reporting were commonplace, the BBC BBC service, which has been broadcasting for 66 years. found favour amongst all of the Czech Republic’s main political Several factors undoubtedly contributed to the decision, parties, precisely because it was deemed to be above the fray. including the success of the Arabic news channel Al-Jazeera. Though the service did have its faults, the standard of news, When in July 2005, terrorists attacked multiple targets in analysis and commentary was exemplary. Another plus was the London, it was only a matter of time till the decision to redirect access that Czech correspondents enjoyed to the BBC’s world- the BBC’s efforts towards the Middle-East would be made. wide news resources and reports.This access meant that the BBC In the Czech Republic, we can only express sadness regarding was one of the few places where Czechs could go to receive in- this decision,since the BBC played a pivotal role in this country depth international coverage. on more than one occasion. During the Second World War, the What happens next? There are several possible scenarios. The government in exile used the service to retain a public voice at worst case would find the service’s reporters dispersing and dis- home, as well as to provide hope to the oppressed peoples of solving into the country’s numerous commercial and public Czechoslovakia - despite the fact that listening to the BBC was broadcasting outfits. The second option would see the nation’s punishable by death. Throughout the Communist era, the influ- public radio service (âesk˘ Rozhlas) preserve the BBC team by ence of Radio Free Europe and Voice of America, which broad- incorporating it into one of it’s own frequencies. However, this cast into Czechoslovakia from Munich (despite repeated option has two problems: first, it remains unclear whether the Communist efforts to block the transmissions), were arguably BBC team would be willing to take such a step, and secondly the

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OPINIONS

team’s ability to maintain its noted quality and integrity would arguably be compromised within âRo. The final and most real- istic option involves maintaining the BBC Czech service within corporation’s commercial wing BBC Worldwide. In this guise, the BBC Czech service could continue to draw upon the resources of the corporation and the Czech network of reporters could be preserved. The only major change would be the proba- ble appearance of advertising. Editor’s Note: In mid-December, the BBC announced that efforts to continue the BBC Czech Service as part of BBC Worldwide had failed. Jarolsav Weis Everyone Wants to be a “Liberal” In the Czech Republic, the word Liberal has taken on a rather convoluted and muddled meaning, which differs considerably from its common interpretation in the West. Though journalists and politicians frequently use the word,many readers and listeners often have no idea what it means. Indeed, the word “liberal” has even become a substitute for the word “good.”The economy needs to be more “liberal”; once we were more “liberal”, now other countries are more “liberal” than we are, etc. The word “liberal”derives from the Latin world "liber", meaning free.Often in the news we hear that Iraq must become a“liberal-democracy.” This interpretation of the word harks back to a greater and far less politicized concept of modern civilization – one free from tyranny and totalitarianism. The concept of lib- eralism is strongly associated with enlightenment, progres- any of them use the world liberal at all is somewhat ridiculous. sivism and individual freedom. But there are yet more interpre- A Czech conservative often finds himself “conserving” many tations. In the United States, for example, mainstream politics is of the traditions associated with communism – Klaus’s apparent divided into liberal and conservative. A Liberal is someone on opposition to a civic society is but one example. Many rural the political Left and a Conservative is someone on the political Communists are in fact fiercely staunch, not to mention utterly Right. According to conservatives, liberals are weak on issues of xenophobic conservatives. And the notion that the Czech Social crime, prostitution, abortion etc. According to liberals mean- Democrats are in any way the proponents of a“liberal”society is while, conservatives replace pragmatism with ideology, clinging somewhat preposterous – much of their legislation appears to on to impractical and outdated traditions. When Holland is reflect the “we know best” attitude of Communist central plan- described as a very “liberal” society, it has little to do with eco- ning. Thus, in the Czech Republic, the word liberal can be used nomics, but rather reflects the attitude of the country's citizens by anyone, at any time and for anything. No-one need ever care towards issues that others may deem more controversial. what it really means. And that, as George Orwell's newspeak Finally, a third interpretation has gained a footing in recent might proclaim, is certainly doubleplusungood. times - that of liberal economics. Terms like “market liberaliza- Simon Pardek tion,”a“liberal market”and so on, are all concepts unmistakably associated with the political Right, and are structured around the belief that government regulation of trade is inefficient. Ironically, those in favor of a liberal society are often vigorously Is Fear Our Only opposed to liberal-economics, and those who advocate liberal- economics are often the staunchest social-conservatives. Motivator? In the Czech Republic,a liberal society when it comes to secular- In 1997, former President Havel’s Forum 2000 held a work- ism, divorce, abortion, pornography etc., such distinctions are often shop on the environment. As part of its closing statement, the nowhere to be found.The party on the Left governs “for”the people, group warned that “the environmental problems which we are but not necessarily “by” the people, while the party on the Right is experiencing are not only of an ecological character, but are also blindly guided by an ideology of “I” rather than “We.”The fact that effecting the very notion of civilization.”

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OPINIONS

In 1972 (Stockholm) and again in 1992 (Rio de Janeiro), the United Nations held international conferences dedicated to the environment. In 1997, the General Assembly of the UN evaluated the success of the Rio summit. In his speech to the millenni- um session of the UN in 2000, General Secretary Kofi Annan paid particular attention to environmental issues and sustainable development. The last major environmental conference was the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg. It would seem that defining the notion of environmental responsibility should be fairly straightforward. A 1999 Gallup survey taken for the UN and quoted by Kofi Annan in his article “People and the role of the UN in the 21st century,”which spanned 60 countries and queried 57,000 respondents, revealed was that 66% expressed dissatisfaction with how their governments were treating the issue of the environment. Only in five countries did the majority of people claim to be satis- fied. People in developing countries were amongst the most critical. A 2004 poll undertaken by the European Union, entitled the Special Environment Eurobarometer, revealed that almost nine out of ten Europeans believe that policy-makers should pay as much attention to environmental issues as to economic and social factors, when taking decisions. An earlier 2002 poll also revealed that 45% of respondents had an optimistic outlook with regards to the environment, believing that “further worsening...can be prevented by changes in lifestyle.” 44%, on

the other hand, were convinced that human activity was causing irreparable harm to the environment. Half of respondents felt that their individual activities had an impact on the environment, while the other half did not. Two things are clear.The views and attitudes of those in developing and developed countries differ. In developed countries, the willingness of people to alter their consumer preferences, a major cause of environmental devastation, is difficult to change - though change has been embraced in some fields, such as recycling, energy efficient light-bulbs, organic food, etc. (both Fair Trade approved and organic food remain largely unavailable in the Czech Republic- Ed.) In poorer countries with high levels of economic growth,there is a lesser understanding of the costs associated with ignoring or abusing the environment. For example, in China the authorities have identified 115 diseases which have caused suffering to at least two hundred million of its citizens,which have been directly caused by poor environmental conditions. It took two world wars for man to create international institutions designed to control human rivalry.It is not surprising that this inspires the environmentally-minded to believe what scien- tist Hans Jonas once wrote:“In spite of all logic and method, the knowledge of danger is only related to a genuine sense of fear.We only really know what we know, after it happens.”

Václav Mezﬁick˘ shortened from the original

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POINT-COUNTERPOINT POINT: Our Elites are Weak In the Czech Republic, the words “elite”and “responsibility” still sound very strange JAN HARTL

Decades of totalitarian rule have clearly left their mark on The current Czech problem is one of weakness of the elite. If Czech culture and traditions. Studies suggest that most people we use the word elite,we imagine it to be an integrated collection feel that Czech society is poorly organised and that there are of the finest representatives from all sectors and spheres of soci- many areas in which people see inspiration for the future. In ety. In the Czech Republic,even a casual observer can clearly see a time in which our elites hide behind a mask of collective irre- that the various elites are fragmented and do not communicate sponsibility, this should come as no surprise. with each other. For example, when we say that a politician has At the beginning of the 1920s, Lord Bryce (1838-1922, British better than normal relations with the media,it tends to raise sus- jurist, historian and politician -Ed.) suggested that there were picions rather than to be seen as something laudable. Rarely do three tiers in the functioning of the public sector. First were the we see a connection between the artistic and the business world, elites, which either had a direct and formal right to legislate on and when we do, it tends to be within the framework of large behalf of the people, or an indirect influence on the decision- western organisations. making process. Then there was the interested and informed Thanks to their position, elites have a notable influence on the section of the public (the middle-classes),which felt empowered media and public life. Currently in the Western world, they have in some way in the decision-making process. Finally there were a large role in strengthening societal relations, developing equal the larger masses, which had very little knowledge of or interest opportunities, and helping to overcome societal disquiet. Many in the wider issues and the functioning of politics. concepts,which have ingrained themselves in Western countries, such as public-private partnerships, the responsibility of business to the wider world, and trendy Western concepts such as Since elites do have the greatest cohesion and inclusion,can only be found in the Czech NGO sec- power and influence in every society, tor. Society’s problems are the direct result of those who are they can more easily achieve results. responsible for them. Being responsible for one’s actions is tied to a circle of relative social contacts. The average person is usu- According to Bryce, the problem with democracy was that in ally closely tied to a small circle of friends and family. The rela- the voting booth, these groups share equal power, whilst in soci- tionships experienced in dealings with institutions and mem- ety, their influence varies greatly.Every society has at its dispos- bers of the elite, however, involve a far greater number of people. al both formal and informal mechanisms of control. The oft Sociological studies suggest that for many years, we have been heard complaints that Czech society is chaotic and disorganised experiencing what can be best described as a crisis of leadership. are in fact an indicator of the sorry state of both the formal and In these conditions, the majority of people believe that they are informal mechanisms and also of the inadequate functioning of not represented by those who lead them,and do not feel empow- the mechanisms of the State. Whilst the condition of the formal ered to change the situation. Such a state is also a crisis of the mechanisms is apparent to everyone, the weakness of the infor- elites, who have failed to fulfil their role in society. mal controlling mechanisms escapes many. Since elites do have the greatest power and influence in every society, they can more easily achieve results. They rule with Jan Hartl is a sociologist. knowledge, ability and also with communicative and analytic Shortened from the original resources. Through these, they can advocate a particular position and whip up support from the other tires of society. They can thus strengthen awareness of interconnectivity in society and in the individual. At the same time, elites can maximise their own interests and achieve short-term gains. This is why it becomes problematic when elites are either too weak or too strong.

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POINT-COUNTERPOINT COUNTERPOINT: Our Elites Are Too Strong Our elites exist, and are choking the country DOMINIK JU° N

It really isn’t surprising that “elite”and “intellectual”have mary mode of admittance.To join the elite,one is forced to adopt almost become a dirty words in the Czech Republic. In an era its ways, though money and connections also help. To try it any when many simple truths are not publicly expressed, and where other way in the post-Communist world, remains an uphill corruption is endemic,the self-proclaimed superior status of the struggle.Thus the average citizen is still forced to believe that the so-called “elite” is beginning to sound like a ludicrous relic of only way to get ahead is to cheat – and this mentality is visible nineteenth century thinking. Whilst much of Western society throughout the country. Supermarkets are frequently caught re- gradually (albeit slowly and painfully) drifts towards a model labelling out-of-date food, neighbour steals from neighbour and social justice and equality of opportunity, post-Communist apathy, jealousy and greed rule. countries often seem hell-bent on going in the opposite direction, with privileged citizens revelling in an ability to feel materially and intellectually superior to their neighbours. More often than not, fresh blood or new ideas Indeed it often seems that these “elites” are deliberately going do little more than prompt a jealous fear that one’s out of their way to make their thoughts, opinions, ideas and art- work inaccessible to wider Czech society.While it’s understand- own incompetence will be exposed able that the enforced equality of Communism created a craving and job-security placed under threat. for individual excellence amongst Czechs, the side-effect has been that the privileged (both materially and intellectually) often dismiss the majority of their fellow citizens as mere mind- The result is, that frustration and cynicism are growing ever less Proles, who are fed their diet of “reality television”, and who more rampant among the type of ordinary decent people that can be manipulated to vote for anything.This climate of intellec- the Czech Republic could use the most. The notion of a country tual snobbery is in fact serving to alienate the greatest number growing from the grass-roots upwards appears as frightening to of people possible, whilst fermenting a feeling of solidarity and today’s elite as it did the former Communist dictatorship.If those superiority only within small, impenetrable and inaccessible in the Czech Republic fortunate enough to be in the so-called clans of like-minded people. “elite” really want to make a difference, then surely the best way Indeed, it is these closed clans, networks or “elites,” be they to do this is to learn to listen to the concerns and suggestions of artistic,educational or political who so fiercely guard their struc- ordinary people,whilst applauding and enabling the ascendancy tures against outsiders, who are arguably stifling Czech culture of new talents and new ideas. and society: Political parties appear to have no-one left to choose Let us stop deluding ourselves about how bad things are in from; Czech Television imports concepts from abroad rather this country. The truth is actually very different. There are hon- than coming up with original ideas; Czech president Klaus uses est, decent and creative people to be found everywhere, particu- his privileged platform to criticise NGOs, as if that is were the larly amongst the younger generation. The pre-invasion 1968 most pressing issue in this country; and politicians trade ever- cultural awakening of Czechoslovakia as well as the 1989 Velvet more vulgar insults. In such a climate, a new idea or a fresh Revolution prove that this country is brimming with pent-up approach has very little chance of being heard. More often than imagination,idealism and originality.The problem is that just as not, fresh blood or new ideas do little more than prompt a jeal- under Communism, the current system appears designed to ous fear that one’s own incompetence will be exposed and job- make sure that such influences remain shut-out, unable to make security placed under threat. It is no wonder that resignations their mark on a wider Czech society. amongst politicians are so rare; for the Czech Republic’s political spheres remain dominated by posturing, self-aggrandisement and self-enrichment. Concepts such as vision and altruism are Dominik JÛn is the Editor of this magazine who offers his person- rarely to be found. al opinion on the subject. And how exactly does one join an elite? By promoting a new ideal,or standing up for something? To this day,the Communist- era model of collaboration and obedience remains as the pri-

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THE CZECH REPUBLIC The Weeds of Corruption Bad news for the Czech Republic, as Transparency International releases its latest corruption survey DRAHOMÍRA TLESKACˇOVÁ

On October 18th 2005, Transparency International (TI), Cooperation and Development (OECD) a day before it would a non-governmental organization that surveys corruption have taken place.The OECD conducts routine investigations with around the world, issued a report called the Corruption member states to determine if they are in accord with the orga- Perceptions Index (CPI). The index,compiled by the University nization’s rules. This particular survey of the Working Group on of Passau,Germany,rated 168 countries.Scores ranged from 10 Bribery was meant to investigate instances of business firms for highly transparent to 0 for highly corrupt. Iceland had the bribing foreign public officials. In November, Patrick Moulette, highest rating of 9.7, the United Kingdom was ranked 11th head of the anticorruption division of the OECD, was quoted in with a relatively high CPI score of 8.6, the United States was the Prague Post“This was the first time [in the organization’s his- 17th with a score of 7.6. The Czech Republic’s CPI rating was tory] that such an outside visit was cancelled… and triggered 47th (with a score of 4.3), tied with Greece, Namibia, and serious concern in the working group.” Slovakia, and finishing just ahead of Costa Rica and El According to many,the cancellation sends a clear message that Salvador, both of which placed 51st. Kuwait, Tunisia, South transparency is not high on the government’s agenda – Prague Africa, Bahrain, Malaysia, Botswana and Slovenia, all scored Post journalist Peter Kononczuk also noted that the Ministry has better than the Czech Republic. Of all European Union coun- not yet scheduled a firm date for the visit. tries, the Czech Republic had the third worst corruption rating, behind Poland and Latvia. Flawed legislation Many believe that the Czech Republic’s current conflict of Supreme State Attorney dismissed interest legislation law, designed to reduce corruption, has The country’s low rating comes in the wake of a slew of polit- numerous flaws. Radio Prague reports that the law requires “at ical scandals, including the resignation in April of the former least five senators or ten MPs to pass on the names of those Prime Minister Stanislav Gross, because of questions surround- who are not complying [with the rules] to a Mandate and ing the financing of his luxury flat, as well as the controversial Immunity Committee for review.” Such steps rarely happen, dismissal of the Supreme State Attorney Marie Bene‰ová in since parliamentary deputies are reportedly less than eager to September, at the request of Justice Minister Pavel Nûmec. The report on their fellow colleagues. Another flaw is that the cur- two clashed over Nûmec’s extradition of a Qatari Prince who had rent law exempts local councilors and alderman, as it applies been sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment by only to the lower house and Senate.At the end of 2004, Justice a Czech court for engaging in sexual activities with minors. The Minister Pavel Nûmec withdrew a new draft of the law, which extradition of the Prince effectively bypassed the court, and observers believed would markedly improve the situation. The Bene‰ová intervened by over- new bill, drafted with the assistance of Transparency turning the order calling International, would have forced officials to declare all of their a police investigation of assets upon assuming office, and would have prohibited Nûmec’s decisions in the case. municipal council officials from serving on the boards of local The magazine Czech Business companies. At present, members of the Senate and Parliament Weekly profiled her as a “sharp are supposed to submit property statements, but there are no tongued legal rebel” and quoted penalties for not doing so; thirty-three MPs failed to do so in the executive director of 2003. Transparency International’s Czech branch, Adriana Poor tools Krnáãová as saying “Bene‰ová Last year Transparency International’s Czech branch issued is trying hard to fight corrup- the new V4 INDEX, a comparative survey of the effectiveness of tion, but some politicians have anti-corruption tools in the capitals of the Czech Republic, thrown up obstacles.“ Hungary,Poland,and Slovakia. The survey investigated,via gov- na Urbánková ˘ Amonth after Bene‰ová’s dis- ernment documents and interviews with officials, the existence missal, the Justice Minister can- and effectiveness of anti-corruption mechanisms within the celled an investigation by The capital‘s governments. The survey also gauged the public’s per-

Photo: Krist Organization for Economic ception of the transparency of each capital city, interviewing

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about 100 employees and elected members of the municipal imprisonment has a posi- counties, including journalists, businessmen, and NGO repre- tive effect “…In the short sentatives. The result was,anti-corruption tools function best in run it may damage the rep- Budapest, and worst in Prague. utation of the Czech TI hopes to reduce the burden of corruption in the Czech Republic, but in the long Republic with the establishment of a new anti-corruption center run…this case is beneficial in Prague. The “consulting” center is set to provide free legal because we know that we council to those who believe themselves to be victims of corrup- can rely on our judicial sys- tion. In an interview for the Czech News Agency, the head of tem,that it is able to Transparency International’s Czech office Michal ·tiãka noted imprison even high rank- that “The project meets a demand which is quite strong in soci- ing officials who commit ety at present.” The center, financed by the EU and the Czech fraud and bribery." Interior Ministry,will provide information to people challenging But it seems that the na Urbánková corrupt practices, as well as offer long term legal aid through an high-profile imprisonment ˘ assistance program. has done little to stem the However, many analysts believe that such steps are inade- flow of corruption scan-

quate, because corruption is rampant at all levels of Czech soci- dals. During the summer of Photo: Krist ety.One often hears Czechs state “He who is rich,must have done 2005, Czech billionaire a good job stealing.”Public perceptions of politicians are at an all businessman Radovan Krejãífi escaped from police custody. time post-revolution low. A March 2005 survey by the Median Following numerous contradicting stories about how the busi- Polling Institute found that one in four Czechs had paid a bribe nessman managed to escape, and just how much money the in recent years, and that one in five Czech adults claimed that an police had found during a search of his villa, the Czech public official had asked them to pay a bribe.The one positive note was, ultimately had little choice but to suspect that Krejãífi had bribed that younger people were less willing to take or pay bribes, while his way to freedom.Krejãífi, wanted on charges of fraud and tax- older Czechs viewed the practice as a natural way to speed up the evasion, was finally tracked down to the Seychelles, with whom “bureaucratic process.” the Czech Republic has no extradition treaty. To add to the image of a successful robber baron, he has just published a “tell-all” Rampant corruption book about his “experiences” of Czech corruption. Indeed, there are numerous examples of corruption at all The greatest number of cases of alleged corruption involve levels of Czech society. In August 2004, Freedom Union MP government privatisations and public tenders. Competing com- Zdenûk Kofiistka publicly claimed that the opposition Civic panies that collude over fixing prices whilst bidding for state Democrats had offered him 10 million crowns (over 300,000 contracts, bribes to local officials to enable preferential treat- Euros) not to support the government in an upcoming vote of ment, questionable sell-offs, government building projects that confidence. Because the government coalition had a majority seem to defy logic – all are common-place. The most recent of one single vote, such an act would have ultimately brought scandal involves the sell-off of the Czech state company it down. The Civic Democrats denied the charges, but Kofiistka Unipetrol. The ruling Social Democrats are accused of having was adamant, even taking a lie-detector test – which found taken bribes and sold Unipetrol to PKN Orlen of Poland under that he was most likely telling the truth.Two close associates of highly unfavorable conditions for the Czech Republic. A Polish ODS leader Mirek Topolánek were arrested, only to be released Parliamentary commission investigating the circumstances of soon thereafter with the State attorney calling the arrests the privatization claimed that the Czech Republic had lost bil- “unlawful.” lions of Crowns in the process. The Social Democrats deny any Ultimately, the whole case, dubbed the “biggest corruption wrongdoing.The case continues to be investigated – albeit most- scandal in the Czech Republic’s history” dragged on unresolved, ly in Poland. until it, like all other scandals of its type, faded from the public The fact that corruption scandals are almost daily news in the eye. Czech Republic has much to do with the fact that the affairs are In February 2005, Ivo Svoboda became the first former not investigated adequately. The potential ramifications of cor- Cabinet minister to serve a prison sentence since the fall of com- ruption – namely resignations, new legislation, prosecutions - munism in 1989. The former Social Democrat Finance Minister are repeatedly avoided, to the detriment of making the govern- was sentenced to a five-year term for having unlawfully trans- ment more accountable and the Czech Republic a more legiti- ferred 6.5 million crowns from the now bankrupt baby carriage mate democracy. manufacturer Liberta to a private company, while he was on its If only a single political party were suspected of corruption, board of directors. Commenting on the case, Michal ·tiãka, told the cries of the others would arguably force it into change. Radio Prague "If the public abroad reads in the newspapers that However, in the Czech Republic, such cries of outrage are usual- an ex-finance minister has been jailed for fraud then the first ly muffled by the stench of hypocrisy.Ultimately,for this post- thing that comes to mind is that a country whose ministers com- Communist country, the pre-revolution mentality of using a rot- mit fraud cannot be good.” But ·tiãka also believes that the ten system for one’s own personal enrichment still prevails.

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THE CZECH REPUBLIC Rath and Healthcare The most recent “enfant terrible”of Czech politics and the current focus of the Czech press is MUDr. David Rath, the new Minister of Health. Rath, who throughout his medical career has always flirted with politics and enjoyed being in the limelight,is no stranger to controversy.

Political shenanigans At the same time,a decision was Doctors have long criticized Rath for his alleged usurpation of made to allow for the creation of power, for the manner in which he got himself elected as presi- multiple “insurance companies” dent of the Czech Medical Chamber (âLK), and for non-trans- that would reimburse healthcare parent financing within the âLK in areas such as advertising rev- providers and keep costs down via enue and sponsorship of its magazine. To make matters worse, competition. A “point system” was Rath and the governing board of the âLK decided to extend their created, wherein procedures and David Rath terms of leadership automatically, not once, but twice, without treatments were reimbursed based any due process. Most physicians in the country have long given not on actual cost,but artificially created points.However,insur- up on the âLK as being their representative body,and its manda- ance companies remained free to ignore basic economics and to tory membership is now being challenged in court. pressure healthcare providers so as to secure the biggest profit When Czech Prime Minister Jiﬁí Paroubek decided to replace and market share. This forced the providers to adopt a survival Milada Emmerová, the most recent in a long line of incompetent Ministers of Health, with David Rath, he immediately ran into trouble. President Václav Klaus objected, on the legitimate In the Czech Republic, grounds that Rath could not be both Minister and president of the the single biggest source of financial woe Medical Chamber at the same time. Rath retorted that as soon as is the current healthcare system. Klaus would sign the appointment (the president may not block a Minister’s appointment, but may delay approving it), that he would resign. Suddenly, the two biggest narcissistic egos of the attitude, and to cajole money from the companies any way they Czech political scene were engaged in a face-off. The press instant- could. To make matters worse, the majority of the insurance ly responded, filling its pages with the inevitable analysis and contracts remained with the only pre-1989 insurer,the Universal comment, unfortunately completely at the tabloid level. To make Health Insurer (VZP), a massive bureaucratic post-communist matters worse, Paroubek, who has stood up effectively to Klaus’ fossil, which until recently remained virtually free of any exter- unjustified impertinences in the past, decided to fuel the fire, and nal control or regulation. In keeping with its pre-1989 mentali- named Rath as First Deputy of the Ministry,giving him control of ty,the VZP (and other insurers as well) still refuses to divulge its the empty Ministry chair. In the end, like all children who engage internal costs or financial data, despite the fact that it is an in a tug-of-war,the participants simply got tired.Rath resigned his organization set up by and on behalf of the taxpayers. Chamber position, and was named Minister by a reluctant Klaus. The economic mismanagement continues to this day. Hospitals are still paid based on the number of beds and the number of in- Ahealthcare mess patient days,thus encouraging patients to linger in bed and doctors In doing so, Rath stepped from the frying pan into the fire. In to be lax about recovery times. No incentives for savings exist. the Czech Republic, the single biggest source of financial woe is Thus,the system continues to reward bad behavior. From the doc- the current healthcare system.Today,healthcare as a true system tor’s union to hospitals,raises and increases are negotiated through has ceased to exist, instead fragmenting into independent enti- pressure tactics, instead of being awarded based on monies saved. ties, each of which has become self-centered and isolated. All Finally, there is still no definition of the “guaranteed standard this began in the early 1990s, when capitalist forces were let of care” that the state should provide. Furthermore, no one has loose into a socialized system. Suddenly, doctors and hospital defined exactly where the point- of-care should be delivered on directors were faced with enticing new technologies and treat- a demographic basis i.e. exactly how many state hospitals, and ments, but ones which they had to pay for in German Marks or clinics, of what type, and where. Faced with increasing losses, British Pounds. Pharmaceutical firms flooded the market with many hospitals have decided to privatize. In typical short-sight- new and expensive drugs that were often no better than those ed fashion, instead of creating a national plan of healthcare made here. Today, medication expenses continue to grow at an including a map of points of care based on demographic need, exponential rate, accounting for the largest portion of so-called the debate has remained focused on whether hospitals can be “uncontrollable costs.” allowed to privatize in the first place.

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Abad mindset More than any country in Europe, Czechs visit their doctor seventeen times per year,mostly to get prescriptions for medications that are readily available over-the-counter in other countries, or to get refills, (prescriptions cannot be re-filled, only re- issued), or to simply doctor-shop. They can do this, because all “sick time” is generously reimbursed. Furthermore, many doctors don’t mind being paid to write prescriptions. Finally,the big drug companies and pharmacies fear losing control over a market which they have by “influencing” a limited pool of pre- scribers, as opposed to leaving things up to the consumer. Just as many Europeans, most Czechs still believe that a socialist work ethic is compatible with capitalist rewards.They continue

to view the state as an entity which should care for them from Photo: archive cradle to grave. In the absence of an anti-smoking law, Czechs continue to smoke merrily away,leading all of Europe in lung can- with VZP president Musílková, despite the protests of his arch cer deaths. Doctors with cigarette packs tucked away in the breast rival Klaus, Rath justifiably put the insurer under forced admin- pockets of their surgical scrubs are commonplace in all hospitals. istration. Several weeks later, Musilková resigned, a move greet- At the state level, preventative care is still shockingly behind ed by many in the industry. In his first few weeks in office, Rath the times. Mammography and screening for cancer of the cervix discovered tens of millions of Crowns in wasteful spending by are reimbursable only in certain centers and not in others. the insurer, and cut needless programs. Rath also met with hospital directors to tell them that their expenditures will be limited The solutions to 98% of last years’, and that they will be strictly controlled. He As regards funding healthcare, the good news is that there is already enough.This year’s budget of 180 billion Kã (about 7 billion USD, or 700 USD per citizen, which is above the European In a system of state-sponsored health care, average) came up about 50 million USD short of actual expendi- multiple insurance companies are nonsense. tures. No further taxes, patient co-pays etc. should be needed. Instead, savings and further improvements can be achieved by several means. promptly set about creating a list of expensive medications that As a first step, a definition of the minimum standard of care would not be reimbursed, as well creating a strategy for enforc- needs to be determined. State-sponsored points of care need to ing generic drug prescribing. be delineated on the map. The bad news is, that Rath embodies the classic combination Since healthcare wage deductions are mandatory, supporting of most Czech politicians: the tendency to instantly unsheathe the birth of a robust private sector will benefit state healthcare the saber and to start jabbing, be it to prove that he is a man of the most, as more monies will be left in the latter for fewer action, or as his way of dealing with any criticism. In fact, Rath’s patients, raising the quality of state healthcare. style is so abrasive, that some have begun to tape-record his In a system of state-sponsored health care, multiple insurance media appearances as demonstrations of the epitome of callous- companies are nonsense. A single administrative agency direct- ness in Czech politics. As the former president of the âLK, Rath ly under the Ministry of Health should manage and control all is also derided by many of his peers. Therefore, the essential healthcare expenditures. The remaining insurers should remain problem still remains: the absence of a person who can both as true competitive insurance companies, offering their versions calmly articulate the problems of the system and their solution of above-standard plans (private hospital room,full prescription in a clear manner, and present a positive scenario for all sides. coverage, etc.) and negotiating with providers and clients on an In a new democracy, one with a nervous public that does not individual basis. It should not be the business of the state to con- believe in its politicians or institutions,the results are dependent cern itself with so-called “above-standard” care. The point sys- on the methods used. Thus far, in the span of sixteen years, tem must be abolished. Crowns should be billed and collected as eleven Ministers of Health have failed. We shall now see what crowns. A coherent drug reimbursement policy to limit spend- the twelfth will do. ing should be in place. Only the cheapest drug in a given catego- ry should be fully reimbursed, the rest not at all. MUDr. Martin Jan Stránsky´, MD, FACP Director, Policlinic at Národní, Prague Back to Rath Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale School of Medicine Rath is arguably the first Minister of Health since 1990, who understands the solutions to most of the problems that the Dr Stránsky´ is the publisher of this magazine. The opinions healthcare system faces.As soon as he got his foot into the door expressed in the above article are solely those of the author and of the Ministry, he was quick to initiate changes.After a meeting do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this magazine.

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THE CZECH REPUBLIC Waiting for a pension In the Czech Republic, pension reform remains crucial LIBUSˇE BAUTZOVÁ

It appears that even decades from now, Czech pensioners will ernment should perhaps note that in most European countries, not be able to enjoy a comfortable retirement. Current pension- the age of retirement is (albeit slightly) higher. reform proposals still fall far short of providing for the needs of Remarkably,all the main Czech political parties appear to be tomorrow’s retirees. Pension reform has been a topic of discus- in agreement on the need to raise the age of retirement. The sion in the Czech Republic for years, with the status quo becom- main recommendation is that it be gradually increased to 65 by ing ever more unworkable. Today, the Czech Republic is faced 2027. Though legislating this change should be easy, when one with an ultimatum: implement change or watch the situation considers current unemployment rates which hover just below slowly deteriorate. Thus, recent calls for (albeit limited) changes 10%, and also the fact that most employers have an instinctive have suddenly crept up the list of political priorities. preference for younger recruits, then even this step presents There is a wide consensus on the need to reform the Czech pen- potential problems.An expanding army of “older, more experi- sion system. However, as regards the type of reforms, politicians enced workers” will certainly require further legislative and experts remain divided. The lack of willingness by numerous changes, perhaps in the form of incentives to employers to hire Czech governments to move on the issue of pension reform contin- older staff. Such steps could even conceivably fill the current ues to anger many. However, the reasons for this lack of progress shortfall of young workers. underline how complex and sensitive an issue pension reform con- While the need to raise the age of retirement is generally not tinues to be in the Czech Republic. The first reason stems from the disputed in political circles,the other purely “mathematical”sug- fact that altering the current system in a way that will work is high- gestion – that of lowering the amount that is paid out to pension- ly difficult. Second, with elections coming up, (Parliamentary elec- ers, is proving far more controversial. Even today, the occasional tions are scheduled for 2006 – Ed.) the reforms that some econo- stated fears of politicians and economists that the current sys- mists have proposed could prove unpopular with the electorate. tem may become unsustainable results in vocal opposition from The simple truth is, that despite the long wait, rushing through pensioners. pension reform now could prove extremely damaging. On the other hand, the notion that tomorrow’s pensioners will only be able to collect a pension calculated from the eco- Ageing population nomic activities of the contemporary productive workforce is The Czech population (along with Europe) is slowly ageing. proving equally unappealing. The question of just who will pay for tomorrow’s pensioners, In reality,lowering the state pension remains politically unac- when the system in place is not designed to support such a demo- ceptable - unless the shortfalls are replaced by another form of graphic shift, grows more important with each passing day. income. Certain progress in this respect has been made, but The current system means that today’s workforce is paying remains woefully inadequate. The representatives of the main part of its taxes to pay the pensions of today’s pensioners. 2000 political parties have agreed that the income from several key figures suggest that each Czech pensioner is supported by the privatisations and also current surpluses will be kept in reserve taxes of five productive people. If current demographic changes to pay for future pensions. are to continue, then by 2030, that figure will have dropped to only two people supporting each pensioner.Several demograph- A clear strategy ic studies also suggest that unless there is a dramatic rise in birth However, the problem will clearly require a more sustainable rates, today’s 19% of the population over the age of sixty, will approach. One solution will require individuals to provide for nearly double to almost 40% by 2050. their own pensions by means of private savings, pension Experts have calculated that the current pension system will schemes and the like. Such trends or options are in effect remain sustainable for another twenty years. After that, the cri- throughout the rest of Europe, where the more affluent top-up sis will begin as the system begins to accrue debts in order to the guaranteed state pension with private pensions. Indeed, remain functional. Some figures suggest that this debt could a small proportion of Czech pensioners have been taking advan- grow annually by 5%.On purely mathematical grounds,the sim- tage of such savings schemes since their introduction in 1994. ple solution would be to either raise the age of retirement or to However, these relatively new schemes have the disadvantage of lower the amount paid out, or both. not yet having the balance-sheets to pay out any meaningful Let us consider the first option. With the current aforemen- amounts. Today, such schemes may help pay the bills, but as for tioned trends, maintaining the current Czech age of retirement - providing the dream of a golden retirement, they fall far short. currently 62 for men and 60 for women (if a women has had chil- Unless the state begins to support pension schemes with tax dren then this age is lowered) will be impossible.The Czech gov- incentives and the like, little improvement can be expected.

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THE CZECH REPUBLIC Photo: archive

Another issue is how to motivate companies to pay into ate. Instead, it was simply tasked with calculating the strengths employee pension programmes. Currently,almost no companies and weaknesses of each. The commission and its findings were in the Czech Republic do this. also shrouded in a veil of secrecy, leading one to suspect that it So long as the pension system is based on continuous funding, may in fact have offered no conclusions at all. which remains fairly certain, in a wider sense the laudable prin- Any model, however implemented, will require a strong econ- ciples of the universal pension will be maintained. But many omy, in which the individual’s ability to pay into a pension questions still remain. Is it fair that those who have earned scheme is not hindered. Issues such as the impending deregula- a higher salary will receive only a marginally higher pension than tion of rent,social-security payments to families and the like will those on lower incomes? Current pensions of between seven and also play a large role in the amount of money individuals will feel nine thousand Crowns amonth are barely enough to sustain they can contribute to their retirement. most pensioners,let alone provide them with a decent retirement. The ruling Social Democrat-led coalition has taken a particu- Since those with higher salaries pay more in taxes during their lar interest in the Swedish system, which on the surface appears lifetimes and seeing as higher payments do not lead to a greater fairer than the current Czech one – those who work longer and pension, it may be correct to implement a ceiling limiting pay- earn more get higher pensions. The Social Democrats also ments into the pension kitty.Another solution may be a progres- appear to want to raise the basic amount paid towards pensions. sive pension system, which pays out only to those unable to sup- However, many studies suggest that its overall plans may lead to port themselves privately. a deterioration in the living standards of Czech pensioners. The Civic Democrats, who are advocating a flat tax, are also propos- Conflict and consensus ing a “flat pension” at a rate of 20% of the average wage. This All parliamentary parties have come to the table with their would in fact lower the rate of the basic pension, with the rest of own set of proposals. The need to maintain the basic concept of the sum being made up according to an individual’s private the state pension as well as the need to raise the age of retire- means. The Communists remain the only party proposing a sys- ment, have, as mentioned found a general consensus. However, tem that is totally managed and supported by the state. this arguably must be based on acombination ofcontinuous For many in today’s workforce, old age still seems an eternity funding and saving schemes,as is the case in much of the world. away. Further, the actual options under consideration and the The combination of both systems is advantageous because it not future of the entire pension system remain woefully unclear to only reduces the strain of demographic changes on the state a large portion of Czechs. And with the upcoming elections, it purse, but also reduces the risks associated with private pension appears that pension reform will once again be left for another day. schemes, which are susceptible to market conditions. A recent team of government assembled experts, which assessed the various recent proposals, was unfortunately not Libu‰e Bautzová is a journalist, and the deputy-editor of the mag- tasked with stating which system it deemed the most appropri- azine Ekonom

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THE CZECH REPUBLIC How Past Communists Expel Present Heroes The Association of Czech Freedom Fighters recently expelled its esteemed member Oldﬁich Stránsk˘. Despite this, the former concentration-camp prisoner is busier than ever. ONDRˇEJ AUST

On the eve of Czech Premier Jifií Paroubek’s controversial apol- tion camp of Travniky. Meanwhile, after less than a year in Lípa, ogy for the post-war mistreatment and expulsion of Sudeten Stránsk˘ ended up being sent via the Terezín ghetto to the notori- German anti-fascists from post-war Czechoslovakia, the Czech ous Auschwitz concentration camp. Thanks to several fortunate Association of Freedom Fighters expelled of one of its most events,he managed to survive.A year before the end of the war,he esteemed members, Oldfiich Stránsk˘ (No relation to the pub- was transported to Schwarzheide near Dresden to work in a facto- lisher of this magazine Martin Jan Stránsk˘ -Ed.) This occurred ry melting down the ruins of Allied and German aircraft. At the despite the fact that after the Velvet Revolution, Stránsk˘ played end of the war, Stránsk˘ once again found himself in âesk˘ Brod. a significant role in securing treaties with Austria and Germany regarding the compensation of Czech victims of Nazism. A fifty-three year wait The central committee of the association, which represents In communist-era Czechoslovakia,Stránsk˘ joined the newly- concentration camp survivors, political prisoners, partisans, created Association of Anti-Fascist Freedom Fighters (CAFF). trade unionists and various other combatants, explained its However, he quickly found that because he had never been decision by stating that Stránsk˘ “flagrantly and repeatedly vio- a member of the Communist Party, he was condemned to serve lated the terms of his membership”. The dispute between the only in the lowest of positions within the organisation. During association and Stránsk˘ had been raging ever since 2003.It was the 1968 “Prague Spring” throughout the country, the formerly then that he wrote a letter to the head of the Sudeten German homogenous association began to assemble its members into Association Bernd Posselt, on the occasion of its opening various sub-groupings including legionnaires, political prison- a Prague office (The association seeks compensation for ers, domestic freedom fighters etc. However, this multi-faceted expelled Sudeten Germans,now mostly living in Germany –Ed.). makeup, which more accurately reflected just who did what dur- The quarrel over the letter ultimately led to Stránsk˘ ’s dismissal ing the fight against Fascism, was soon wiped out in the ensuing from the association in the summer of 2005. twenty years of normalisation that followed the Soviet invasion in August 1968. In five concentration camps The 1989 Velvet Revolution brought about not only a change of Oldfiich Stránsk˘ was born eighty four years ago in the northern name for the organisation (being re-named the Czech Bohemian town of Most. In those days, being a Jew was not life- Association of Freedom Fighters),but also led to the exodus of its threatening.As he writes in his book “No Justice on Earth”in âesk˘ Communist leadership. Shortly after, Stránsk˘ found himself at Brod - the town where he spent his childhood - he could barely the heart of the power structure of the organisation.But Stránsk˘ recall ever having experienced an incident of anti-Semitism. But had his mind set on another goal “I was far less interested in this several years later, under the Nazi protectorate, and while studying position, than working (to renew) the Association of Freed at an industrial school in Prague,he recalled that “the teachers very Political Prisoners”.This association was a separate grouping that noticeably and openly expected me to know more, and were far found itself incorporated into the Association of Anti-Fascist more strict towards me than to the other pupils.” Freedom Fighters following the 1948 Communist putsch. Soon, the situation rapidly worsened. In June 1941, three days Indeed, this group was not the only association to feel the after his twentieth birthday, Stránsk˘ was forced to leave home effects of the Communist take-over. The Community of and enter a“re-education”camp in the town of Lípa u Havlíãkova Czechoslovak Legionnaires was another group that was forceful- Brodu (then part of greater Germany), where local farms were ly swallowed by the Communist-era CAFF.However,in 1991 sev- confiscated and were providing SS soldiers and their families enty years after its initial formation, this association was also with quality goods. resurrected and partially separated from its mother organisa- Though he did not know it, the day he departed for the camp tion. But legal problems soon arose from this split.According to would be the last time that Stránsk˘ would see his parents and Stránsk˘, the legionaries wanted to restore the properties that brother. All three were to die a year later in the Polish concentra- had been returned to them by the government. The other issue

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concerned how these various organisations would set about The organisation he had devoted so much of his life to had dealing with the issue of financial compensation for the victims fragmented into separate factions. Adding insult to injury was of German aggression during the Second World War. the fact that it wasn’t long before Stránsk˘ was expelled from one The issue resolved itself with the signing of the Czech-German of these new groupings, namely the Association of Political declaration of 1997, which committed the German government Prisoners. A letter he received from them, made the organisa- to paying compensation to those Czechs that it had falsely tion’s view painfully blunt “You did not maintain brotherly rela- imprisoned or persecuted.Prior to this,the Czech representation tions.You did not contribute to the unity of the association.” led by then president Václav Havel and German Chancellor Stránsk˘ , meanwhile attributes his expulsion to an unre- Helmut Kohl, were finalising plans to establish an old people’s solved past within the association. “The majority of those who home and a sanatorium for these victims. Stránsk˘,along with broke the Association of Political Prisoners, are people who are the other members of the association, immediately took offence on the lists of the StB”(as collaborators with the Communist-era at this idea. They convinced the governments to avoid going secret police. These lists were released into the national archives down the road of what they saw as new ghettos,and instead suc- after the Velvet Revolution,though access to them remained lim- cessfully lobbied for a clause in the declaration that individual ited until the list was published by a prominent anti-Communist assistance be provided to victims of Nazism.The agreement ulti- –Ed.) states Stránsk˘. He also points out that over the years, no- mately created a Czech-German fund, which in 1998 started dis- one has been found within the association who was “willing to tributing millions of Deutchmarks. expel members who during the 1950s undertook activities that “Fifty three years after jumping over the gate of the can only be described as inhuman. Let us for example, name Mr Sachsenhausen concentration camp and returning to freedom, Grebeníãek Sr. (father of former head of post-Velvet Revolution I along with many others,was finally able to get compensation Communist Party, who allegedly played a prominent role in the from the German government.”stated a relieved Stránsk˘ in his communist secret police including committing acts of torture book. Today, Stránsk˘ heads the fund established by the Czech- –Ed.) ”added Stránsky´. German agreement known as the Czech Committee on Political The weekly newspaper Respekt has also taken up Stránsk˘’s Prisoners. Asides from German money, it also administers an case: “today’s leadership of the Association of Freedom Fighters Austrian compensation fund for the survivors of Nazi persecu- is comprised of nationalists with evident sympathies towards tion. Communism...for example the head of the Association openly However, it has only been in recent years (and as a result of celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Julius Fuãík international pressure), that compensation for the acts of forced (Communist-era hero).” labour that the Nazis subjected their prisoners to has begun to It appears that such organizations remain unable to shake be paid out. Specifically, Germany, Austria and Switzerland both their political and historical ties. The current leadership of (which opened up its so-called unclaimed “sleeper” accounts the Association of Freedom Fighters, apart form its alleged pro- specifically to compensate concentration camp victims) opened Communist stance, has also been accused of an overt anti- up special funds and began administering pay-outs. The Jewish German sentiment. For example, in early 2005, when the news- Federation of Jewish Victims and the Stránsk˘ -led Association paper Mladá Fronta Dnes was informing the country about how of Freed non-Jewish Prisoners also contributed. former Premier Gross came to pay for his flat, the central committee of the association reacted with the following statement Long-term lack of discipline “On the basis of sad personal experiences, we cannot help but “We concentration camp survivors were certainly not amongst feel that the intentional tasteless maligning of Premier Gross is those who took revenge upon Sudeten Germans” writes not the most important issue. More important is the maligning Stránsk˘, defending the charges of Czechoslovak brutality of our country. How delightful these insults must sound to Mr against Germans living within Czechoslovakia. Despite his near Posselt,the head of the Sudeten Landsmanschaft...Our organisa- death at the hands of the German occupation, Stránsk˘ has tion has watched with growing concern the growth and domina- become a key proponent for reconciliation with his German tion of German publishers (which own both Mladá Fronta Dnes counterparts. His position towards the controversial Sudeten- and Lidové Noviny –Ed.) in our media market. The campaign German organisation known as Landsmanschaft (mainly com- initiated by Mladá Fronta Dnes against our Premier only vali- prised of surviving former Sudeten Germans–Ed.) has been dates these concerns.” equally conciliatory.In his now famous letter to the organisation, The expulsion of Oldﬁich Stránsk˘ from the Association of he wrote “Allow me to offer my best wishes to you on the occa- Freedom Fighters was criticised by the German Christian sion of your opening a new office (in Prague). I wish you every Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Federation of Jewish communi- success for the future.”Stránsk˘ ’s book No Justice on Earth gave ties and also the Czech Committee for the victims of Nazism. a very personal account of his views on the controversial subject, Meanwhile, the current leadership of the association remains and proved to be the last straw for the organisation. Suddenly unwilling to enter into any kind of discussion with either Stránsk˘ found himself removed as the head of the organisation. German or Czech proponents of reconciliation. In 2005, a Czech court found that this step was unwarranted and reinstated Stránsk˘ to his position. But by then, the damage had Ondrˇej Aust is an editor with the newspaper Lidové Noviny and already been done. is studying mass communication at Charles University

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THE WORLD Thirty years of Spanish transformation Just as in Central Europe, Spain’s history also demonstrates that transformations take time JAROSLAV ·ONKA

On the November 20th, 1975 the dictator, defender of the imental” manner, and found out that the non-interventionist catholic faith, generalissimo of the Falange (or "phalanx", a far- attitude of much of Europe was giving it a free reign. right Spanish political party with ideology similar to that of After the Civil War came to an end, the Falange was com- Mussolini's Fascist movement –Ed.) and victor of the Spanish bined with the other nationalist parties by Generalissimo civil war, Francisco Franco y Bahamonde, died in Madrid. All Franco's Decreto de Unificación (Unification Decree). It then over Spain, people sighed in relief as they drank a toast and became the sole official political organization in Spain, the began to hope that things would finally begin to improve in their Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las Juntas de Ofensiva country. Nacional-Sindicalista,or "Spanish Traditionalist Phalanx of the Assemblies of National-Syndicalist Offensive" (FET y de las European non-intervention JONS). In April 1939, the first Falange government came into During the 1920s,Franco returned from the war with Morocco being. (in which Spain had sought to occupy its own African protectorate) as an experienced fighter. He quickly threw himself into Tightening the grip the political debates of the conservative forces around the During Franco’s reign, a large number of artists, writers and deposed King Alfonso XIII, who had reigned from 1886-1931. politics were forced to leave Spain. However, the existences of Franco was strongly opposed to Spain’s situation following its other Spanish speaking countries enabled them to rebuild their establishment as a Republic in 1931. In 1936, he became the lives relatively quickly. Spanish filmmaker Luis Brunel made main initiator of an uprising initiated by nationalistic forces films in Mexico, writer Ramon Sender lived in New York, Pablo against the Republic. Eventually this uprising morphed into the Picasso moved to France, and the writer Jorge Semprun also Spanish Civil War, which lasted until 1939. The Civil war pitched lived in France but ultimately ended up in a concentration camp. the forces of the Second Republic, along with left-wing groups, However, for some, the possibility of exile was drastically cur- against nationalistic groupings led by Franco.A key grouping in tailed by events at home. The mass executions of the Civil War the war was an organisation known as the Falange, which was claimed many notable figures, including the famous Spanish established in October 1934 as a nationalist trade-union move- writer and poet Frederico Garcia Lorca. ment. This organisation was comprised of hard-line monar- Franco’s dictatorship promoted a singular concept of the chists, and ultimately sided with and supported Franco during Spanish state and tried to suppress minority languages spoken the Civil War. In late September 1936, Franco became in the country, particularly Catalan and Basque. During his Generalissimo of the Nationalist army, with the rank of lieu- reign, numerous post-revolution politicians from Catalan and tenant general. On October 1, 1936, he was elected Jefe del Basque political parties found themselves in prison. The most Estado (Head of State). radical was the Basque resistance, and amongst them ETA The leftist Republican Party, then the legitimate government, (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, meaning “Basque Country and could only survive the conflict with the support of the democrat- Freedom”).The latter continues today as a terrorist organisation, ic powers of Europe. However, the influence of Communist ideas despite the fact that since 1975 the linguistic and legal autonomy had penetrated the party, and it wasn’t long before brute force of the region has been secured. was being used against civilians by all sides. The Republicans In 1973, Basque terrorists assassinated Franco’s Prime radically persecuted the Catholic Church, which supported the Minister Carrera Blanca.This led the ageing dictator to strength- Falangists,and subsequently lost the sympathies of several polit- en his grip on power. In September 1975 Franco assembled his ical partners in Western Europe.France did not have the strength officials and openly debated the possibility of reprieves being to support them, whilst the British government had been pursu- issued for political prisoners and to those sentenced to death by ing a strategy of appeasement of Hitler’s Germany for many his regime. Ultimately, only two pregnant women were given years– thus the thinking became,why go into battle with Hitler’s reprieves, with five death sentences actually being confirmed by allies? Hitler’s Germany,became involved in the war in an “exper- the leader.

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Crucial to the undoing of the regime was its inability to react a small contingent, attempted to over- to the requests and demands of its own people. In the years fol- power the parliament, firing gunshots at lowing the Falange victory in 1939, a kind of “revolutionary the building. Spanish General Jaime fascistic euphoria”made certain changes easier to accomplish by Milans del Bosch immediately mobilised the regime. However, it eventually became more and more evi- a tank regiment in the south of the coun- dent that without the mechanisms of democracy, personal free- try and proceeded to head towards dom and a free media, a prosperous society could not develop. Madrid. The King’s statement on nation- Private radio may well have continued to exist, but in order to al television almost immediately put an report on current affairs, it had to hook up to the state service, end to the attempted putsch, and the ini- under the control of the regime. tiators were arrested. Franco’s battles against what he deemed to be pornography Spain’s post-Franco years can be char- were in fact rather comical – particularly since the front pages of acterised as a searching for political numerous serious Western publications were added to the list of direction, and also of a desire join the non-grata publications. The result was that most foreign media international community. The conserva- were banned in the country. Franco’s propaganda and tourism tive prime Minister Adolfo Suarez (first minister Manuel Fraga Iribarne,who was also responsible for leg- Prime Minister of the new Spain,

islation covering the media, realised the problem, and attempted appointed by the King. Served from Photo: archive to enact legislation allowing for greater press and media freedom. 1976-1981 –Ed.), who also began his Spain’s King Juan Carlos However, each time, his efforts proved unsuccessful, and ulti- career during the era of dictatorship, put mately he became alienated from the regime (he would later co- his country on a clear course towards EU and NATO member- write the country’s post-Franco-era constitution-Ed.). Another ship. The former Franco-era dissident Felipe Gonzáles and sub- casualty of Franco’s crumbling regime was the Secretary of State sequent Prime Minister, managed to consolidate these ambi- Marcellino Oreja, who today is a well-know politician. tions, whilst unifying the country in these aims. Spain in-fact entered the international community very quickly, bringing From a king for the Republicans to the EU great benefits to the whole country. Spain continues to be a net The Falangists sought to create a Fascist society along the receiver of EU funds, while playing a role in negotiating the EU lines of Mussolini’s Italy, but with a far greater role for the 20007-2014 budget. Spain also has special relations with the Catholic Church.Its conservative revolutionaries also envisioned countries of Latin America and also the Philippines. Laws gov- a renewal of the old monarchical system. Franco was particular- erning citizenship within Spain give special privileges to the ly disappointed by the fact that in 1931, Spain had abolished the Spanish speaking countries of Latin America. monarchy and created a Republic. However, following his estab- Can one compare and contrast the Spanish transformation to lishment as absolute ruler, Franco became hard-pressed to find democracy with the Czech example? In Czech discussions, one an individual from the former monarchy willing to co-operate often hears that the Spanish transition was made easier by the with his fascist government. The heir to the throne, Don Juan de existence of a capitalist system throughout the era of totality. Bourbon spent his days living in exile in Italy, Portugal and However, a closer examination reveals that prior to 1975, the Switzerland. In 1947, in a special decree as the legitimate repre- Spanish economy was in a dire state. It was dysfunctional not sentative of the House of Bourbon, he requested a restoration of only because of a lack of freedom, but also because of the nega- the monarchy. Naturally, the dictatorship was displeased at such tive influence of the corporate-fascistic notions of the Falange. a voice coming into the country from abroad. Today’s prosperity can be largely attributed to efficient EU entry In 1969, Franco announced that Juan Carlos, the son of the preparations and later to payments received from various struc- designated heir to the throne (Juan de Borbón), would be his tural funds. own personal successor to the throne.Before his death,he hoped to strongly influence his young successor. Juan Carlos was Franco’s dictatorship is one that many Spaniards are only now enthroned on November 22nd 1975, and immediately proved coming to terms with. The search for the mass graves of the that Franco had underestimated him. Juan Carlos supported and Spanish Civil War has only just begun. Even though Falange encouraged Spain’s path towards democracy, and also openly organisations continue to promote Franco’s era, the overall reconciled with his father, who eventually retracted his claim to image of the dictator is becoming ever less appealing,as research the throne and entered public life as the Earl of Barcelona. The into Spain’s recent past gains pace. The last statue of the dictator Spanish Bourbon dynasty became a prototype Constitutional was finally removed from Madrid in March 2005. Monarchy, enjoying the wide support of the public. Author Philippe de Noury summed up the feelings of the nation with the title of his biography of the new King “A King for Republicans.” But those with a nostalgic perspective of the former fascist Jaroslav ·onka is a journalist. Since 1968 he has lived and regime were still in abundance in post-Franco Spain. On the worked in Germany. He currently works at the European 23rd February 1981, the situation came to a head with an Academy in Berlin and also teaches at the Faculty of Social attempted putsch.Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero,along with Sciences in Prague.

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THE WORLD Why the US wants Turkey in the EU VIKTOR A. DEBNÁR AND ALAN SMITH

In October 1962, the US and the USSR faced a tense standoff over Soviet missile sites found to be under construction in Cuba. The incident, known as the Cuban Missile Crisis brought Turkish-US relations to the forefront of the strategic debate. Since 1961, the U.S. had begun to deploy 15 Jupiter IRBM (intermediate-range ballistic missiles) nuclear missiles near Izmir, Turkey, which directly threatened a number of cities in western sections of the Soviet Union. In a deal that was not made public at the time, the world was brought back from the brink of nuclear holocaust when the Kennedy administration persuaded Soviet Premier Krushcev to remove his nuclear arsenal from Cuba in exchange for the US’s quiet removal of its arsenal from Turkey. Following the fall of Soviet Communism, Turkish-US cooperation continued. When in 1991, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, Turkey joined a US-led coalition of thirty counties to force Iraq to retreat and also to prevent a possible Iraqi

the US apparently views the numerous deficiencies in Turkish democracy as being

Photo: archive less important than the benefits of Turkey’s Former US president Harry Truman, architect allegiance in a post-9/11 world of the “Truman Doctrine”

Turkish-American relations can be traced back to 1831, invasion of Saudi Arabia. Following the 1991 Gulf War, the US when the two countries signed their first bilateral commercial was able to police the newly created northern Iraqi no-fly zone treaty, which gave the United States most-favored-nation sta- with planes based in Turkey. However, following the terrorist tus.However,prominent US interest in Turkey truly came about attacks of September 11th 2001, Turkey gained an even greater after the Second World War with the creation of the so-called importance as far as the US was concerned. Relations may have “Truman Doctrine”. Specifically, President Harry S. Truman been strained by the Turkish government’s refusal to allow the formulated a policy in which economic relief was provided to US to base troops on its territory during the 2003 invasion of countries perceived to be at risk of Communism. In May 1947, Iraq, but once again Turkey found itself on the front lines of a the Truman administration pledged $400 million in military battle of ideas. and economic aid to Turkey and Greece, countries that the US Today, Turkey is a also candidate for EU membership.As pro- felt were particularly susceptible to Communist takeover,creat- fessor Ziya Önis from Istanbul’s Koç University claims, the US ing a potential “domino-effect” throughout Europe and the wants its Turkish ally to be “firmly anchored to the norms of the wider world. European Union,” i.e. to the norms of fundamental character In 1952, the strategic importance of Turkey was affirmed by shared by both.For its part, the European Union has been strug- its acceptance along with Greece into the North Atlantic Treaty gling with a growing anti-Muslim sentiment within its newly Organization (NATO). This move meant that NATO, through expanded borders,particularly in the wake of the London bomb- Turkey, now directly bordered the USSR as well as Iraq, Iran ings and the recent riots across France. Even Germany’s new and Syria. Throughout the Cold War, Turkey was viewed as Chancellor, Angela Merkel expressed her opposition to Turkish being on the front line in the war to prevent the spread of EU membership during her election campaign, instead prefer- Communism. ring a “privileged partnership”for the country.Despite such sen-

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timents,in October 2005 Turkey moved a step closer to EU mem- front this region more directly.Indeed this scenario would con- bership with the official commencement of entry talks with the ceivably also help to bring to fruition another long-standing US European Union. position – that the EU needs to develop a common foreign pol- Despite concerns being voiced in many European quarters,the icy and also an EU army. Having borders with Syria, Iraq and US has remained adamant that Turkey must join the EU. Critics Iran would, the theory goes, force the EU to do just that. There of this approach have pointed out that similarly to Pakistan and is one other closely connected strategic position, which lies Saudi Arabia,the US apparently views the numerous deficiencies behind the US’s strong support of Turkish entry into the EU. in Turkish democracy as being less important than the benefits The belief is that Turkey,along with the post-Communist coun- of Turkey’s allegiance in a post-9/11 world. From this perspec- tries of Eastern Europe, represents a strong pro-American ally. tive,the pragmatic issues that form the cornerstone of the debate Thus, the argument goes, its inclusion within the EU, could within Europe are not viewed as relevant. These include cultural help tip the balance of the EU and reduce the dominance of differences, democratic deficits, immigration issues, EU budget- France and Germany, who both opposed the 2003 US-led inva- ary issues (Turkey will be a “taker” and not a “giver”), and the sion of Iraq. geographical question of just whether Turkey is or is not really a In the meantime, the US is not standing still as regards eco- part of Europe at all.What is clear is that if Turkey is to join the nomic relations. In 2002, Turkey and the US established the EU, it will have no choice but to do so under an EU criteria that Economic Partnership Council (EPC). This venture ultimately will place a strong emphasis on democracy, human rights and contributed to Turkey being labeled a Big Emerging Market the rule of law. (BEM) by the US Department of Commerce. One fact remains Strategically, both Europe and the US are in agreement that clear – Turkey is a key player in the US-led “War on Terror” Its Turkey represents a shining beacon within the Muslim world. long road towards EU membership is viewed by the US as criti- Even Turkish Prime Minister ErdogaÀ has stated that his coun- cal to preventing the radicalization of this Muslim country. try wishes to serve as “a source of inspiration for other Muslim Should this process be aborted, there is a very real fear both in societies”. The US position is that membership within the the US and the EU,that this could be construed as a signal to the European Union will demonstrate to the rest of the Muslim Muslim world that the EU and the West in general are little more world that a Muslim country can play a modern, democratic than Christian-only clubs. and non-belligerent role within a Western framework.Another positive according to Washington, is that by accepting Muslim Turkey into the EU, the West (read the US) is demonstrating Viktor A. Debnár graduated from the Institute of International that it is not a priori against Islam. If Turkey were accepted into Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, the EU, the organization would then directly border the Middle Prague East. This would, according to Washington, dilute the responsibility of the US in the region and in effect force the EU to con- Alan Smith is a journalist

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IN FOCUS Will the Real Budweiser Please Stand Up? ASMARA GHEBREMICHAEL

In 1876, the US company Anheuser-Busch, started by two “Hamburg steaks,”- gave the US the hamburger.In 1892, the son German immigrants, began selling a brand of beer which they of German migrants, Henry Heinz invented tomato ketchup. called Budweiser. The word “Budweis” was designed to reflect And, of course, there were the two St. Louis Germans: Adolhus that the beer was brewed using the “Bohemian process,”rather Busch and Eberhard Anheuser, who had a thirsty German com- than to reflect its origin.Today the Czech state-owned Budweiser munity, desperately craving European beer. Budvar continues to produce its own Budweiser beer, which it has been doing since the 14th century.Since the beginning of the The Budweiser history 20th century, when the Czech company first tried to sell its beer The invention of Pilsner beer, a light, frothy version of what in the New World, the two breweries have been fighting bitterly was formerly a cloudy brew, revolutionized beer-making over who has the exclusive right to produce Budweiser beer and throughout the world. This development in the Czech town of use the Budweiser trademark.In fact,at any given time,there are PlzeÀ (or Pilsen) was just one in a long history of beer produc- about 100 legal cases in progress around the world regarding tion in the Czech region. The first historical evidence of beer issues concerning Budweiser’s true identity. brewing in the Czech Republic comes from a foundation deed in Originally, the two companies agreed to sell their products Prague’s Vy‰ehrad Cathedral. The deed, issued in 1088 AD by only on their own side of the Atlantic. However,the globalization of industry has made such an agreemant redundant. at any given time, there are about Meet me in St. Louis 100 legal cases in progress around While the Czechs claim that they were brewing beer before the United States even existed, the actual history of Anheuser-Busch the world regarding issues concerning is steeped in Germanic heritage.Adolphus Busch,who co-found- Budweiser’s true identity ed the Anheuser-Busch brewing company with his partner and father-in-law Eberhard Anheuser, was born in Germany.In 1857 at the age of 18, Busch emigrated from Hamburg to St. Louis, King Vratislav II, the first crowned King of Bohemia, grants the Missouri. The US Budweiser fact sheet states that he chose the canons of the Cathedral a tithe of hops for the purposes of brew- name Budweiser because it had “a slightly Germanic sound that ing beer.According to the Budvar company,there is evidence that would appeal to both American and German immigrants.” as far back as 993 AD, Benedictine monks in the Bﬁevnov In 1837, only 18 German families lived in St. Louis, Missouri. Monastery in Prague were brewing beer.The history of beer pro- However,by 1860 the number of German-born inhabitants in St. duction in âeské Budûjovice (formerly Budiwoyz or Budweis) Louis had skyrocketed to 50, 510 out of a total population of begins shortly after the town’s founding in the mid thirteenth 160,733. For these immigrants the Mississippi River Valley rep- century. In1265, King Pﬁemysl Otakar II granted the town the resented a kind of “American Rhineland.”Many of these German right to brew beer. In 1351 King Charles IV awarded the town emigrants also came from Bohemia as well Austria. a so-called “mile privilege” which gave the town’s brewers The Germanic migrants had a profound effect on American a monopoly on all brewing actives within a certain radius. culture. In 1850, Levi Strauss, who left Bavaria at the age of 14, Despite the long history of beer production in Budûjovice, the created denim jeans; Germans who had sailed across the Atlantic modern version of Budvar wasn’t established until 1895, when on the Hamburg shipping lines- where they were served the âesk˘ akciov˘ pivovar brewery was built in âeské

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Budûjovice. This meant that Czechs weren’t producing a beer in two breweries or that “Budweis”that was specifically named after the town until nine- Anheuser-Busch would suc- teen years after Anheuser-Busch acquired the right to bottle and ceed in buying out Budweiser sell Budweiser in 1876. Budvar. Neither of these sce- The two companies, Budvar and Budweiser produced their narios occurred. beer without any problems, until they met at a trade fair in 1911 The dispute has often been and discovered that they were both using the same name.When characterized as a “David vs the Czech company arrived in America, they were unable to reg- Goliath” story, with a small ister their beer as Budweiser because the name already existed. Czech company standing up The companies resolved their dispute by drawing a line to a US conglomerate more through the world market. In 1911, they signed a contract stipu- than 100 times its size. lating that Budvar would agree not to sell its product under the However, in cases before name “Budweiser“ in the US market; conversely,Budvar was per- international bodies such as the EU or the World Trade mitted to sell its “Budweiser“ throughout Europe and also Organization, issues such as geographical specificity have out- retained the right to use the word “Original“ on its products. weighed other concerns. Budvar proceeded to sell its beer in the US under the name The Czech Budvar company claims that its beer comes from “Crystal”and Anheuser-Busch sold its beer in Europe as “Bud.” Budweis, or Budûjovice, and therefore it has the right to use the Budweiser name. Entry into the European Union has seemingly The politics of location bolstered this claim, in part due to EU rules which state that However, in 1934 (following the end of the US prohibition era alcohols such as “champagne” can only be labeled as such they a year earlier),a major conflict emerged when Budvar began sell- originate in the specific region, i.e. in this case, Champagne, ing beer in the US as “Imported Original Bohemian Budweiser France. The Czech company has argued that the quality and Beer from Budweis City” and registered it as such in 1937. In essence of its beer, as with wine is determined by the location in 1939, Anheuser-Busch paid $127,000 to once again ensure that which it produced. breweries from the city known as “Budweis” could not use the Last year Brandchannel magazine queried Stephen J.Burrows, name “Budweiser”on beer sold in the United States or in its ter- then President of Anheuser-Busch on the matter.Burrows stated ritories. In fact, at this time a third company in Dubois, that “beer can be made to the same standards anywhere and Pennsylvania was also using the Budweiser name, but ultimately does not rely on locations for its character.” The argument was forced to discontinue production. against location specificity states that in a globalized world, Under the Communist regime, Czechoslovakia exported only products which look the same,taste the same and smell the same three of its beers: Pilsner Urquell, Gambrinus, and Budweiser can be produced anywhere in the world. Budvar.During this time,the Anheuser-Busch’s Budweiser made Last December, Budvar suffered a blow from the World Trade significant inroads into the Western European market.Following Organization (WTO), when the organization ruled that location the fall of Czech Communism in 1989, many analysts believed names cannot be translated, nullifying Budvar’s claim to that either an amicable agreement would be reached between the Budweiser as a geographical indicator of a Czech city in German translation. The argument that at the time of the town’s naming, Budweis was a part of the Austro-Hungarian empire in which German was the dominant language, was ultimately dismissed. Geographical Indicators (GIs) are protected under the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of International Property Rights (TRIPS).During the case,the US expressed concerns that EU legislation gave more protection to GIs of EU members but denied the same protection for US GIs. Ultimately, the WTO supported this view and ruled that protecting GIs should not interfere with pre-existing product trademarks. Budweiser Budvar therefore could not rely on its claim to Budweiser based on its GI registration of “Budûjovické pivo.”Though this ruling creates a precedent in Anheuser-Busch’s favor, the “Budweiser” and “Bud” trademarks are still subject to termination in various individual Member States of the European Union if they are viewed as infringing on the GI of âeské Budûjovice. Currently, Anheuser-Busch has the rights to the Budweiser name throughout North and South America as well as in most of Asia. However, in numerous countries, particularly in Europe, the Czech brand has prevailed.In Switzerland Anheuser-Busch is prohibited from selling both “Budweiser” and “Bud,”as the risk

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of confusion with Budûjovice Budvar is viewed as too great.In beer is fuller-bodied, more bitter. Its fans would find the Germany, the US company has no rights to the Budweiser name American rival tasteless; drinkers of the U.S.brew would find the whatsoever and is forced to sell its beer under the name of Czech one strange.”It also added “Each is so different from the “A n h e u s e r- Bu s c h B.” other that there is virtually no chance of confusion—whatever Recently, Anheuser-Busch included the Budweiser name in the trademark lawyers might say.” several German commercials and was sued by Budvar, which Czechs consume the highest amount of beer per capita on ultimately won the case. Budvar claims to have won trademark earth, about 160 liters per person per year, which is twice as rights in the following countries: the UK (where both brands are much as in the United States. Czechs beer drinkers are also sold following a 1984 appellate court ruling), Australia, Japan, fiercely loyal to their domestic brews, leaving imported beers to South Korea, Greece, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and fight over their negligible 1% market share.Though most Czechs New Zealand. In October 2005, the European Court of Human would not rate Budvar as one of their favorite Czech beers, there Rights rejected a claim by Anheuser-Busch, ruling that the US is an unmistakable pride that the company remains in Czech company cannot register Budweiser as a trademark in Portugal. hands,especially when so many other local brews such as Pilsner In 2001, Budvar began selling its beer in the US under the Urquell and Staropramen have been sold off to international name “Czechvar”. The word Budweiser is absent from both its breweries. beer bottles, and also its publicity materials – though a unmistakable letter “B” is visible in its corporate logo. Indeed, the Czechvar website merely refers to the Anheuser-Busch Asmara Ghebremichael is a freelance journalist and filmaker. Budweiser as “beer”underlining the tensions between these two companies.

Ours is better Despite the fact that Budvar is regarded by most connoisseurs as the better tasting beer, the Anheuser-Busch company can still boast that one in every five beers sold today in the US is a Budweiser. In 1998, the UK newspaper The Observer made this comparison “The U.S.beer has a crisp,clean taste,no strong malt or hop character and is designed to be drunk cold. The Czech

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IN FOCUS A Nation Unto Itself On Václav Klaus, NGOs, and the “dangers”of a civic society WHITNEY LAEMMLI

In late May 2005, frustration mounted in the Czech NGO com- Historical influences munity following remarks made by President Václav Klaus at the “Národ sobû”or “The nation unto itself,”is the famous phrase Council of Europe convention in Warsaw. During his address to inscribed upon the proscenium of the National Theater in one of the oldest transnational human rights associations in Prague. The theater, built at the height of the Czech National Europe,Klaus accused NGOs and other civic associations of trying Revival in the late nineteenth century, served as a symbol of to surreptitiously seize political power without a legitimate demo- national pride as well as the manifestation of the collective ini- cratic mandate. He warned of “various manifestations of tiative of the Czech people. Indeed,Czechs donated the money to NGOism,artificial multiculturalism,radical human-rightism,and build the theater not once, but twice. After a fire destroyed the aggressive environmentalism.”He then added:“In these activities, original, the Czechs again gave to re-build it in 1881. I see new ways of endangering and undermining freedom, which During the Soviet occupation,“civic participation” was virtu- those of us who lived in the communist era take very seriously.” ally taken over and misused by the state for its own aims.Fifteen Although Klaus was merely re-stating a view he has touted fre- years after the fall of Communism, the emerging concept of quently over the past 15 years, more than ninety NGOs called for a civil society remains challenged by the realities of a society a presidential apology and twelve prominent former dissidents with dominant post-communist influences,as can be seen by the authored an open letter to the president criticizing his position. multi-polar debate concerning its character. “We believed that after November 1989 no one would again disparage and belittle the weight of civic initiatives and non-governmental and non-parliamentary groups and movements, and “We believed that after November 1989 no one that the constitution has recognized their irreplaceable role in would again disparage and belittle the weight of civic the process of building a free civic society.We consider the dis- crediting of such efforts to be a direct attack on the fundamental initiatives and non-governmental and principles of democracy guaranteed by the constitution.” The non-parliamentary groups and movements group also reminded Klaus that Charter 77, the 1977 human rights manifesto, was itself a non-governmental organization and, furthermore, one which Klaus’ predecessor, Václav Havel, The dispute is personified by two of the country’s presidents: helped to write. current President Václav Klaus and former President Václav However, even in the face of such passionate criticism, Klaus Havel. Havel’s position is well-known: an idealistic writer whose stuck to his position. Although he tried to clarify his stance dur- texts criticized the isolationist nature of totalitarian society,a sig- ing a panel debate following his Warsaw remarks, contending natory of Charter 77, a champion of human rights, and an expo- that he was not “criticizing any particular organizations,” but nent of a highly active civil society, he has repeatedly thrown his rather a worldview in which democracy is “insufficient, tired, support behind non-governmental organizations in the pursuit of and inflexible” and at risk from an “ideology [which] suggests a more engaged citizenry and a vigorous democratic culture. His inventing some other mechanisms that would enable NGOs to arguments for this cause are multifarious, ranging from political have power over ordinary citizens,” many of his detractors revitalization to economic sensibility to national stability, but his remained dissatisfied. In an interview with Radio Prague,Václav idealistic appeals are perhaps best summed up by this statement, Trojan, one of the letter’s authors, remained hopeful that the dis- made in 1999: “Humanity constitutes a subject of conscience, of agreement might be merely a linguistic “misunderstanding,”and moral order, of love for our fellow humans. Civil society is one of that “any citizen has the right to express his view.He has the right the ways in which our human nature can be exercised in its to speak, to gather [and] to express his political opinion.” entirety,including its more subtle elements,which are more diffi- Unfortunately for Klaus’ critics, the likelihood that the conflict cult to grasp, but are perhaps the most important of all. Civil represented a simple misunderstanding was proven wrong four society,at least as I see it, is simply one of the great opportunities months later in September 2005. At a closed-door conference in for human responsibility for the world.” Prague called “Top to Top,”sponsored by PepsiCo and attended In comparison to Havel’s raw idealism, President Klaus is by many former global decision makers,the President again reit- largely viewed as a far more technocratic President by many erated his viewpoint, comparing “NGOism”to Communism. The Czechs.Klaus arguably views civil society as a romantic abstract fact that this organization was also an NGO of sorts, left many and a dangerous entity. Klaus’s critics point to the fact that he scratching their heads as to just what the President was trying to could not have been elected by parliament in 2003 without the accomplish with these remarks. support of the Czech Communist Party. Thus, his nationalism

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Klaus’ opponents criticize what appears to be imprecise reason- ing, while pointing out the hypocrisy of man who heads three NGOs of his own - two charitable foundations and a conservative think tank. Indeed Klaus’ ODS party, of which he remains hon- orary chairman has links on its website to such un-elected NGOs as the Adam Smith Institute, The Bruges Group, the CATO Institute and even an American Libertarian organization. Furthermore, democratic nations such as the United States who embrace the free-market system and principles of individuality also embrace the civil sector, as do most of Klaus’ fellow conservatives. Some, like Karla ·tepánková of People In Need, one of the largest and most influential Czech non-governmental organizations,claim that Klaus “is trying to be more sophisticated than it is necessary to be on this topic,”while others such as Havel have a stricter warning:“At the root of the argument that the advance- ment of civil society is an attack on the standard political system, we thus again find the well-known unwillingness to share power with anyone else.” There may be a lot of truth in this. In a move criticized by many as repressive and authoritarian, President Vladimir Putin of Russia recently introduced legislation that would require all 450,000 of Russia’s NGO’s to re-register under stricter regulatory conditions. The new law is also particularly restrictive for international organizations, such as Amnesty International and the Ford Foundation, which have long been active in promoting democracy within the country. Putin has argued that the legislation is necessary to restrict foreign support for political activities in the country, expressing concern that such foreign organizations are in fact being “used as a tool of the foreign policy of Photo: archive other states.”Opponents of the law, however, see it as a transpar- Czech President Václav Klaus ent effort by an increasingly authoritarian regime. Unlike Klaus though, Putin still pays lip-service to the ideal of civil society. goes hand-in-hand with the anti-civic Communist mentality, in When confronted with his detractor’s concerns, he emphasized which the dictatorship of the “market”merely replaces the dicta- that “civil society in Russia should not suffer.” torship of the “proletariat.” In 1995,Adam Fagan of Middlesex University commented on Rapid Development the fundamental ideological rift between Havel and Klaus: Though ideological disputes continue to make headlines, the “Whereas the notion of democratic transition adhered to by actual situation of NGOs in the Czech Republic is largely viewed as President Havel extends to include the development of an influ- positive. From barely any NGO’s in 1989,there are over 50,000 offi- ential and vibrant civil society as a critical stage in the process, cially registered NGO’s today,from fishing societies to voluntary fire [then Prime Minister] Klaus totally rejects such an interpreta- brigades to environmental associations to international human tion of the transition on the grounds that securing individual rights watchdogs. As stated in the 2004 CIVICUS Civil Society Index autonomy as opposed to collectivist intervention should be the report,47% of Czech citizens made a material or financial donation main aim of the process.” to a civil society organization in the past year; the same percentage In essence, Klaus’ objection to NGOs appears to stem from are also members of some such organization,while 60% participate a fervent belief in the free market and in his interpretation of in “civic and social activities such as work brigades, assistance to how that ideology extends to the realm of ideas and politics. older citizens,or the organization of cultural and sporting events in Those who wish to involve themselves politically should do so their communities. There is even a Civic Sector Department at the through the established governmental channels.“I stand by the Faculty of Humanities at Charles University dedicated to the holis- opinion that all sorts of movements and groups that lack the tic study and development of civil society.“It is time to do away with courage, strength, and ideas to go to a free market and undergo the myth about widespread apathy and a lack of civic engagement an election battle for their democratic legitimacy may pose among Czech citizens,”the CIVICUS report argues. a danger to freedom.”explained Klaus in the Czech daily Právo in Czechs are on the forefront of civic participation in areas such a response to criticism of his statements in Warsaw. He also as social services and environmental protection. Shortly after added that too strong a civil society threatened to impinge upon 1989,the Green Parliament initiative – an environmental discus- individual liberties. sion forum between government officials and diverse environ-

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mental NGO’s was established. The group proved to be a fairly NGOs proved their worth during the record floods that affected influential policy-making body until the electoral victory of ODS the region. Following the tsunami in Asia last year, Czechs in 1992,after which such organizations were excluded from deci- donated a record forty million crowns, partially due to, among sion making; four members were even placed on a controversial other things, the Donors Message Service, a program that watch-list of potentially subversive groups. allowed users to make donations to a variety of registered non- The myriad NGO’s are partly funded by several hundred foun- profit charitable organizations by simply sending a text message dations. In the early 1990s, the number of such foundations was from their mobile cell-phones. approximately 3,000, but a 1998 law designed to combat money- So with Klaus as President, what is the relationship between the laundering tightened registration conditions and reduced their NGO sector and the government? Though many organizations number (while increasing their legitimacy to 350. report a somewhat effective working relationship with particular The situation of foundations in the Czech Republic was also ministries and officials, and most do not feel that Václav Klaus’ advanced as a result of the distribution of monies through the antagonistic views are reflective of those of the government in gen- Foundation Investment Fund (FIF). The fund, which is some- eral,the needs of NGOs are not a priority for officials. Not only that, what unique among post-communist states, was established in but is seems that in some cases,the government is making an inde- 1991 with the purpose of distributing 1% of the proceeds from cent but direct profit from their activities. For example,during the privatization efforts to foundations selected through a public record-breaking donations for victims of the tsunami, it came to competition. In 2000, the first 500 million crowns were distrib- light that the government was deducting 16% VAT from every text uted to approximately 70 foundations. donation. A media and public outcry ensued, and the Donors In 1997, The Donors Forum was established in Prague, as Forum and other organizations did get the government to put the a tool for international foundations (including the Mott Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers) and foreign embassies which brought transition funds into the country and who need- Czechs are on the forefront of civic participation ed a collective informational venue. Today, despite the interna- in areas such as social services tional origins of the Donors Forum,most of its current members and environmental protection. are native Czech organizations. The Forum does not distribute money, but provides educational services, public relations, and marketing, and works with corporate donors, conducts surveys, VAT money back into a special development fund. However, the and promotes positive portrayals of NGOs in the media. recent donations following the earthquake in Kashmir were again Another comparable Czech organization is the Civil Society subject to the VAT,and again, discussions are ongoing. Development Foundation (NROS), which does distribute grant Another cause of frustration for many is an NGO initiative for money to local NGOs in addition to providing support and mon- the so-called 1% tax project, a legislative proposal that would itoring services. NROS also acts as an Implementation Agency allow citizens to donate 1% of their income tax to a non-profit for the EU’s Civil Society Development Program, which allows it organization of their choice. The initiative remains without sub- to serve as an intermediary between small organizations, who stantial progress. might normally be discouraged by complicated application pro- On the positive side, neither the government nor the president cedures, and EU grant money. seem to be actively impeding the activities of NGOs. Though the establishment of a Government Council for Non-State Non-Profit Challenges remain Organizations is certainly a step in the right direction, tangible The fact NROS’ services are in such demand in the Czech results still await. As regards benefiting foreign policy, the Czech Republic points to the fact that NGO funding is still a problem. government has actually supported Czech organizations when With the political stabilization of Czech Republic, foreign NGO necessary. For example, though People In Need’s activities in contributions have moved east, and neither EU money nor local Chechnya were irking the Russian authorities, the government contributions have increased to fill the gap. At the same time, continued to support the organization. In a telling statement corporate philanthropy is still in its infant stages, due to a tax regarding the differences between Russia and post-communist system that does not reward donating, a shady view by the gen- countries,it was Russia who ultimately drove the organization out. eral public of “sponsored” events, and a lack of prestige in being So what about Klaus himself? As Karla ·tepánková of People viewed as a sponsor. As stated in the CIVICUS report,“the atti- in Need states,“though we are a little bit afraid of him,”his anti- tude of firms towards civil society activities is indifferent.” civic statements are more of “an embarrassment for the Czech However, organizations like the Donors Forum are working to Republic.”She added “I don’t see a big impact because most jour- promote the positive role of sponsoring NGOs. nalists and lots of politicians are supporting our NGOs.” Petra Though the public perception of NGOs has vastly improved in Francová of NROS agrees.“It’s not good for the non-profit sector the past several years, the influence of the past is difficult to when it’s said by so important an official, but I wouldn’t say that, shed. The CIVICUS report notes that “low levels of trust, typical under the present situation, it does that much harm.” for many post-communist societies, represent something of a barrier to the development of civil society.” However,a series of This article was written as part of The New Presence intership natural disasters seem to show that things are changing.In 2002, programme with New York University, Prague

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IN FOCUS The Decline of Political Responsibility As personal irresponsibility increases, political responsibility declines JIRˇÍ PEHE

In the post-1989 Czech political scene, one is hard-pressed to In societies where the technocratic concept of the politician find an example of a politician who resigned as a result of taking prevails, the concept of “political responsibility” is more closely personal political responsibility tied to the notion of individual accountability than anything Whether one likes it or not, the political process affects every- else. In such a morally “neutral” stage, political responsibility is body in a given society.Indeed, politics can be regarded not only often reduced to a simple tactic: the politician must be careful to as a public activity, but also as a form of public discourse avoid certain mistakes and pitfalls, and to avoid damaging not through which the public space is organised and with whose only his or her career, but also their political party. assistance the public decides (at least in theory) on a rational course for its future. The Gross Scenario Because political decisions affect the lives of many people,and An interesting example of this can be found in the actions of because politics is an expression of power,we naturally raise our the Czech Republic’s former Prime Minister Stanislav Gross. expectations of politicians, and expect them to be responsible. Following the media’s bringing to light irregularities associated We also ask them to forgo their privacy and ask that they subju- with the purchase of his apartment (how he could pay for it on gate themselves to special laws regarding corruption and con- his salary -Ed.), Gross found himself on the defensive. However, flicts of interest. in this case, the concepts of personal responsibility and political responsibility were miles apart.As the premier got tangled up in Moralizer or technocrat? a web of growingly unbelievable and absurd explanations, nei- The “individual responsibility” of politicians is closely tied to the notion of “political responsibility.”However,it is necessary to distinguish between these two notions.Unlike the indi- we often hear that moral principles vidual responsibility of a politician for a particular act, the stand in the way of a rational understanding concept of “political responsibility” has a far more general of politics as a battle of ideas and interests dimension. The latter can have different interpretations,depending on the society in which it is applied, since the interpretation of “politi- ther he nor his party mentioned the concept of political respon- cal responsibility”is closely tied to just how a given society views sibility. Rather, they tried to refocus the scandal on the question the concept of politics. Particularly important is whether the of whether personal transgressions should indeed have any public believes that morality belongs in politics. Scandinavian political consequences. and Anglo-Saxon societies, who have grown up with the This discourse was accepted by a large part of the media and Protestant tradition and who, even today, have strong value sys- even sections of the opposition.The discussion continued to shift tems, certainly have a closer relationship to this concept than do away from the failures of the premier, and shifted instead onto many other Western democracies. whether the level of the premier’s personal failings had yet Clearly, no political concept exists in an entirely pure form. reached the point where they could have any political conse- Despite this,it’s possible – if one simplifies a little – to argue that quences. We even heard arguments that whether or not Gross in politics, which describes itself as having a moral outlook or committed a moral (or criminal) blunder was unimportant,com- purpose, we often hear questions related to “good” or “evil”. An pared to the fact that he as premier didn’t have the mettle to example of this is US President George W.Bush’s characterisation weather out the storm.Thus,it was not the misdeed,but rather its of Osama Bin Laden as “evil,”and via more biblical language, of discovery and the poor handling of that discovery that became Al-Qaeda as “evildoers” On the other hand, we often hear that Gross’s undoing and led to his eventual resignation. The political politics should not be about “mass moralising” or that moral and criminal facts of the case continue to remain unexplained. principles stand in the way of a rational understanding of poli- This way of thinking is supported by examples provided by tics as a battle of ideas and interests.In a wider sense,this under- other Czech politicians. The argument sounds roughly like this: scores the evolution of modern politics into pragmatic, rather “Why get so hung up on this one guy? We all know there are far than ideological concerns. more rotten apples around than just him.” But, the argument

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usually continues: “Well, since the though he or she had little to do with the Premier gave untrustworthy answers, he specific planning and implementation of failed politically,and so he had to go.”We such an operation. also often hear that Stanislav Gross failed This kind of political responsibility to “communicate” adequately through- can be viewed as a kind of comforting out the scandal,and that is why he had to fiction.Nonetheless,in terms of ultimate ultimately and finally assume political accountability, it can be viewed as responsibility. entirely positive and important for soci- Of note is that the Christian ety. Democrats (who, as coalition members, In the unripe world of Czech politics, went on the moral offensive against this concept of responsibility has yet to Gross –Ed.) allowed the apartment affair exist at all. Politicians often use the to fall into the background, when their defence that they have done nothing head Mirolsav Kalousek suddenly had to wrong and that only those under them face similar questions about his apart- have failed. This approach is a grotesque ment. The Christian Democrats then twist of the defences used by those who shifted attention to the close ties that served in authoritarian regimes – they Gross’s wife had with the business- personally kept their hands clean, and if woman Libu‰e Bartoková, who had asked, stated that they were merely allegedly allowed one of her houses to obeying orders. become a brothel. In both examples, the problem is the And so, politicians turned the whole thing into a game of same. Individual responsibility,reliant on individual conscience, political ping-pong, partly out of fear that focusing on the real is separated from political responsibility.A democratic politician issues would reveal their own shady dealings. In such a climate, who claims that he has no reason to resign when serious failures the moral argument as well as any notion of responsibility, was in his department are exposed, is only the mirror image of completely lost. a bureaucrat who claims innocence for merely blindly following Indeed,not even the separate affair that sprung up around orders from above,even though his own conscience told him that Bartoková could be separated from the wider context of Czech something was not in order. politics, which further blunted the moral knives of the Christian In the post -1989 Czech political sphere, we would be hard Democrats. Barková herself was able to successfully point out pressed to find an example of a politician who resigned because that the Prague Council itself rents out properties to companies they assumed political responsibility. This is a continuation of that turn them into brothels. And the politicians failed to note the Communist-era mentality, in which no one was responsible that the whole Mafiosi system in which prostitution is undertak- for anything, because the theoretically utopian system stated en in this country exists precisely because of their failures as that everyone was collectively responsible for everything. politicians. In the end,Gross resigned as premier without the public actu- Public versus private ally learning the truth about how Gross had paid for his flat, or Evaluating politicians according to their responsibility or lack what the truth was about his family’s connections to Bartoková. thereof is compounded by the expectations we place on their Thus, personal responsibility was suddenly cloaked in the veil of shoulders. For example, we often hear that politicians, like political responsibility. The only lesson for Czech politicians was celebrities have difficult private lives under the public gaze. But this: if you lie, don’t get caught, and if you do, do a better job of by accepting a public post,politicians become public figures and appearing trustworthy. lose their right to privacy, by virtue of the fact that their decisions affect our lives, and because without the public gaze, their Ultimate accountability posts could so easily be misused for personal or other gains. In societies with more evolved political climates than in the In theory, the politician’s private life thus becomes public Czech Republic (or in ones where morality plays a political role), property - the apparent sense of good conduct and responsibili- the concept of political responsibility plays an important role. In ty in their private lives being used to gauge and measure their certain circumstances,it works in such a way as to personify cer- feasibility and viability as a public servants. tain political failures which have been committed by those lower However, in modern democracies, even these gauges have down the echelons of government. The society is then able to become gradually weakened. This has occurred for a number of come to terms with such failings and cleanse itself. reasons. First, the modern media has become seduced by In this example, the politician takes responsibility for those notions of mass culture,in which privacy is a tradable commod- failures which have happened during his or her chain of com- ity (as evidenced by “reality television”). This relativisation of mand, despite the fact that he or she may not necessarily have the private, often supported by voluntary exhibitionism, is con- been personally responsible for them. An interior minister can tinuously blurring the boundaries between the private and pub- be forced to resign as a result of a bumbled police operation,even lic domains.

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Thus, it appears that the shifting public perception of morality is shifting the perception of political morality.This trend has gone so far, that it appears that the only sphere where the public still place high expectations on their politicians is in the realm of their finances, and the misuse of their privileged positions.

Afailure ofsociety The growing disgust felt by the public towards their politicians in Western societies is not so much a result of the moral failures of politicians as of individuals.It is part of a wider trend in which the lines between personal and private have become blurred. In a society in which anything goes and every failure can be excused away by experts as a societal issue, the reasons why politicians should be any better than the rest of society suddenly disappear. In post-modern societies of mass culture and consumption, Higher moral expectations can only be placed on politicians by there is a continual trend towards the relativisation of values. It a society that knows exactly what those expectations are. is becoming ever more difficult to place moral expectations on Indeed,mistrust of politicians can be viewed as not stemming politicians, when society itself is going about frivolously break- from their seemingly growing immorality and unaccountability ing moral taboos. but from the fact that society sees itself in these politicians – and This shift became highly visible with the playing out of the does not like what it sees. scandal of former US president Bill Clinton and his affair with We still very much appear to want politicians to set the tone, Monica Lewinsky.The moral condemnation regarding his deeds to raise moral expectations, to lead by example – but arguably, collapsed, since the majority of Americans were not that both- politicians are unable to do this.More and more,this role is shift- ered by them,or were at least prepared to forgive him.In the end, ing into the hands of the mass media whose tone grows ever Clinton’s opponents attempted to unseat the President not more dissonant, whilst its “moral outrage” is often for mere per- because of adultery, but because of him lying about the affair sonal gain. under oath. Of note is the fact that just a decade earlier, stories One of the clear effects of the fading away of individual of infidelity ruined the 1988 campaign of Democratic presiden- responsibility is the gradual decline of political leadership. tial hopeful Gary Hart. Political leaders (elites in the positive sense of the word) were Also of note is the shift in the perception of privacy.During the once people with a vision, of which they were the personal guar- presidency of John F.Kennedy (1961-1963), there were whispers antors. This brand of accountability could only come from about his extra marital activities. But this was still the beginning a sense of individual moral integrity and the ability to take of the mass media age. The private sphere was much larger, and responsibility for one’s actions, often in the face of public oppo- remained far more respected and harder to break than today.Hart sition. In modern times, such a leader is gradually disappearing. became a victim of the mass media at Post-modern society appears to be a time when the private sphere was ruled my a morally neutral vox-pop, diminishing.The unveiling of any trans- which the media claims only to channel gressions was thus able to have a devas- into the public limelight. In truth, the tating effect on any public servant. media to a certain extent determines what By the time of the Clinton affair, both the public should think, by the weight it the concept of privacy and many of the gives to certain stories. And because we notions of moral criteria had become now have a media born from the system significantly diminished. The public, of consumerism and mass consumption, fuelled by the media, became spell- in which everything including politicians, bound with every detail of Clinton’s pri- has become entertainment fodder, vate life, yet remained unwilling to cast responsibility and morality have become judgement on the president. even more blurred. Recently in the Czech Republic, aseries ofrevelations came to light, which also seemed to have very little Jiﬁí Pehe is the director of the New York impact. It turns out the Czech president University in Prague, where he teaches Václav Klaus has a twenty-year-old politics. He was chief political advisor to mistress. Indeed, a very warm inter- former president Václav Havel. view, which revealed details of the nature of the relationship, was pub- The photographs in this article by lished in the press. Krist˘na Urbanková

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MEDIA Czech Radio Today: Political Correctness or Boredom? Compared to Czech television, Czech public radio offers more content, but suffers by trying to please everybody

JAN POTÒâEK

Last year, Czech Public Service radio (âesk˘ Rozhlas) cele- remain in their positions, it’s better not to rock the boat. Despite brated its 80th anniversary. However, these celebrations were a controversy around a particular satirical programme, which nowhere near as captivating for the general public as the 50th labelled communists as “pigs,”the Czech Broadcast Commission anniversary celebration of the founding of Czech Television, ultimately approved Kasík for a second six year term. But the which took place around the same time. continued and deliberate attempts of public radio to avoid cer- Five blanket stations, thirty regional studios, three internet tain issues is damaging its reputation. This, in turn, is helping to portals that are standing by for the advent of digital transmis- create an image of an ancient institution unable to shake off its sion, and extensive web services clearly demonstrate that Czech unhealthy ties with the political estate. Radio is no stranger to embracing change.Czech Radio offers far more content than its public service television counterpart. The JeÏek era However, the service, which has existed in its present state since During its thirteen years of independent existence, only two 1992 when it separated from the Slovak section, has in many directors have run Czech Radio, as opposed to Czech Television, ways become a double-edged sword. On the one side, its lower which has seen seven director generals come and go since 1992. public profile gives management greater creative and political Vlastimil JeÏek, who was elected to the position in 1993, ini- freedom. But on the other, it seems to have lost its way in trying tially provoked considerable outrage,when it turned out that his too hard to please the masses while ignoring targeted audiences. application for the post had been little more than a stunt.He sub- For example, one of the many criticisms concerns the musical mitted his own name to the selection committee, whilst serving broadcasts of its most successful station, RadioÏurnál. Critics as the editor of the newspaper Práce (Work). His real intention claim that the frequent broadcasts of Czech music dating from was to write an article entitled “How I failed to become the direc- the era of socialist realism reflect the personal preferences of its tor of Czech Radio”(and without any prior experiences with the director general Václav Kasík, who in the 1970s and 80s moved medium). Despite this controversy, he was selected, and about in show-business circles (while playing in a music group remained in his post until the end of his term in 1999. Today, he led by the current president of Czech Radio, Michal Prokop). But is the director of the National Library. these suspicions underscore the greater problem: musical pro- JeÏek’s term can best be described as one of reorganisation.He grammers do not know how to satisfy a wide and varied audi- inherited a service in which the ghosts of Communism had not ence, and have become paralysed by the fear that their listeners yet been exorcised, where individual departments were barely will tune in to a competitor. co-operating with each other, and where the service was throw- ing away millions on increasing its coverage to local locations Balance or boredom? with tiny audiences. Meanwhile, the services equipment was old Politicians from all sides across the political spectrum have and in poor condition. frequently stated that they consider Czech Radio to be balanced. At the same time, competition from the private sector was Its present director Kasík has not met with any significant polit- emerging. Aside from small local stations, nation-wide broad- ical opposition. But the reasons for this are not as praiseworthy casters such as Frekvence 1, Evropa2 (both in the hands of the as it may first appear. During Kasík’s first term as head of Czech same owner) and Radio Alfa (founded by the current head of Radio (1999-2005), political journalism almost entirely disap- public radio Václav Kasík) began to offer an alternative to the peared from the airwaves. When it was to be found, it consisted monopoly of public service radio. Commercial radio soon began of toothless analyses, without any investigative journalism. attracting not only listeners, but also journalists and presenters. Given the state of Czech politics, such a policy is perhaps Similar to the example of the giant commercial television station understandable: if the director and his closest associates wish to Nova, which put in place a younger and fresher line-up against

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Czech Television’s tired faces, private radio managed to capture stations aimed at various target groups (i.e. BBC Radio 1- pop listeners bored with dry news and stale music programming. music and youth,Radio 2 - news,Radio 3 - classical music,Radio The audience share of public radio began to fall, although 4 - alternative, reportage and comedy, Radio Five- live pro- nowhere near as markedly as Czech Television’s following the grammes and sports. – Ed.) Czech radio, despite its local pro- onset of commercial television. gramming, remains focused on the mass audience, and thus The falling interest in public service led JeÏek to prepare wide- finds itself in direct competition with commercial radio. scale reforms of the national service.The main aim was to define However, in recent months, certain developments have sug- and to target stations for different groups of listeners. Thus, for gested some changes may be on the horizon.At the beginning of example, âR 2 – Praha would become a general station, whilst the year,âR initiated a test broadcast of two specialised stations, âR 1 RadioÏurnal would focus on news, uninterrupted by either which would eventually appear in the future digital line-up of reportage or music. But the attempts to change the musical âR. The stations were the news-based Radio Czech and the nature and content of Czech Radio’s broadcasts with more tar- music channel D-minor. geted programming, as well as the idea of creating a âR 4 for Radio Czech broadcasts a daily mixture of news and reportage young people, came too late. from 6am to 10am,uninterrupted by music.In essence,this station is everything RadioÏurnal should be but is not.Whilst Radio Czech The Kasík era broadcasts only the spoken word, D-minor is the opposite, broad- JeÏek decided not to seek another term,and was replaced by the casting only classical music. D-minor also has a more flexible pragmatic managerial-type (and former manager and co-owner schedule, and is dedicated to playing live music from anywhere in of the now-defunct commercial radio station Alfa) Václav Kasík. the world, thanks to the station taking advantage of Czech Radio’s This need not have been a bad choice.Kasík understood the medi- membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the um and had closer personal connections to the public sector. live feeds that it offers. Kasík brought with him many faces from Radio Alfa. JeÏek’s plan to reformat and retarget fell by the wayside. In the interest Abig merger ? of not creating bad feelings amongst his subordinates, Kasík In October, Czech Radio internet broadcasts were enriched by chose to block any further attempts at change. Instead, he a popular education station known as âR-Leonardo - a project in focused on issues outside the realm of programming. He set many ways identifiable with Czech television’s educational pro- about a programme of renovation and reconstruction,while cre- gramming. Could Czech Television and Czech Radio increase ating a network of regional studios, so that every region would their co-operation in the future? Indeed, the idea of a gradual have its own service. merger of Czech Television with Czech Radio,following the exam- Under JeÏek, Czech Radio only had studios in Brno, Ostrava ple of Britain’s BBC,may be a good one. Both institutions already and several other towns. Under Kasík, the network expanded to work together closely and this co-operation is already deepening almost every larger population centre in the country. – particularly in the field of news. For example, it’s no secret that During Kasík’s first term, the broadcasting of the US service âT and âR are considering co-funding the placement of a per- Radio Free Europe under the umbrella of âR 6 came to an end. manent correspondent in the Middle East.They have also already This was due to RFE’s decision to cease transmitting in the Czech been co-producing programming (for example the recreation of language, thus effectively ending co-operation between the public the famous 1945 battle for the Czech Radio service, which was radio service and RFE/RL. Though âR 6 never had a particularly filmed at the site earlier this year). There is also the possibility of large audience,it did have a core audience.In many ways,the serv- joint digital broadcasting in the so-called public-service multi- ice competed and mirrored the Czech service of the BBC,although plex DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial).Though this the opinions and comments broadcast on 6 were often stronger. system is primarily designed for television stations,the same sys- In a bid to resolve the station’s financial difficulties,Kasík reduced tem could easily also broaden access to radio services whilst util- the amount of hours the station broadcast,and shifted the station to ising new technologies such as radio in-vision teletext. the MW bandwidth as part of the âR 2 Prague service.“âR 6”now Meanwhile, initial internet trials of Czech digital radio are due to broadcasts from 6pm to midnight, which has resulted in fewer begin. Such endeavours are no doubt costly and will require repeats but also a further decline in listeners.A radio station built on a restructuring of the way programming is made by the service. opinions, analysis and journalism which once broadcast on FM 24 Today, Czech Radio has about a 50% audience share. The rest hours a day is now missing from the airwaves,and will presumably is divided up between eighty commercial radio stations. not make a return to mainstream accessibility until the advent of However,overall listenership of Czech Radio’s individual stations digital radio. The impending demise of the BBC Czech service continues to fall. If Czech Radio is to find a new generation of (independent of âR), has only added to the blues of those seeking listeners, which is surely in its interests, it will have to re-evalu- in-depth coverage and analysis in the Czech Republic. ate its current practices, which appear frozen in the past. Such changes need both clear ideas as well as the full co-operation of Some positive changes the services staff. If there is one thing about Czech Radio that can be singled out for the most criticism, it is its bland content. Whilst abroad it is common practice for public service radio to create numerous Jan PotÛãek is a journalist and works at the weekly Reflex

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MEDIA Keeping in Touch Interview with Petr Bísek, publisher of Americké listy, the largest paper in the world for Czechs living abroad

Peter Bisek was born in Prague in 1941. With the thawing of them are published in the USA, since there are more people of hard-line Communism in the mid-sixties, Bisek left Czechoslovakia Czech and Slovak origin living in the USA than in the rest of the for the United States. In 1990, he began to publish ex-pat publica- world combined. tions for Czechs living abroad, including the renowned Americké At the end of the 19th century and in the beginning of the Listy magazine. In 1997, he was awarded the Medal of Merit Fist 20th, there were actually several Czech dailies in the USA. Now, Class by president Václav Havel in recognition of his successful lob- there are only a handful of bi-weeklies. Overall, there are also bying in the U.S. Congress on behalf of the Czech Republic for its dozens of periodicals and “occasionals,”which serve the needs of early acceptance into NATO. In 2005, along with his wife Vera, he various clubs and societies, and also serve the older generations was a recipient of the Gratias Agit Award from the Secretary of State of Czech and Slovak Americans, most of whom now read only in of the Czech Republic,Cyril Svoboda,“for the promotion of the good English. name of the Czech Republic abroad.” Peter is also world-ranking Canada, with a much smaller population than the United indoor rower and rowing coach whose boats won three gold medals States, still continues to hold its own with two respectable bi- in the 2005 US National Championships. weeklies and several minor periodicals. Finally, in spite of their small numbers and great distance from Europe, there are a cou- How and why did Americke Listy start? ple of enthusiastic patriot-publishers in Australia and New Americke Listy (AL) were first published by Frank and Gerda Zealand. ·vehla in 1964. They continued publishing right up till I should also mention that Czechs living in Slovakia have their November 1989, when Frank suffered a stroke. One issue later, own very professional-looking periodicals, while there are other the husband-and-wife operation had to close. My wife Vera and periodicals being published in former Yugoslavia, Rumania and I felt that there was a great need for someone to “pick up the other countries as well. torch,”and so we decided to take the challenge. Our first issue of âeskoslovensk˘ T˘deník, (Czechoslovak Weekly) as we renamed It is often said that the Czech ex-pat community, as it,came out in April 1990.With the permission of Mrs.·vehla, we opposed to say the Polish or Hungarian, is very different. changed the name back to Americke Listy in 1997. It is different,but I wouldn’t say that it’s too different.The major difference stems from the fact that while Czechs and Slovaks were Why did you change the name in the first place? cut off from their country of birth, Polish Americans, and also, to We are Czechs who were born and raised in Czecho slovakia, a lesser degree Hungarian Americans, were not officially exclud- and we wanted to emphasize our solidarity with our Slovak ed or cut off from their country of birth. We all know that the brethren; that’s why we used the word “âeskoslovensk˘”. Plus, we hoped to come out every week, just as AL had done. Well, we soon realized that we couldn’t publish a weekly, but only a bi- We were truly trying to repair that proverbial weekly. Then in 1993, Czechoslovakia fell apart. So, that was the bridge between us and the “old country”that the end of both “âeskoslovensk˘”and “T˘deník.” communist regime had managed to ruin. Do you feel AL and other ex-pat publications like yours play an important role? There are several reasons for the existence of AL and other ex- Czechoslovak communist regime disseminated a vicious hatred pat publications. There are many Czech and Slovak Americans within its own populations toward those who left or escaped the who do not want to give up their heritage,language,customs and straightjacket of the communist totalitarian regime.This was not memories, who want to stay in touch with their “old country,” so in Hungary, and even less in Poland. and who want to know what’s happening in their “old country.” But Czech Americans have shown that they can forget and for- For these people searching for news on the internet is not give. Consider, for example, the lobby for the admission of the enough.They also want to enjoy the familiarity and simplicity of Czech Republic into NATO. Our lobby was more aggressive and turning the pages, glancing at headlines and knowing immedi- effective than the Polish or Hungarian lobby.I have heard top US ately, that "yes, this is an article or news item that I want to read. politicians and legislators observe that the Czech lobby was . . this is the crossword puzzle I want to solve." strong and effective.And I would like to boast that it was our âT As you know, there are a great variety of Czech and Slovak that was instrumental in the creation of this pro-Czech lobby in periodicals published outside of former Czechoslovakia. Most of 1996-97. Unfortunately, the lobby died out soon after fulfilling

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Petr Bísek with former US Secretary of State, the Czech-born Madeline Albright

its duty, as there was not a single friendly gesture toward us at invasion by the Warsaw Pact armies. Finally, there is another that time - not from the Czech Parliament, or from the govern- sizeable group of those who came here in the last 10-15 years. ment of (then Prime Minister) Václav Klaus. I am talking only about those who were born in Czechoslovakia or in the Czech Republic, not the older generations who were During the time when Czechoslovakia was attempting to born in the USA. And, of course, because of their different life become a member of NATO, it was said that there was also experiences, they are quite different. an “anti-NATO”lobby in the US among ex-pat Czechs. Yes, there were several individuals and small groups of angry You have lived in the US a long time and are now a US cit- Czech Americans -- and rightfully angry, I would like to add – izen. How do you feel that the Czech Republic views its ex- who were sending a message to the Czech Republic.The message pats? they were sending, basically, was that until "you" (i.e., the Czech When we started publishing âT, we were very discouraged Republic) give up your communist heritage,until you outlaw the with the overall unfriendly attitude of many Czech officials. It communist party and punish those who committed crimes might sound like an empty slogan to many people, but we were under the banner of the hammer and sickle, until you return to truly trying to repair that proverbial bridge between us and the me the family house that my parents built, my farm and the “old country” that the communist regime had managed to ruin. fields that my family farmed for generations, the factory that my We and thousands of others offered our hand, our friendship, grandfather established, I will not support you. In fact, I will our good will. Unfortunately, it was not received well. Yes,there even fight against you. were exceptions – for example, all the directors of the Even though many ofus might have basically agreed with Department for Cultural Relations and Czechs Living Abroad them, we still felt that NATO membership was so important that (Plísek, Koláﬁ, Lycka, etc.), Ambassadors (Klímová, Îantovsk˘, we should put aside our grievances for a while and help as much Vondra, UN General Consul Peter Gandaloviã) and the as we can. And we also believed that NATO membership would Czechoslovak and Czech diplomats in general were mostly gen- push the Czech Republic in the right direction of becoming uinely on good terms with us -- but not those who were writing a truly free and democratic society. The fact was, that these new laws and interpreting existing laws. Perhaps the negative active “rebels” were a very small minority and did not have any tone was set by Václav Klaus, when in February 1990 he told me noticeable effect on the expansion of NATO. that “the ex-pats are irritating me.” But times have changed,and our relationships have improved. How great are these differences within the Czech ex-pat Today, there are several senators and deputies who are clearly community? and publicly on our side and are speaking up for our rights. Well, there are generational differences, or course. There are those who “ran for their lives”after the communist coup of 1948. Then there are the "1968-ers" who left Czechoslovakia after the Interview conducted by Martin Stránsk˘

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MEDIA The Race to the Bottom The sorry state of the Czech Republic’s television sector DAVID POMERANTZ

In October 5, 2005, both Nova and Prima were fined four and five million crowns respectively by the Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting (RRTV - the body responsible for the licensing and regulation of radio and television media in the Czech Republic) for “broadcasting scenes (during Big Brother and VyVolení) potentially threatening the moral development of juveniles before 10 pm.”But the fines were meager relative to the profits made by the networks, who merely scoffed at them and continued broadcasting what they wished. On November 22, RRTV again fined Nova and Prima for violating Article 32 of the Czech Broadcasting Act,(which harmonizes Czech broadcast law with the EU’s Television Without Frontiers (TWF) directive, designed to regulate and monitor television across Europe). However, this time, Nova was fined a record 13 million crowns Photo: archive for seven different violations that occurred on Big Brother in September and Prima was fined 13.5 million crowns for seven In the Czech Republic on any given afternoon,one can turn on violations that occurred on VyVolení in the same month. Despite the television and witness scenes that border on the porno- these huge fines, several weeks later, both stations were again graphic. This coincides with the advent of so-called “reality tel- fined, contributing to the belief that the networks viewed their evision,”unleashed on Czech viewers during the summer of 2005 regulator as little more than a toothless inconvenience. in the form of two reality shows Big Brother and VyVolení (or The Selected), aired by the country’s two commercial competitors Nova and Prima. In addition to driving up ratings, the shows In a country where moral or civic outrage is often have also created an unprecedented moral backlash, stemming hard to come by, parents have spoken out against the from alleged gratuitous sexual conduct being broadcast by and Vyvolení and Big Brother at a time of day when children can be content of these “reality”programs in hitherto exposed to such material. Record fines have been levied against unseen numbers. both stations by the country’s broadcast watchdog (RRTV), and the entire affair has even led many to predict that “garbage television”as purportedly propagated by television Nova is finally on According to the Czech Broadcasting Act, the maximum fine its way out in the Czech Republic. that the RRTV can levy for one program is 10 million crowns. The substantial jump in the newest fines, which are the largest Very telling television ever levied, are the result of a policy change directly related to the “Reality” television formats have been broadcast around the standoff caused by the reality-show situation. In addition to the world for many years. Contestants are secluded in a house in fines, public criticism of the networks since the reality shows which their every move is filmed. Viewers vote via phone or text began to air has been more vociferous than ever. In a country message as to which contestants stay on the show. where moral or civic outrage is often hard to come by, parents In the Czech versions, the content and makeup reveal much have spoken out against the content of these “reality” programs about the broadcasters as well as about wider climate within the in hitherto unseen numbers. country.Of the two head-to-head versions, Nova’s (imported) Big According to RRTV council-member Václav Îák,“no program Brother adopted the more aggressive approach, artificially con- ever caused the type of complaints that we are getting about real- structing a “reality” environment populated by models, mal- ity TV shows.”He added “Parents of children that are between six adjusted narcissists and even porn-stars. Prima’s Vyvolení took and ten years old have been the main complainers.” Indeed, a slightly gentler approach, with marginally more “real” people according to the Council’s 2004 report, during the previous year, selected to take part. Interestingly, Vyvolení consistently beat Big public complaints to the RRTV about pornographic or violent Brother in the ratings, leading to the view that Nova, the hitherto programming that could be harmful to minors numbered in the dominant broadcaster in the country, may have finally miscalcu- 50s. This year, complaints against the reality shows alone have lated its audiences appetite for the basest form of entertainment. numbered in the hundreds and are still flowing in. One parent

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noted that “as parents,we try to set examples for our children.We TV if it is wrong for the audience,you should ask the audience.If would expect that our society will support us and many other the audience likes this kind of broadcasting we will do it,because people in this request.We don’t want our young people to behave we are commercial TV.” like the people in the houses in real life.” Though the reality show storm serves as the watershed con- No alternative troversy in Czech commercial television, it is by no means the However,in the Czech Republic,those that don’t want to watch first case of alleged gratuitous breaches by Czech broadcast- Nova’s blend of Chuck Norris and Stephen Segal movies, soap- ers. For years, critics have accused Nova of airing sub-stan- operas and beauty contests have little else to choose from. Since dard low-brow programming that serves to culturally under- the advent of Nova in 1994, Czech public television has effective- mine the Czech Republic. According to a report issued this ly paralyzed by the apparent “Nova effect.”Forced to either copy year by the EU’s Monitoring and Advocacy Program (EUMAP) its competitor or rely on the kind of stale fare, which continues which evaluated media situations in all European countries, to characterize its output, Czech Television (âT) has continued “For Czech intellectuals, [Nova] is a symbol of cultural and to battle against dwindling audience shares and viewer apathy. moral decline.” With Nova criticized as the worst of the new, âT is arguably the Other criticisms center on an overabundance of violence, worst of the old – a closed,incestuous institution devoid of fresh a lack of quality in original Czech programming, and an excess blood or new ideas. The almost complete absence of original of poor-quality American re-broadcasts. According to the RRTV’s 2004 report, 49% of Nova’s programming in that year was Non-European. This number is barely in compliance with With Nova criticized as the worst of the new, âT is the TWF directive,which calls for a majority of programming by all stations to be European in origin. For Prima, the number was arguably the worst of the old – a closed, incestuous 40%.Nova’s news output has also been criticized for being of the institution devoid of fresh blood or new ideas. “infotainment”variety,placing emphasis on bloody stories,over- ly dramatizing more subtle stories and giving poor coverage to international matters. satire, alternative programming, youth programming and other To counter, Nova and its supporters claim that the station is programs one expects from public television underscore the fact only airing what the majority want to see. In 1999, Nova’s that âT’s aim to be more like the British BBC remains little more founder and ex-director Vladimír Îelezn˘ claimed that,“We just than a lofty goal. show what the market wants. If opera was as popular as guns While other post-Communist countries have witnessed and naked women, TV Nova would show opera. Our market healthy development in the realm of cable and satellite television research shows that Czechs are not refined intellectuals at all..” options, the Czech Republic has remained exceptionally under- Though Îelezn˘ controversially departed Nova in 2003 to developed in these areas.Only 19.3 percent of the Czech Republic pursue a political career, the network’s rationale for its low-brow received cable or satellite television in 2004. In Hungary, Poland, and the Slovak Republic,those numbers were 57 percent,44 percent, and 39.2 percent respectively in 2003. This leaves the vast “If opera was as popular as guns and naked majority of Czech viewers with only three basic channels to women, TV Nova would show opera.” choose from, two of which are frequently criticized as low-brow and disgusting, and one of which is criticized as boring. However, a recent trend has clearly served to delight both programming – that the market demands it – has clearly intellectuals and media critics: Nova has been losing its edge in remained the same.According to TV Nova’s current director,Petr the ratings. Whether this has been due to Prima’s more recent Dvoﬁák,“‘Bad cultural influence’ is a nonsensical term – it fore- family-oriented approach as well as some of its more racy shows shadows that there is some good and some bad culture,”he con- such as VyVolení, remains unclear.What is clear is, that as Nova’s tinued, “TV Nova, as well as any other commercial TV, offers ratings are going down, Prima’s are steadily going up: from entertainment for the majority viewer, and such a viewer has a 70% market share in 1995, Nova has recently slipped to under similar tastes as in many different countries.” the 40% mark for the first time. According to data from the In a 2004 interview with Radio Prague,Petr Dvoﬁák,was asked MediaResearch company, Nova’s audience share for September whether he believed that Nova's output was lowering media 2005 stood at 37%,whilst Prima’s climbed to 28%. In the prime- standards in the country. He responded “You shouldn't ask the time slot, the numbers are even worse for Nova, in the range of

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33%. Though many cultural critics have expressed delight that Spokesman Martin Krafl notes “Our programs now are quite Nova’s ratings are slipping, on the other hand, many think that successful. At Czech Television, we have the most qualified Prima’s programs aren’t really that much better. experts in programming.Nowadays,we are quite successful with As for âT1 and âT2 (Czech Television channels 1 and 2), its our programs, which shows that the interests of the audience go numbers have barely moved since Nova began to dominate the beyond reality television.”Sadly, the audience figures tell a very market in 1995. âT1 generally garners a dismal 20% market different story.Critics continue to point out that Czech Television share with âT2 picking up an additional 5 to 8 points. The for- continues in the form of a protectionist communist-era mer director of Czech Television Jan Jirák, says that the public dinosaur,with an immovable cast of “players”unwilling to either network has failed to successfully cater to a silent majority that seek out or make way for new ideas. may be sick of Nova’s talk shows,reality shows,and American re- runs, and that is thirsty for original Czech programming.“âTV Nova’s rise: capitalizing on capitalism did not succeed in actively reacting to the situation in the mar- The roots of Nova’s rise to dominance stretch back to 1989 and ket. It did not react to the fact that two commercial stations the political atmosphere following the fall of Communism,when offered reality shows at the same moment,”Jirák points to a very one of the biggest questions facing the new government was how telling accident that underscores Czech Television’s almost suici- to foster a free and pluralistic media. As outlined in the dal inflexibility “By accident, âTV happened to show a nostalgic Broadcasting Act of 1991, it was decided that a dual system police drama, Cetnicka Humoresky at prime-time on Fridays— would be created,as exists throughout much of Europe.The pre- the same time as Big Brother and VyVolení…in some cases, it viously state-run Czechoslovak Television (âT) would become garnered a third of the audience share. For me, this shows that an independent public broadcaster, and broadcasting licenses there is a good portion of people who are ready to pay attention would be granted to private companies in order to form a com- to fiction on âTV and not reality shows.” mercial sector. The first national commercial broadcast license In its defense, Czech Television asserts that it has always pro- was granted to CET21, the founders of Nova, on January 30, vided quality original programming to Czech audiences. 1993. CET21 was owned by Îelezn˘ and five other individuals, n Û Photo: J Dominik

Students in Brno publicly satirize “Reality Television”

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An impotent broadcast council The Czech Broadcasting Act of 1992 established the Czech Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting, or RRTV.It was initially formed as a council consisting of nine members, (today the number is 13),all of whom were appointed by the Czech parliament.However,since its founding,the RRTV has been plagued by political dependence,impotency and inefficiency in the realm of regulation. Many of the roots of the Council’s problems lie in its origin. After the fall of Communism, anything related to governmental regulation was viewed as state interference in the market and, as such, inherently abhorrent. Just as this political climate of the early 90’s buoyed Nova to astronomical success, it apparently resulted in the complete handicapping of the RRTV. “Keep in mind the historical situation,”says Jirák “[The RRTV] was established as a new body in the beginning of the 90’s within an overall liberal atmosphere.Everything should be deregulat- ed and free.The concept of regulation almost looked like a return to Communist times. So [the Council] started in a bad position.” This atmosphere resulted in restricting the RRTV’s powers in a number of ways.First and foremost,the RRTV remains a political subsidiary to the Czech Parliament, bringing into question its ability to serve as an independent regulator.In other systems, and was one of over 25 groups vying to become the first private regulatory bodies comparable to the RRTV are independent and broadcaster in the Czech Republic. In the final round of selec- are appointed by a variety of bodies. For example, the French tion, a key reason that CET21 won the license was, that Îelezn˘ regulatory body or CSA is appointed from three sources: the promoted the station as one that would be educational and intel- President of the country, the President of the Senate, and the lectually stimulating.Within months,it was clear that the notion President of the National Assembly.In addition, the RRTV coun- was abandoned, as Nova began to focus on cheap entertainment cil members are not appointed in staggered terms, but all at related product. once, which results in a Council that exactly mirrors the The new station was a colossal hit.Within months of its broad- Parliament’s mood during its appointment.The Council has also casting debut in 1994,Nova was turning a profit.By 1995 it dom- been accused of corruption regarding favoritism towards inated the market, boasting an astounding 71.2% market share. Îelezn˘’s handling of Nova, in that it failed to regulate his take- Indeed, the prevailing attitude at the time was that private tele- over of CET21 via a complex but allegedly dubious transaction. vision needed all the help that it could get,which also meant that CET21 owner Ronald Lauder eventually sued the Czech Republic, and the case ended up in international arbitration court, which ruled that fraud had been committed. It ultimately Since its founding, the RRTV has been plagued by fined the Czech Republic the incredible amount of 360 million political dependence, impotency and inefficiency in USD. Despite numerous court cases and complaints, no one in the Czech Republic has yet taken the blame for the crime. the realm of regulation. Finally, the Parliament can dismiss the entire Council if it twice rejects the Council’s annual report. According to many, this system results in the politicization of when Îelezn˘ shifted Nova towards populist low-brow program- what is supposed to be an apolitical body of media experts.“The ming, the RRTV remained silent.“The general mood of the time first priority is to be a part of a political camp; the second prior- was that our task was a fight against communism, so we must ity is that you are an expert [in the field],” says Milan ·mid, support private business,” recalls Václav Îák (not a council- Professor of Journalism at Charles University and one of the member at the time) “And now, we’ve created a monster.” drafters of the original Czech Broadcasting Act. ·mid also Jan Jirák, a former director of Czech Television and current believes that the Council has repeatedly been ineffective in mon- Dean of Mass Communication and Media at Charles University itoring programming. also views the post-Communist climate as crucial to Nova’s suc- Jan Jirák echoes this criticism “[The RRTV] is… ineffective at cess.“It was still a time when Czech Television was more-or-less regulating media performance,” he adds “In the case that the viewed as a pre-89 state-run TV Nova was something complete- Council finds improper conduct, it doesn’t have the power or ly new: It was modern,entertaining,colorful,and offering a lot of authority to improve [a broadcaster’s] behavior.” garbage that you were not forced to think about.” In terms of regulating commercial television, the Council’s

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alleged politicization is not the only problem according to many. “Private television networks are [also] a strong lobby in parliament,”argues Václav Îák. Aside from its perceived lack of political independence, there are other problems that handicap the Council from effectively regulating television content. When in the past the Council has levied a fine on one of the television stations, a lengthy appeals process has usually transferred the regulatory powers from the Council to the courts. Both Nova and Prima have announced that they will appeal the most recent round of fines from the RRTV. According to Prima’s director of public relations Jan Svoboda, “Prima does not agree with the fines, so we will bring the matter to the courts.” Svoboda also defends the stations recent output “Whenever you are using a cutting edge approach, you will find these reactions.” As for TV Nova, Dvoﬁák responded via an email interview that “we consider fines issued by the RRTV to TV Nova in relation to the reality show Big Brother as absolutely rare and inadequate [sic: inappropriate].We will for sure make defense through court procedure.” Dvoﬁák further defended his station by claiming that “TV Nova strictly differentiates programs before and after 10 pm in order not to endanger the moral development of children and youth. Piquant [sic: explicit ] scenes are broadcast only during night shows.”

Nova, and Prima) were fined for airing a particularly violent Czech broadcasters can broadcast what they like, advertisement for the chocolate bar Fidorka. All stations were and remain unconcerned by the efforts charged with the same violations of the Broadcast Law, and all three appealed, as is standard policy. But only Nova won its of the RRTV to regulate them. appeal.To-date,Czech Television has already paid the fine,whilst Prima is appealing to a constitutional court, and only Nova has escaped the charges. Such uneven rulings arguably cast a shad- Meanwhile, Nova spokeswoman Veronika Smitková remains ow over the legitimacy of the entire process. equally determined to defeat the fines, telling the Czech CTK Despite such problems, Council member Václav Îák remains news agency “We have a number of assessments by psychologists optimistic about several steps that the Council has taken to saying that the (Big Brother) program is alright.” increase its regulatory abilities.One of these is the Council’s new In fact,it is common procedure for the networks to appeal each policy on fining networks for individual offenses. Another move and every fine. Further, the lengthy judicial process often works which may aid in regulation is that the Council will for the first in the broadcasters favor.For instance,in June of 1998,Nova aired time present expert opinions during appellate cases. Until now, a talk show about adolescent prostitutes whose title could be only the stations could present expert opinions, with Nova in roughly translated as “I make my living through my body.”The particular enlisting the testimony of well-known expert psychol- show was fined two million crowns by the RRTV for showing sex- ogists to bolster its cases - such as employing psychologists to ually inappropriate material during the afternoon, in violation of counter perceptions that exposure to sexual conduct corrupts Article 32. Nova appealed the fine. The appeal process then minors. dragged on until 2005, when the fine was dismissed. Such But the road to effective regulation remains an uphill climb for a process has led many critics to point out that Czech broadcast- the RRTV.“In cases when you switch society from state commu- ers can broadcast what they like, and remain unconcerned by the nism to a capitalist democratic context with the declaration of efforts of the RRTV to regulate them. When asked if the most freedom of expression and media, then it is very difficult to reg- recent fines levied on Nova and Prima—the largest fines ever ulate,”claims Jan Jirák.“To develop a position equivalent to the levied—would have any effect on Nova or Prima’s output,Václav American FCC, takes a lot of time.” Îák remained pessimistic “I’m afraid not, [they always] risk the fines because they think that they will win the appeal.” Another example of the fallibility of the appeals process can This article was written as part of The New Presence internship be seen in a case in which all four terrestrial stations (âT1,âT2, programme with New York University, Prague.

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SPOTLIGHT ON BULGARIA Fake Revolutions Democratic forces and a pro-European governments face tough challenges in today’s Bulgaria JORDAN VASILEV

During the end of the 1980s, Communist However the Emperor’s lack of clothes could not be concealed governments all across Eastern Europe forever and within less than a year, the government of Lukanov started to feel the heat from their own pop- was forced to resign, although far from unconditionally. Several ulaces. However, the euphoria of these revo- representatives from the opposition Union of Democratic Forces, lutionary times, often masked the attempts (including President Zhelju Zhelev, who had been elected from of several Communists governments, their ranks), entered into secret negotiations to form a coalition including that of Czechoslovakia, to imple- government. While the talks were underway, the “transformed” ment “fake revolutions” in which key hard- Communists successfully steered certain businesses towards liners were removed, but the one-party sys- bankruptcy, so that they could then purchase them for next-to- tem essentially remained. However, such nothing. Thus, this “coalition” government was in reality moves generally failed, with crowds booing designed to facilitate the mass theft of state property. Todor Zhivkov down the new Communist-approved “benevolent” leader. Old and new parties, new media In Bulgaria, as in other post-communist countries, the old Soon after, a rather unusual political party appeared in structures continue to remain. Just as in other countries, follow- Bulgaria. This party was called the Bulgarian Agrarian People’s ing the Bulgarian revolution, the Communists managed to take Union and it’s origins date back to the year 1899. Set up as control of and portion out vast chunks of state property amongst a movement which sought not to have a class-based character, themselves. That explains the why so many former prominent but rather to serve the interests of all rural citizens, this party officials and their families are millionaires, while much of the has been dogged throughout its history by perpetual infighting. general populace continues to live in poverty. Following World War I, the party was elected to power and In 1989 a series of protests about environmental issues soon remained in government for four years.It was eventually toppled turned into widespread demonstrations against the regime of in a bloody coup, and its leader and Premier of Bulgaria the Communist dictator Todor Zhivkov.The Communist party of Alexandr Stambolijski was brutally murdered.In 1931, the same Bulgaria panicked, and in a bid to remain in power, ousted the party was victorious in elections and went on to form a coalition dictator and installed Andrej Lukanov as head. Meanwhile, the with both the Democratic party and the National-Liberal Party. former politburo member Petr Mladenov became the new However, this party was once again toppled from power during President.This then,was the “fake”revolution.Curiously though, a depression-era fuelled coup on May 19th, 1934. these men were the main architects of the revolution, also sup- Following the Second World War, the party formed a coalition ported by the Defence minister Dobrim Dzurov, who controlled government with the Communists,who at the time were eager to the military. General Atanas Semerdziev, who controlled the claim that theirs was a government of more than one party. But militia and who quickly renamed it “the police,”also played a key soon, the Bulgarian Agrarian People’s Union became little more role. The so-called revolution was in effect a re-naming by the than a subsidiary of the Communist Party. Those within the authorities, in an attempt to convince the populace that a real party who did not agree with this new status, were either mur- revolution had indeed occurred. dered or sent to concentration camps. But the ploy failed, and a year later the old guard was swept After the November 1989 revolution the Party was re-estab- from power in Bulgaria’s first democratic elections for decades. lished. However, its characteristic squabbling and lack of direc- Its ultimate victors,rather surprisingly were the newly re-brand- tion also returned. Currently it has more than ten separate faced Bulgarian Socialist Party, comprised of the moderate wing of tions,though it is impossible to determine a more precise figure. the Communist Party.The official paper of the Communist Party One faction is allied with the Communists, the other is an ally of The Worker, also quickly renamed itself to The Word,(thus pla- the Right, the third an ally of the liberal centre etc. giarising the title of a publication by the same name, published Another important party is that of the Turkish minority, by one of Bulgaria’s national heroes, the anti-Ottoman revolu- which goes under the name of Movement for Rights and tionary Khristo Botev). The Socialists then headed straight to Freedoms, and which emerged soon after the revolution. church in a public candle-lighting ceremony,this despite the fact Following experiences in numerous coalition governments of that they had previously and consistently attacked and berated both the Right and Left varieties,this party is in fact,increasing- the institution. ly presenting itself as a national pan-Bulgarian party. In May

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1989,the regime of Todor Zhivkov expelled more than half a mil- Next came Petr Stojanov, the son of a democrat sent to a con- lion Bulgarian Turks from the country, but as Bulgarian nation- centration camp. Following Stojanov came the moderate als, they continue to vote in Bulgarian elections. However, many Communist Georgi Parvanov, who has served as the country’s more Turks remained in the country and continue to have President since 2002.Finally,Bulgaria has recently found itself in a notable voice in Bulgarian politics. the midst of a very unusual situation. The man who would have Many notable changes have also been witnessed within been the country’s tsar became its Prime Minister. Enthroned Bulgaria’s media. Numerous newspapers and television stations after the death of his father in 1943, Simeon Sakskoburggotski, have appeared since the fall of the Communist regime.The media or Simeon II, served as Prime Minister from 2001-2005. For appears to be able to largely act in a relatively free and independ- more than half a century prior, he had lived in exile, mainly in ent way. But after fifteen years of the post-regime experience, Spain - but he managed to maintain his familiarity of Bulgarian Bulgarians are also acutely aware of the emergence of what could and was embraced by many Bulgarians upon his return to the be described as “financial censorship” undertaken to protect the country. On August 17th, 2005, the young socialist Sergei business interests of,among others,Bulgaria’s many millionaires. Stanishev became the country’s new Prime Minister. The Bulgarian political process has experienced many ups and Different heads, same body downs in the last fifteen years. Democratic power and a pro- Another interesting phenomenon is Bulgaria’s many changes European governments are having to battle with the re-emer- of president. In 1990-91, the leader of the Union of Democratic gence of the Communists who are no longer tyrannical, but who Forces, Zhelju Zhelev was elected President. However, he chose still mask themselves as democratic. That is why political and General Semerdziev, a man closely tied to the Communist-era economic reform in Bulgaria is painfully slow. Additionally, the secret services, as his deputy President. It was Semerdziev, who former secret services for example, have nested themselves as the former head of the interior ministry managed, to super- deeply within all the structures of power,especially in economics. vise the prompt destruction of records listing those that had worked with the secret services. His appointment cast an imme- Jordan Vasilev is a literary historian and a former politician. He diate shadow over the presidency. was the first editor of Bulgaria’s right-leaning daily Demokracija.

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SPOTLIGHT ON BULGARIA Bulgaria’s Journey VLADIMÍR K¤ÍÎ

Russia’s shadow Beginning in the late 1940s, Soviet Stalinism led to, amongst Unlike Poland, Hungary and East Germany, a positive rela- other things, the “cleansing” of the artistic community. Before tionship with Russia was crucial for both Bulgaria and long,only state-commissioned art was deemed acceptable.A cer- Czechoslovakia. Bulgaria’s occupation by the Turks (1396- tain attempt to enliven the scene with art reflecting personal 1878) eventually gave rise to the widespread belief that libera- experiences came with the so-called “April generation” (which tion would only come at the hands of the Russian military. In consisted of authors born in the 1940s who were in their teens at 1878, this finally happened, following Russia’s declaration of the time of the great April “thaw” of 1956. - Ed.). However, war on the Ottoman Empire in 1877 (the liberation of Bulgaria Communist manipulation was growing, and the instruments of was also achieved with the sizeable assistance of Romanian collaboration and obedience were threatening the integrity of troops –Ed.) At the time, Russia was the only major European many of these artists. Political, material and social advantages power whose political aims included the defeat of the Ottoman were offered as rewards for towing the line.For example,Zhivkov Empire. It was seeking to gain land and strategic and political liked to invite artists to his many residences as well as to hunting power from the Turks, but with little regard to the needs of the trips. “liberated” countries. During WWI,Bulgaria sided with Germany,and therefore also Muffled protests its old enemy, the Ottoman Empire. In WWII, Bulgaria was Under Gustav Husák, president of Czechoslovakia and the forced to ally itself with Hitler’s Germany, being ultimately “lib- Communist Party in the 1970s and 1980s, the country went erated” by the Soviet Union. This led to the growth of an unfor- through a period of repression after the Prague Spring of 1968, tunate Bulgarian (and some might say Eastern European) char- known as Normalization, which among other things, meant acteristic – the inability to have a critical relationship towards a lifetime publishing ban for offenders of the regime. In con- a current ally, leading to blind subservience. This explains why trast, Bulgaria did not enact a lifetime ban and after a period of the many negative facts about Russia’s ambitions were excused obedience, one could lose the stigma (or prestige) associated in favour of the liberation myth. During the government of with having been seen as a threat to the party. For example, in Todor Zhivkov, the leader of Bulgaria from March 4, 1954 until 1965 the dissident Zhelju Zhelev (who eventually became the November 10, 1989, this primitive and pragmatic relationship country’s president between 1990-1997 –Ed.) was expelled from only grew,eventually causing the Russian model of Communism the party and forced to live outside the capital of Sofia, for pub- to be uncritically adopted in Bulgaria. lishing a dissertation critical of Leninism. However, after seven years of persecution, he was permitted to begin working for the Cultural-Scientific Institute.It was there that he wrote his crucial work Fascism, an analysis of the mechanisms of totalitarian power with deliberate parallels to the situations in Communist countries, which he managed to publish in 1982 and which was hastily pulped. Another person who spent a long time alternating between periods of being banned and being allowed to publish was the dissident author Radoj Ralin. The lyricist and author of satirical aphorisms, which were both printed and spread verbally, soon found that popular folklore made him the “hero of anecdotes.” One example: Radoj Ralin was supposed to go and visit the Ministry of Culture. He claimed that “I’m not afraid of the Minister of Culture, but rather the culture of the Minister”Though the joke may lose something in translation, such subtle humour was the key to undermining the Communists, who above all else, took themselves extremely seriously. At the same time, similar uncensored expressions of daily life still noticeably reflected the continued influence of Russia. Verses with a more obscene or “troublesome”political content as well as Soviet anecdotes were being circulated amongst ordinary Var na people – in universally understandable Russian.

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Meanwhile, the power of protest represented by Western folk and rock and roll music was virtually unknown in Bulgaria. Ownership of foreign rock music was limited to the elite youth of Communist apparatchiks from the “red”aristocracy.Thus,wider Bulgarian resistance was spontaneously anarchistic, rather than pacifist. Bulgaria’s young people – the kind that would fire mor- tars loaded with anti-regime leaflets into mayday parades- found it hard to understand the significance of Charter 77 (a statement by Czechoslovakia’s dissidents, regarding the Communist regimes failures to adhere to its own human rights agreements –Ed.), when they got hold of the Russian translation. Just how hard the road to freedom in Bulgaria was, is illustrated by the example Bulgaria’s noted dissident writer Georgi Markov (see article pg. 46 -Ed.).

Persecuting the Turks The national Library in Sofia, which was founded by the Czech In the mid 1970s, Zhivkov’s daughter Ljudmila entered the Josef Konstantin Jireãek, who also became the Bulgarian field of cultural politics. She managed to organise megalomani- Education minister during the 1880s ac projects, propagating Bulgarian culture at home as well as around the world.Surprisingly,she managed to make peace with Other players included the environmental organisation a series of Bulgarian figures in exile, contributing to the impres- Ekoglasnost and the Literary-Art club. All these groups created sion that the country was opening up towards Europe and the opportunities for presentations,exhibitions and public readings, wider world.But the winds of change did not come,and soon the and also served to facilitate the spread of various reading mate- air in Bulgaria became very stale. In the Orwellian year of 1984, rials. For the first time, free and open discussions took place. an artificially propagated wave of nationalism led the Bulgarian Nuumerous samizdat, or unofficial printing presses sprouted politburo to initiate plans to callously liquidate the country’s up over the country.The first true Bulgarian samizdats began to Turkish minority,which comprised about ten percent of the pop- appear around 1988. Though the motivations for their creation ulation. differed, the trend towards an insistence on free expression Turks, as well as Muslim Roma, had long been singled out by became impossible to ignore.Sometimes,clever tactics had to be the authorities, being forced to assume Bulgarian names and to used. For example, the publication “Nine Poems”was kept going abandon their native cultural practices. The new wave of perse- by editor Kitril Kadijski’s decision to get the co-operation of and cution,which lasted several years,led to widespread internation- contributions from officially sanctioned authors. At the same al criticism. It also led to a mass exodus of the Turkish minority, time, an altogether more aggressive samizdat came into being, and to the emergence of terrorism. publishing works which had been hitherto banned by the In 1985, the Turkish National Liberation Movement, led by authorities. Ahmed Dogan, was born. When the secret and inhumane acts In early 1989, the first issue of the samizdat quarterly Glasu committed by the Bulgarian Communist government were later appeared. This was an independent literary magazine edited by fully revealed,it led many Bulgarians who had had little cause or Vladimir Levcev, the son of an “April Generation” poet. Another love for their Turkish compatriots to make open gestures of sol- significant publication was Most (Bridge),an almanac for exper- idarity to their counterparts. Suddenly, the notion of human imental poetry. These publications quickly grew in popularity – rights as an essential component of democracy was gaining and soon, young people in Sofia were seen in t-shirts labelled a foothold in Bulgaria. GlasMost. In June 1990, the first free elections since 1931 were held in Paper as a weapon Bulgaria. Suddenly, previously untouchable symbols of the By the 1980s, the unorthodox writer and poet Blaga regime were parodied for the first time. The building formerly Dimitrovova (the vice-president of Bulgaria from 1992-93) as housing of the central committee saw the red star on the roof well as Zhelju Zhelev had become recognised cultural personali- have its points cut off, and was opened to the public for several ties, similar to Czechoslovakia’s Václav Havel. Also contributing months. In the conference room under crystal chandeliers, the to the overall change in the political atmosphere were Soviet US film Sex, Lies and Videotape was being played. Though old leader Mikhael Gorbachev’s efforts to loosen the straightjacket of taboos had been swept away,the structures and spheres of influ- Communist rule. By January 1988, Bulgaria had formed ence of the old guard remained. Optimism soon turned to apa- a Committee for the Defence of Human Rights,and by the end of thy, with many hoping that the rotten institutions would some- the year there was also the formation of an official discussion how cleanse themselves. club for the support of Gorbachev’s Glasnost. In February 1989, Bulgaria’s first independent trade union Podkrepa (Support) was Vladimír KﬁíÏ is a specialist on Bulgarian affairs. He currently created, perhaps inspired by the Polish Solidarity movement. works at the Slavonic Centre at the Czech Academy of Sciences.

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SPOTLIGHT ON BULGARIA Czech Fervor in the Balkans Fifty years before the creation of Czechoslovakia, Czechs were already busy helping to build another country

RÒÎENA HAVRÁNKOVÁ

The Czech lands and Bulgaria never shared a common border. of which there were many in the Czech lands at the time. One But despite this,Czechs continue to be regarded by Bulgarians in person living through and closely following events in Bulgaria a particularly positive light.This has far less to do with the thou- was the editor of the well-known magazine Svûtozor Josef sands of Czech tourists who, even throughout the Communist Konstantin Jireãek. In 1876, the year of the Bulgarian uprising, era, vacationed at the country’s numerous Black Sea resorts. Jireãek also published the book The History of Bulgaria in Czech Czechs have actually been playing a role in Bulgarian society for and German, which was lauded as the first in-depth look at this more than a century. subject. For five hundred years, Bulgaria was a part of the Ottoman Jireãek was known by almost everyone,including schoolchild- Empire. The result of this was a gradual distancing from ren. Though he worked in Bulgaria for only four years (between European economic, cultural, and developmental influences. 1880-84) his efforts to improve education – more often than not However, as did other European nations, 19th century Bulgaria rebuilding it from scratch, left a permanent footprint in the wet also experienced a strong national liberation movement, the cement of the nation. He also founded a university in Sofia, led effects of which were felt in the heart of Europe.After a series of the Sofia based National Library, and exerted great influence on anti-Turkish revolts, a new Bulgarian state finally came into the nation’s Literary Association, which later gave birth to the being. Initially, it was divided into the Principality of Bulgaria Bulgarian Science Academy. For two years, he even became the and the autonomous region of Eastern Rumelia, but in 1885 the Bulgarian Education Minister. two regions united, and modern Bulgaria was born. But Jireãek was by no means alone. A Czech teacher could be These events were followed with great interest in the Czech found in almost every larger high school. Larger and more lands.As fellow Slavs, the heightened period of nationalistic sen- notable groups of teachers were primarily found in Sofia and the timent brought about a great sense of sympathy with the city of Plovdiv. In those years, textbooks and teaching aids were Bulgarian achievement. At the same time, many Czechs were almost non-existent, and so very often Czech teachers would experiencing a growing sense of frustration with official translate Czech or German materials,or simply create them from Bohemian passivity towards the leadership of the Austrian scratch. They also concentrated on their own specialized proj- Empire (of which the Czech lands were part of until 1918 -Ed.). ects. Several names bear particular mention. Jireãek’s own The Czech press,especially that which represented the young,was cousins Karl and Hermengild ·korpil from Eastern Czech town particularly strong in voicing these sentiments. Money collec- of Vysoké M˘to also came and worked as teachers in various tions, cultural events and even boot-camps in support of the Bulgarian towns. Hermengild, the older of the two, was particu- Bulgarian rebels began springing up across Bohemia, officially larly interested in geology, and undertook a detailed study of under the guise of helping the wounded, for they would not have Bulgaria’s mineral potential,whilst also creating the first detailed been permitted by the authorities otherwise. Though the practi- map of the south of the country. He was also an excellent cal effects were limited,these gestures of brotherly solidarity were botanist, and his name is associated with several flora for which warmly appreciated. he prescribed new uses. Karl became even more famous as an In 1878, Bulgaria was at once liberated and created as an inde- archeologist.He undertook numerous studies of the ancient his- pendent state.Soon it became evident that the intelligentsia was ill- tory of the Bulgarian lands. He also established an archeological prepared to undertake the required political, administrative and museum in the town of Varna and spent many years overseeing economic changes. Czechs almost immediately came to Bulgaria’s its development.His name and his grave can be found in the cra- aid. Their assistance was also an opportunity for employment for dle of Bulgarian civilization, the town of Pliska (the capital of many Czechs, as at the time, there was a surplus of intelligentsia Bulgaria between 681 and 893 AD –Ed.). Czech emigrant Václav and specialists back home. The recent economic crisis that had Dobrusk˘ also built an archeological and environmental muse- occurred in the 1870s had only made this effect stronger. um in Sofia.Other notable mentions go to the philatelist Antonín This explains why, during the space of a few short years, so BroÏka and the mathematician Antonín ·ourek. many Czechs emigrated to Bulgaria. Many of these emigrants Czechs left large footprints in all aspects of Bulgarian culture,but already knew much about the country from Bulgarian students, none more so than in music and the crafts. We find them both in

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the Bulgarian philharmonic orchestra and the theatre. Numerous ment of trade unions) were in abundance in Bulgaria at the end groups, primarily of the Czech folk kind, played at various venues. of the 19th century. The Czech musicians Macák and Kauck˘ gained a significant fol- The vast number of Czechs as well their achievements also had lowing, with their particularly Czech repertoire. Czech émigré a wider impact.Czech citizens contributed to the overall transfor- Jindﬁich Wiesner was the first conductor of the Sofia opera. mation of Bulgarian society into a modern, more European vari- The exploits of the Czech artist Jan Václav Mrkviãka have been ety.The vast majority of Czechs that helped to build the modern well documented in the Czech Republic. It was he who founded Bulgarian state were not intellectuals or specialists, but rather and also led an art school known as Risuvalno, which gradually ordinary Czechs. They came from a country which at that time mutated into an architecture and design school, before ultimate- was seething at all levels. In the Czech lands, in towns, cities, and ly morphing into the Bulgarian Art Academy. Mrkviãka was an even villages, associations were being formed and debates were exceptional teacher and illustrator,but his main artistic legacy is raging about the prospects of statehood. Unlike the Nazis, or the the numerous huge canvases illustrating Bulgarian folk themes, Communists, the Hapsburgs largely permitted such activities. which he created during his stay. Today, these canvasses have Thus,Czechs became used to active participation and to the prin- become the centerpieces of the Academy’s collection. Also of ciples of democracy.When they interacted with Bulgarians, they high value are the paintings of the Czech artist Jaroslav Vû‰ína, helped to influence the political process there as well.In Sofia,the who worked in Bulgaria. Slavonic Association (Slavjanska Beseda) began flourishing in Besides teachers, lawyers and artists, by far the most numer- 1880. The Association not only organized balls and garden par- ous number of Czechs in Bulgaria were technicians, be they rail- ties, but also lectures and debates. It had a library, theatre and way, road or bridge engineers. Famous examples of Czech busi- restaurant. Thus, the Czech “invasion” of Bulgaria following its nessmen and entrepreneurs are also in evidence. The brothers independence in 1878 was a very special and notable phenome- Jiﬁí and Bohdan Pro‰kov owned a brewery in Sofia, as well as non, one which Czechs can continue to be proud of to this day. a restaurant and community center, which became one of the most frequented haunts of the period. Indeed, Czech brewers as RÛÏena Havránková is a historian and specializes in Bulgarian well as various laborers (who also played a role in the establish- affairs.

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SPOTLIGHT ON BULGARIA The Poison Umbrella For Bulgaria, the murder of its noted dissident writer Georgi Markov remains a sore spot YVETA KENETY

On September 7, 1978, the Bulgarian Markov entered the ranks of successful young Bulgarian writ- exile Georgi Markov felt a sharp stabbing ers in 1961,when his book Men was awarded a state prize.A year pain in his thigh, while walking along later, he became a member of the Bulgarian Writers Association, Waterloo bridge in London. He gave it lit- and thus became a state-approved writer. He was also a keen tle thought, and continued on his way to playwright. Georgi Markov the BBC World Service building. Several Thanks to his literary success, in the middle of the 1960s, hours later, he noticed a small wound, Markov became a prominent figure, one close to the head-of- similar to that which might be caused by an insect bite.He sud- state Todur Zhivkov (1911-1998). In 1967, whilst on a visit to denly remembered a dark-skinned man with a foreign accent, Prague, Markov found himself attending a stormy session of the who immediately after Markov felt the stab in his thigh, apolo- Fourth Czechoslovakian Writer’s Conference. Not only did he gized,lifted up his umbrella and hailed a taxi.By evening,Markov lend his support to the writers (who were benefiting from a loos- had developed a serious fever. He was taken to hospital and after ening of restrictions and a re-emergence of free speech and three days in which doctors scratched their heads as to what had openly questioning the current totalitarian system), but he even afflicted the Bulgarian dissident,Markov died suddenly of kidney considered moving to Czechoslovakia. In one of his essays, writ- failure. Soon after, the British police service, Scotland Yard ten as part of his so-called Czech Cycle, he wrote:“In the middle announced that the cause of death was ricin poisoning. of the winter, which Dubãek changed into spring, a few of us brothers from the literary world requested to be able to move to Let’s Be Czech! this country. We had believed that it was the most attractive Georgi Markov was born on March 1, 1929 near Sofia. country in which to spend ones life. Something spectacular had Following studies in industrial chemistry, he worked for several happened there.We didn’t speak Czech very well, but we wanted years as the head of an industrial factory. However, a bout with to be there at the centre of events.And we didn’t really even know tuberculosis put him out of action, and thus he decided to pur- what we wanted to do in Czechoslovakia, but we just wanted to sue writing. be there.We didn’t really intend to change our nationality,but on His works coincided with the thaw in the late 1950s and early the other hand, we told ourselves “let’s be Czech!” 1960s,which occurred after the official condemnation of the cult One of Markov’s essays, written around the time, contains the of the personality that existed throughout the reign of Josef first-ever review of Václav Havel’s play Audience. In fact, Stalin in the Soviet Union. This loosening of communist restric- Markov’s writings dedicated to the Prague Spring constituted the tions and the ensuing cultural flourishing within the Eastern only known systematic and widely distributed open condemna- bloc lasted until the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Soviet forces tion of the Soviet Invasion within Bulgaria.After the invasion of in 1968. the Warsaw Pact forces, Markov was forced to change his plans.

The “Markov umbrella”

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As a prominent writer within the Communist structure, he was becoming increasingly uncomfortable for the regime.Eventually, the authorities decided that the term “Czech” was an insulting one. Indeed, one of Markov’s plays, which was labelled as being “Czech” was pulled after its opening night. Other Markov plays were to suffer the same fate. In June 1969, with the situation worsening, Markov fled Bulgaria.The following year, when he realised that the Bulgarian authorities were doing all they could to prevent his return, Markov decided to remain in exile indefinitely.

Long-distance reporting In 1975, Markov began working for the Bulgarian section of Radio Free Europe, which then resided in Munich, Germany. During the same year, he also began writing a fateful book of essays entitled Long-distance Reporting about Bulgaria,which he finished shortly before his death. Between November 1977 and Waterloo bridge in London January 1978, he broadcast regular reports about the aristocrat- ic lifestyle of the Bulgarian dictator and also about the state of ious concealed device. Deep within the KGB’s laboratories, an the Bulgarian intelligentsia. ordinary umbrella was transformed into a deadly weapon.A spe- The Bulgarian regime soon became nervous and fearful of cial device was built into the umbrella, which would at close Markov,knowing full well that millions of Bulgarians were listen- range propel a capsule of deadly poison into its victim. ing to his broadcasts.Zhivkov remained very well informed about the content of Markov’s broadcasts, getting regular reports from Bulgarian blocking the Bulgarian intelligence services. In December 1977, Zhivkov Markov’s death was not investigated in Bulgaria until the fall attended a conference of young Bulgarian writers in Sofia, where of the Communist regime. In Britain, there had been efforts to he used the word “dissident”for the first time and admitted to the find the killer, but they were limited by the lack of co-operation existence of this phenomenon in socialist countries. and obstruction of the Bulgarian authorities. Markov remained impressed by what he saw as the heroism Following the collapse of Zhivkov’s government, the situation and daring of the Czechoslovakian dissidents, which he felt was changed quickly. Bogdan Karajotov and Kosta Bogasevski, two lacking in his native Bulgaria. In one essay he wrote of Václav of the most experienced criminal investigators in the country, Havel: “A playwright without a theatre, a writer without a pub- began investigating the crime. Their first step was to enter the lisher,a citizen devoid of rights within his own country.Today he archives of the 6th division of the Secret Police (which had been works as a manual labourer in a brewery.I recently saw a photo- monitoring thousands of Bulgarian intellectuals).But no files on graph of him in which he was smiling, with ruffled hair and an Markov could be found- the Communists had destroyed them. equally ruffled moustache.It was as if he was saying,don’t worry, In early 1992, the only trial related Markov’s death took place. we will survive even this.”I had to ask myself “how many writers The defendant was General Vladimir Todorov, the former in Communist countries would allow themselves to become deputy to the head of the Bulgarian secret-service. Later that labourers in a brewery?” year, Todorov was sentenced to a mere fourteen months in prison, but solely for destroying the official documents. The former deputy to the Interior Minister, General Stojan Sanov, was The Bulgarian regime soon became nervous and also to stand trial, but shortly before the proceedings, he com- fearful of Markov, knowing full well that millions of mitted suicide. From the archives and from various testimonies it was clear Bulgarians were listening to his broadcasts. that the death of Markov was instigated by the BSB and approved by Zhivkov. At roughly the same time that Markov was fighting for his life in London, Zhivkov was celebrating his 67th birthday. Towards the end of 1977, the Bulgarian secret services made As the Bulgarian emigrant Vladimir Kostov noted in his book, the decision to silence Markov permanently.After evaluating the during this celebration, attended by all the key officials within situation, they decided to ask for the assistance of their far more the party, a certain figure approached the leader and whispered experienced superiors at the Soviet KGB.After an initial refusal, in his ear “We have just received a telegram from London. the organisation ultimately decided to reward what it viewed as Mission accomplished.” Speculation remains to this day, that the loyalty of its Bulgarian neighbour. After two unsuccessful Markov’s death may have been some sort of birthday present for attempts in Munich and in Sardinia, the death of the Bulgarian the dictator. dissident began haunting the Bulgarian and Soviet agents. However, Zhivkov denied any prior knowledge of Markov’s Perhaps out of desperation, they finally decided to use an ingen- murder right up to his death in 1998. In March 1991, he gave an

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SPOTLIGHT ON BULGARIA Photo: archive

Bush House, London - headquarters of the BBC World Service

interview to Radio Free Europe in which he not only categorical- to announce that he was going to vote against Bulgaria’s entry ly denied knowledge of the murder, but also claimed the whole into the EU, unless the case was adequately investigated. affair was a propaganda campaign against himself and the Even though Georgi Markov was a symbol of the resistance to Communist party. the Communist regime, until 2005, no major study of his life, Despite the aforementioned suspicions and the efforts of the work, and mysterious death existed. The breakthrough came investigators, the case was officially closed in October 1998 due to with a book written by Christov, who in June 2005, after decades a lack of evidence. Finding the perpetrators is now up to individ- of research, published a detailed account of Markov’s life and ual citizens and the media.One person who is working on bringing death under the title Kill the Tramp – “tramp”was the code-word the culprits to justice is the journalist Christo Christov, who has used by the Bulgarian intelligence services for Markov. been following the Markov case for years. Thanks to meticulous The fact that Markov’s death continues to unnerve many to scanning of the archives,he claims that the murderer was an Italian this day is evidenced by the fact that Christov was forced to hide of Danish descent known as Francesco Giullino. Apparently, copies of his manuscript in numerous locations, because during Giullino was hired by the Bulgarian secret services in the 1970s, his research, his property was burgled several times. The full after being arrested for drug-smuggling at the Bulgarian border.He import of his book was dissected by the world press within then agreed to become a covert operative of the Bulgarian secret a month of its publication, and because of this, Bulgaria for services, doing various dirty jobs, including the murder of Markov a time became front page news across the world. in London. Giullino’s whereabouts remain unknown. According to Christov, the Bulgarian state never admitted Bulgarian reformers are often criticised for doing far too little responsibility for Markov’s death, nor did it react to the book, to resolve this case. The British writer and politician Lord despite the fact that it finally bestowed him with its highest hon- Nicholas William Betel, a member of both the British and our, the Stara Planina, in 2000. European parliaments, has lobbied for many years for an ade- quate investigation of the murder.In 2000,he even went so far as Yveta Kenety is a specialist in Bulgarian matters

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SPOTLIGHT ON BULGARIA From Balkan to Brother? Next year will be critical for Bulgaria and for Bulgarian history

LUBO· PALATA

The fact that Bulgaria will within the next few years become admission delayed by up to a year.The biggest problems that are a member of the European Union and is today part of NATO, is hampering the country’s prospects are high levels of corrup- nothing less than a minor miracle. tion, a dysfunctional judiciary, and the resulting weakness of Tourists visiting the long beaches that dot the Black Sea may the rule of law. not have realised it, but for more than a decade Bulgaria was lit- Bulgaria is nevertheless at its strongest in the last fifteen years. erally a state bordering a war-zone. With the break-up of Simeon II’s former government may not have achieved all the Yugoslavia, Bulgaria lost its major economic partner and at the goals of his populist programme entitled 800 Days, but despite same time, found itself at the heart of an unstable region. The this, his government could be said to have been largely success- next blow to Bulgaria was the falling apart and economic col- ful.During his four year premiership,two billion dollars worth of lapse of the former Soviet Union, since Bulgaria was tied to investment came into the country, the economy grew at a rate of Moscow far more closely than to the economies of Eastern 5.6%, inflation fell to single figures, and unemployment fell to Europe. 12%. Bulgaria also became a member of NATO, and completed The June 2005 elections brought about surprising result. The entry negotiations to join the EU. people re-elected the former Communist Party to power The reason why the former Tsar was ultimately unsuccessful (renamed the Socialist Party), this time led by the thirty-some- in his attempts at re-election may be attributable to several thing Sergej Stanishev,giving them 31% of the vote. However,the other key indicators: the average monthly pay is still a woefully Socialists were still unable to form a government. Next in line low 150 Euros, and living standards have failed to rise in the with 20% of the vote was the National Movement for Simeon II ways promised by Simeon II’s government. The common hope (NMSII), led by the former Tsar and Prime Minister of Bulgaria, is, that the new government of Sergej Stanishev will focus its Simeon Borisov Sakskoburggotski.The Movement for Rights and efforts on these problems and build on the successes of the for- Freedoms (DPS) which represents the Turkish minority,garnered mer government. almost 13% of the vote, reflecting a strong level of organisation The thirty-nine year old Stanihsev,who belongs to the “golden within the party,particularly when one considers that Turks only youth”of the former Communist nomenclature, is in many ways make up 9.4% of the population.An unpleasant surprise was that well prepared for his new role as premier. He was educated in the extremist Right-wing party “Attack” garnered more than 8% Sofia, Moscow and also London. A former journalist, Stanishev of the vote. This was widely attributed by many as a protest vote was partially responsible for the former Communists’ support- against mainstream politics. ing the country’s entry into NATO.As a member of the Bulgarian From the outset, NDSII insisted that Simeon II remain as pre- elite,he knows all the key players including those on the “Kingly” mier, even in the new coalition government. Stanishev tried to right. These facts arguably put the new premier in a good posi- form his cabinet with only the Turkish Movement for Rights and tion to lead Bulgaria towards EU membership. Freedoms. With a majority of one, Stanishev got the necessary For Bulgaria, there is much at stake for this small country in votes to become premier,but his proposed cabinet failed to pass. the next year.After the breakdown of the constitution ratification Further negotiations ensued, after which Stanishev, after three process in the EU,there is a growing mood within the EU against attempts, finally achieved his goal and formed a government. further expansion. A delay of one year, which threatens both The long post-election negotiations resulted in the first left-right Bulgaria and Romania should they fail to implement the criteria coalition in the history of a democratic Bulgaria. Also included required by the EU, could easily become a far greater stumbling were representatives from the strong and vocal Turkish minori- block towards full membership. Though the EU may well have ty. It was, as many Bulgarians saw it, about time, since Brussels doubts as to whether Turkey should be admitted into the was keeping a close eye on events in the country. European fold, the Balkans are unquestionably a part of its own The main goal of the new cabinet is to prepare Bulgaria for neighbourhood. entry into the European Union, which should occur on January 1, 2007. Despite the fact that Bulgaria leads over its entry partner Romania in almost all evaluations, even Sofia has been pre- Lubo‰ Palata is a journalist with the Czech newspaper Lidové sented with the possibility that, like Romania, it may have its Noviny

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CULTURE American Ex-Pats Come Of-Age KATE SCHMIER

Prague during the so-called “Wild ’90s” – a time when many young Westerners viewed the newly created democracies of central Europe as frontiers of infinite possibilities. Although no official statistics exist, approximately ten to thirty thousand Photo: archive Americans resided in Prague at the time.However,as the 90s came to an end,most of the “generation ex-pat”– as Rick Bruner,former editor of Budapest’s English language newspaper Budapest Week, dubs them – grew up and went home. Last year, the Czech Statistical Office estimated that a mere 2,107 were living in Prague. Yet some of the lingerers,like Luis,continue to seek an ex- pat community that may be impossible to form or even find. Father William Faix of St. Thomas Church, who has lived in Prague since 1995,and who serves as the de-facto religious head of the ex-pat community, notes that “It’s very hard to get the ex- pats together.”He suggests that many expatriates are simply too overwhelmed by the pressures of everyday life to participate in extra-curricular activities: “It’s so energy-consuming just being here, in a foreign country.” Michael Rainey, who moved to Prague in 1991 and created GRN, a recruitment company for foreign businessmen, feels that there’s also less of an incentive to socialize with other Americans than there was in the early to mid-90s.“A community is created by hardship,”he says.“But now, there’s an ease of life. The lines have blurred between Czechs and Americans, and Prague has once again become a melting pot of cultures.” As they sit in their tiny, green wooden chairs sipping their tea “Things have changed, for the better,”comments Keith Jones, Karin and Luis Marques look as though they’ve stepped out of a documentary filmmaker and one of the first American stu- Alice in Wonderland. Every few minutes, they take turns getting dents to study abroad in Prague in 1991. “Back then, it was an up to check on their two young children,playing with toys on the intense experience. There was a major challenge of cultural carpeted area in the corner. It’s a routine the family has devel- translation and we were forced to sink or swim.” oped at the Klub K2 in Prague 10, a mother-child center Karin Father Faix also alludes to a deeper reason for the low turnout opened on September 1 2005. at American expatriate gatherings. “Those who have been here Karin, who is Czech, and Luis, an American architect who the longest now regard themselves as belonging to Czech socie- moved to Prague in 1993, thought that the parents and children ty,” he explains. “There’s little talk of returning to the States. haven would be the perfect place for a gathering they organized There’s also a tendency to be critical of America and American through Meetup.com, a website designed to bring together mul- foreign policy.” Indeed, some ex-pats appear eager to detach ticultural families.“We’re supposed to meet every month,”Karin themselves from their American roots. Deanna Bare‰ová, says of her MeetUp group,which has about fifty registered mem- a Californian who moved to Prague in 1993 and eventually mar- bers,“but the truth is we haven’t met once.”At 5 pm,an hour after ried a Czech man, shares this sentiment. “I was never an the get-together was supposed to begin, the Marques’ have the American patriot,so don’t think I can really be called an expatri- Klub K2 to themselves. ate,” she comments. For Bare‰ová, socializing with other “I was never part of an American ex-pat social circle when Americans has never been a major priority.Intent on integrating I arrived here,” Luis explains, somewhat disappointed at the into Czech culture,Bare‰ová admits she was disappointed to find turnout, “but when you have kids and you’re exposing them to so many Americans in Prague when she first arrived.“I sensed both languages, you’d like to meet people in a similar situation.” an American ex-pat community, but I didn’t want any part of it. Luis Marques was one of many young Americans who came to Bare‰ová also disapproved of the widely-publicized debauchery

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of other ex-pats during the 90s.“I had this image in my head of actually found many people here to be pro-war in Iraq,”she says. ‘the ugly Americans’ and I didn’t want to be one of them,”she “There may be a backlash against capitalism and cynicism comments. toward what the West represents, but it’s not extreme in Prague.” New York University in Prague academic advisor Leah Gaffen, Welch, who now lives in LA as an associate editor of Reason who has lived in Prague since 1993, echoes this feeling.“A lot of magazine, also feels that many expatriates’ attitudes did not Americans [in the 90s] didn’t really follow through on their change due to the current war. “People were making the same sort work, so Americans got a bad reputation.” This reputation, she of self-removing and self-elevating distinctions in 1990.” Welch remarks, was frustrating for those ex-pats who actually sought remembers a “paternalistic anxiety,” in which young Americans to make a difference. were breaking down Prague and recreating it in their own image. Many ex-pats speak about their early years in Prague with Attempts to “out-serious” or “out-native” one another became an nostalgia. “It was a special time, with no limits, an incredible expatriate tradition. Welch was “openly hostile”to the snobbery he optimism, and amazing energy,”Keith Jones recalls. “It felt like observed. “We were all trying to integrate with varying levels of a time period I’d heard about existing in other cities.”For Jones, gusto,”he admits, “but the exaltation of the self-immersion and daily life consisted of intensive work at FAMU (Czech film the clucking disapproval of anyone who would dare to speak school), where he studied film, followed by nights on the town. English in public or play music in the streets is what truly bugged.” “In those early days, the social strata were determined by going out.”he explains,“We’d go to state-owned pubs that would shut down around ten,and then,to a few clubs,like Borat,the D Club, or 007, in the center of the city. Everything was absurdly cheap, so raw experience was the currency.” In addition to a sense of openness and freedom, many expa- Photo: archive triates describe the excitement of witnessing the city’s post- Communist transition. When asked about his experiences, former ex-pat Matt Welch,recalls,“I was 21,and for the first time in my short sweet life, I actually felt like I was alive at a time when history was being made.”Along with five former colleagues from the University of California-Santa Barbara’s newspaper The Daily Nexus,Welch created Prognosis, Prague’s first English language publication. Due to financial problems and general disor- ganization, Prognosis folded in mid-1994, and Welch left the Czech Republic soon thereafter. Over a decade later, however, Welch remains proud of the paper’s accomplishments. “We Despite longings for the past, members of the “generation ex- [became] a go-to source for stories about the entire region’s pat” also express a pressing need to embrace the present. While reform,”he explains.“We’re probably the only publication in his- they are now reluctant to call themselves Americans in Prague, tory to do two cover stories on the civil war in Abkhazia they are happy to consider themselves Praguers in Prague. (autonomous republic within Georgia –Ed.). We also felt a duty “It’s not as exciting here as it once was,”Michael Rainey con- to cover Yugoslavia from the first shots in Slovenia,and later with fesses,“but there’s always rediscovered excitement. There’s still correspondents in Sarajevo, Zagreb, Tirana, and elsewhere.” so much energy. I feel that I am home.” Keith Jones agrees. Like Welch,Bare‰ová expresses pride in the work she did as an “Prague is more homogenized now and I no longer sense the lay- English teacher at Charles University. “The students were great ers of time interacting with each other. I’m still very happy to be and they got a kick out of me and my colleagues,”she recalls.“We here.” Like Rainey and Jones, Deanna Bare‰ová notes that “It’s felt like revolutionaries, shaping the future generation of this like with high school,”she says.“You’re nostalgic, but at a certain country.” point, you accept that that time in your life is over.” Bare‰ová and other ex-pats’eagerness to reminisce about their Though frustrated by their failure to form an expatriate social experiences as American ex-pats – and not as fully integrated group,Karin and Luis Marques agree that they would not want to members of Czech society – appears at odds with their adamant live anywhere else.Luis admits that the Czech Republic is still an stance that they were never part of an expatriate community.“My “immature democracy” in which political corruption is a major longstanding friendships in Prague are with Czechs, and not problem, but that he much prefers the Czech lifestyle to the Americans,”Keith Jones insists.“Plus,I went back to the States to American one.“Life in America is so intense,which breeds qual- finish my studies between ’94 and ’96,so I missed the peak years ity,but comes at the expense of family time,”he says, once again, when the greatest number of Americans came here.” looking at his children playing in the corner. “Here, I’m able to Father Faix suggests that recent anti-American sentiments, in able to teach part-time, write articles for a prestigious architec- part due to the Iraq War may have contributed to ex-pats’ desire tural magazine.And I don’t have to work twelve hours a day.” to break with their American past.“The war has become a major issue,”he comments.“Americans are viewed here as brash, loud, This article was written as part of The New Presence internship and bullying.”However, Leah Gaffen denies this assertion. “I’ve programme with New York University, Prague.

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CULTURE Getting Involved “Our current politicians are behaving like their Communist predecessors” claims documentary filmmaker Bﬁetislav Rychlík.

The documentary film director, scriptwriter, and journalist, Bﬁetislav Rychlík was born in 1958 in the town of Uherské Hradi‰tû.After dropping out of college,he worked as a farmer,before becoming a set-builder,stage-hand and eventually an actor in the local theatre scene. In 1982, he began playing and also directing at the legendary Hadivadlo in Brno. From the early 90s, he began working as a documentary filmmaker, and between 1997 and 2000 he worked as a script editor at Czech Television (âT). In 2001, R˘chlík found himself joining the striking staff of Czech Television, over perceived political pressure being exerted on the public station. After moving on from Czech Television,he began working on a number of independent documentary projects. His film One Year,which focused on the fortunes of seven elderly people in a small town, won one of the main prizes at the Krakow film festival, Poland. His latest film God’s Stone Quarry, chron- icling the lives of the inhabitants of the northern Czech Republic, won the Visegrad prize at the One World film Festival. Rychlík is also a regular contributor to the soon-to-be-defunct BBC Czech radio service, and also to the weekly paper Respekt. He currently lives in Brno with his wife and two daughters.

It appears that you feel a sense responsibility to this coun- Yet, something tells me that you having a hard time stick- try, and care about what happens in it. ing to that philosophy. I do wake up sometimes in the middle of the night feeling this Well, the story of this country is very complicated - it has lit- sense of responsibility. I think about a particular problem, and erally legislated irresponsibility as part of its basic structure.The tell myself “this is awful – somebody has to do something about entire Communist system was based around the total failure of this! We have to do something.”It’s an unhealthy way of living, responsibility. Under the normalisation era under (President) I know. Perhaps it’s better to subtly direct people’s attention Husák,people became part of the silent apathetic masses.And of towards certain things, rather than immediately organising course, once you are apathetic, then you can’t be responsible for a demonstration. Let the paid elites who are supposedly respon- anything and everyone heads towards moral bankruptcy. sible become responsible! Now that we’ve finally gotten rid of that system and live in a democracy,I don’t want to live my life apathetically,or cyni- cally, or as someone who evades conflict. Some conflicts, I believe, are unavoidably necessary. Getting involved is the least I can do.

Of course, if you weren’t so involved, perhaps you’d still be employed at Czech Television. But now as a self-employed person,with a wife and children do you not find life more difficult? It’s precisely because of the fact that I have children and because I want them to grow up in a democratic climate, that I occasionally have to go for it. It is surely more important that the society breathe freely and not feel frustration at its politicians who behave irresponsibly. mec û ej N ej

fi How do politicians behave irresponsibly? A certain style of politics has emerged here,which is in fact little more than an expression of the former communist mentality. Has anyone noticed how happy politicians are when they suc- Photo: Ondr ceed in suppressing something? To them, that is a genuine political victory. They are genuinely happy in their belief that they are In 2004, Bretislav Rychlik’s name featured prominently on a peti- cleverer than our citizens or our media. tion to expel civil servants with ties to the former communist They believe that we have no memory. Thus, they seem sur- regime. Last Fall, he stood at the head of a demonstration to force prised when people remember. But even this doesn’t shake our the resignation of the civil servant, Pavel Pfiibyl, who had allegedly politicians, specifically because they have no real long-term played a leading role in suppressing the 1989 anti-Communist rev- vision, since they live only for short-term gains. And in that olution that led to the collapse of the regime. However, after Pfiibyl’s sense,they are irresponsible towards the future of this country.It dismissal, Rychlik found himself having to testify before a commis- never occurs to them, that they should be setting an example for sion about having taken part in an illegal demonstration. their own children.

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Is it really as bad as that? our public servants. Their actions always have a symbolic reso- Our current politicians behave in exactly the same way as their nance throughout society.A lot depends on their actions, partic- communist predecessors – except that they do so within a dem- ularly when something new is emerging and when the founda- ocratic framework. It never occurs to them how dangerous this tion for a new society is being formed. is. They are opposed to an open society, to non-governmental I think the shift towards an irresponsible society happened organisations, to other political directions, and they laugh at around 1993 (with the ascent of Klaus’ ODS). That’s when things environmentalists. That is not a normal climate. They will take broke up and a new generation of cynics and political opportunists us all down a blind alley, and I won’t be surprised when some ascended to power, and people stopped overseeing what was going populist type of politician will come along and sweep them away. on so much.They started acting as if they could do as they pleased. These people came from a particular rim of society,and they start- Do you see this sense of irresponsibility as a sign of our ed to feel powerful. They not only failed to create a dialogue times, one which filters its way down on to our streets? between themselves and the electorate,but they also demonstrated I’ll give you agood example.Not long ago Iwas at abirthday their view of power by speeding along the motorways at double the celebration of a well-known friend of mine. As I looked around speed limit and generally breaking the law. Their behaviour set the me, I felt that there were many people there who had often norm for our society and most people didn’t have the power to demonstrated a sense of responsibility, who did not fear risking undermine this approach. Eventually the masses started to view their own freedom, safety and even health. It was a great meet- their aggressive behaviour as their own. ing. But on my way home, I started to become fearful. I asked myself “what if Martians came down and took a random seg- So is there hope for the younger generation? ment of people off the street? They’d think we were a nation of A generation is growing up in this country which is open and madmen and murderers.” is becoming aware of its responsibilities. It is truly fascinating to watch, and makes me very happy. Do you really believe that? I don’t want moralize, but I put a lot of it on the shoulders of Interview conducted by Irena JirkÛ

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CULTURE Tour d’ Europe A story of two wonderful, responsible, and sexy girls and about a very particular kind of death

Usually,it was the other way around.Usually,Hana would wait friends. How many years had it been? Fifteen? Either way, it had for Krist˘na. been long enough to warrant both of them being on opposite Hana looked through the door.Krist˘na was sitting by a small sides of the globe. table, wearing a black costume.She was remarkably cold consid- Everything remained as it always had been. Everything was ering that she had been sweating away during her Tour ‘d Europe. like it was right now. Everything would always be the same. Only these two girls know exactly what that meant. They sat down and ordered themselves a drink. Hana entered the room, and when Krist˘na noticed her, she Back in their student halls, they had once had a collection of stroked her dress and enthusiastically called out “Hi, Beefy,”to green wine bottles piled up so high, that they covered the whole which Hana replied “Hi,Antichrist.” side of one wall. Hana pondered for a while whether they really They smiled, studying each other from head to toe. They had could have drunk so many wines with such funny sounding been acquainted since the time that Europe was divided by the names. They could have. One night, Krist˘na decided to throw Berlin Wall but united by the songs of the Swedish group Europe. the bottles out of her window one by one onto the courtyard For a while, they had both slept with the same guy.He told Hana below. When Hana got home, she saw Krist˘na standing by the that he was a hockey player; Krist˘na that he was a footballer.In window with the last bottle in her hand. She was crying. Hana the end,it turned out that he was a long-distance runner.He was pulled her away from the window, and both of them ended up a bit disorientated. Hana had been feeling a bit disoriented for weeping together. the last few months as well. They lit a cigarette.The same way as they always did when one A shared dorm at university.Studying at the same faculty.The of them had screwed something up. same classes on Roman Law and Citizen’s Rights. The same “I thought you had stopped”said Hana.

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“Yeah,but I started up again” Once, they had both visited Pärnu in Estonia. He was appar- “When?” ently looking for clues about his grandmother. Towards the end “This morning.” of World War II, she had apparently been carried by history - as “Bad day?” well as her love for a particular German officer, and a fear of “Bad guy. Actually...no guy. Or should I say, no decent guy, to Stalin - from the Baltic to Lübeck, Germany.They didn’t manage be precise.” to find the family home in Pärnu, since in its place a Soviet Hana nodded. Nothing had changed in the last half a year. amusement park had sprouted up.So they ended up making love “What have you got there?” asked Hana, pointing at a piece of in the June night near a ghost ride. For a whole week, it became paper on the table. “Are you going shopping?” their new National Gallery. “It’s a list of required reading” Upon their return to Prague, Werner May befriended Hana’s “What? Are you repeating High school or something?” older brother,who because of his skill at making thick joints,had “That new guy wrote it for me. Look, he even wrote it alpha- acquired the nickname “Beefy.”Despite the fact that Hana was in betically.” no way fat, she also got saddled with this nickname and in the “That doctor from Finland?” end, no-one ever called her anything else. Werner May invited “No. The mathematician from Ireland. He said it would make Hana on a trek to the Alps.It sounded like a great idea.At least in him happy if I read these books, so that we could, you know, the beginning. understand each other better. The basics of physics, maths, Behind the window of the café, a tram went by,carrying the geometry...” sleepy people off to their panel apartments.This sight was the “So now you’re going to sit around reading all this math stuff?” only thing that Hana liked about the café– the trams would “I’m kind-of in the mood for numbers. But maybe different almost scrape by the windows. She poured herself a glass of numbers than he is.” wine.A small amount spilt on the table.She lit up another cig- Krist˘na leaned over, so that no-one would hear her. arette. “I don’t think he’s ever had sex before. I pulled these out in “Have you ever read Karl May?”Hana asked Krist˘na. front of him” “What, you want to give me a list of literature too, I suppose?” Krist˘na lifted up her skirt and showed Hana her suspenders. “Well, have you?” “And you know what he did? He asked me to bring some math “No” tables over from the kitchen. So I left.” “You never liked Vinnetou? Not even when you were ten?” “You should treasure that.There aren’t many guys in the world “That old hippie? Never.Why do you ask?” who won’t jump on a girl the minute she makes a move.” “Nothing, I was only asking...and how is the Tour d’Europe “But I wanted him to jump one me. Besides, all that stuff isn’t going anyway?” really me.You know I never really read much. I don’t care about “Apart from the Irish chapter,it’s going well.Scandinavia is out math! Besides,I read somewhere that people who read too much of the way, and Portugal is looking good.” are just substituting something that is missing from their lives. *** You read a lot, don’t you?” The name Tour d’Europe was thought up by Krist˘na several Hana nodded. “Wait a minute. You split up because of one months before the Czech Republic joined the European Union. failed attempt at sex?” Back then, the newspapers were full of talk of joining the conti- “No. I split up with him exactly an hour before we first had nent, and she was full of frustration about her relationships, sex.” *** Hana never said it out aloud,but she admired Krist˘na for one particular trait.She was quick,particularly in her passions.Hana didn’t know how to be quick.She had always been slow – both in her passions and in her dreams. Hana tried to be quick only once.His name was Werner May, and they had met in the National Gallery. They looked in each others eyes, and it ended up as a ten minute “hug” in the gallery toilet. For two months they would have regular meetings there. But then they were caught by a security guard and thrown off the premises. Even today, Hana still sighs sometimes as she remi- nisces about his earrings and grey ponytail. Since then, she’s never been quick. And she has stopped going to the National Gallery. But Werner May didn’t disappear from her life that easily. He claimed that he was a distant relative of a certain famous German writer, one who had never left Dresden but had nevertheless described the entire world.

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which would never seem to last longer than a few days.She tried ting somewhere with a guy, with three kids on my lap. In the to figure out what the problem was. But she would always come summer I would go to Croatia, in the winter to the Krkono‰ up with nothing, hysterics, and herself. So she decided to fight mountains and that it would be a boring, but satisfying, beauti- fire with fire. That’s how the Tour d’Europe was born. ful and peaceful life. I thought I would be responsible. Because She had all the requirements: beauty, speed, playfulness and responsibility is a boring kind of joy. And instead, look at me. impatience. Krist˘na’s surname was Artidisov after her Greek There’s isn’t a guy that I can last with for more than a week. No father. But when her birth certificate was being filled out, the kids. No Croatia.” nurse accidentally wrote down Antichrist, and the mistake was “But no boredom either.You went to Spain,didn’t you? With only spotted fifteen years later, when she was applying for her Mark.And Iceland too? With, what’s his name, Jack.” personal ID card. They changed her name, but “Antichrist” lived “Yeah.Jack the Ripper.He was really strange.All Icelanders are on – both as a nickname and as an attitude towards life. Unlike strange. And on top of that, this was an Icelandic-Japanese. One Hana, she was proud of her nickname. of only two that live there.He kept wanting to record us on video. Krist˘na went from one bed to the next.Willingly and wanton- And he kept wanting me to tidy up at home,wearing a school ly. And she wrote about her experiences in an ordinary school uniform.So I told myself ‘grrr...watch out,this could end up very exercise book,which she once showed Hana.In the place marked bad.’ Japanese are committing suicide live on television, you subject, she had even written “Geography”. She claimed that she know.” would publish it as a book one day, because as she saw it, it was “That Hungarian wanted to marry you, though didn’t he? And the kind of book that she herself would buy.“And I would read it the Brit, and the Pole.” from cover to cover” she exclaimed. “Yeah.At a certain point,they all want to marry you.But where Hana soon found out from Krist˘na why in Norway, when are they now? I’m asking you.Where are they now? With their old a woman is on top,it is called a White Bear.Why in Italy a 69 is girlfriend’s and wives.Where are all those great responsible guys called 666. Why Brits maintain their erections by looking at who are reckless only in bed? Where are the guys that want the posters of their football teams. She learned where the Belgians two of us?” hide their pralines and the Scots their Lochness monster. She “Yeah, well maybe they’re sitting somewhere, watching foot- learned all about the Polish miracle in Czestochov, and what the ball and stuffing themselves full of crisps.I hate guys that eat Swiss call the “Matterhorn”. crisps. Have you ever smelt garlic crisps on a guy’s fingers in the “I am in this by chance. I am a victim of my own name.”She morning? There’s nothing worse.” once observed.She may well have spread herself out across all of Werner May never ate crisps.He lived healthily.The only thing Europe, but for one nation, she had no room in her Geography was, that he put women to the test rather unhealthily. When it lesson – Germany. Neither Eastern, Western, Northern or looked serious with a particular girl, he would invite her for Southern. None at all. a trek in the mountains – the Alps, Tatras, the Pirin’s in Bulgaria, “With the Germans, I draw the line” Krist˘na once told Hana. it didn’t matter.What mattered was to see what the girl was made “I don’t go there.” of. For a week they would sweat away in the isolation of the As is often the case, such views have to do with childhood mountains. Hana’s legs almost turned to stone. But she with- experience,in this case,her first tragic love,Warnemünde. In her stood everything. The last test was a fast mountain descent. first attempt, Krist˘na had come across a guy who was faster Whichever girl survived that was his. The problem was, that not than she was.She had imagined the experience differently – cer- a single one managed it. Not even Hana. tainly not behind the toilet on a beach full of drunk Eastern *** Germans. “How did you even get the idea to call it Tour d’Europe?”Hana But thank goodness, Europe isn’t only Germany. Europe is asked Krist˘na.” never-ending. Hana poured herself some wine and nodded at “Because Idon’t know how to ride abike.” the waiter to bring her another drink, as the brightly lit number “Everyone can do that.” 22 tram screeched towards the bridge.Hana dreamt that instead “Maybe everyone can, but I can’t. I never learnt how. I have of the driver, there was a large dog in the cabin. For a long time, problems with my centre of gravity. I told myself that I have to she had been telling herself to drink less. And for a long time, try something else.You can’t sleep with a bike.” she had been telling herself that she should find someone to Hana and Krist˘na had a real problem with Czech guys. help her kill someone still lingering in her head - someone “Ninety percent of Czech guys are psychos,and the other ten per- called Werner May. cent want us as substitute mothers.”claimed Krist˘na. *** “Do you think that guys think that about us?” It was exactly a year since she had broken up with him, and “What, that we’re their mothers?” she still felt horror in the corner of her mind. She had tried to “No, that we’re psychopaths.” wash him out of her mind with a few confused quickies with “I don’t care. I would even tell the guy up front. Psychopath a married colleague at work. But nothing. sounds kind of sexy, don’t you think? Definitely more than hip- Werner May. She wanted to tell Krist˘na about him, but she pie. But Czech guys, unlike Danes or Brits are constantly playing had as usual, already overtaken her. at being something.If he could just say ‘Hi my name is John Prick “I always thought that by the time I was thirty, I would be sit- and I want to sleep with you.’ No. Instead they say, ‘I’m thirty

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three and I want a family. Can you cook?’ But in truth, the only text-book at his house that I’ve got. But instead of Geography it thing they are thinking about is whether they can get me into was called,‘Educating the masses’.” bed. I hate dishonesty, and I hate cooking, too.” “And was there something in there about me?” “Maybe we’re unfair.” “There was.Apparently you’re too fast and too irresponsible.” “I’m very fair. I give everyone a chance. But only one. The “And to think he also wanted to take you on a trek?” worst thing is, that usually the first two sentences I hear are “Yeah.But I told him flat out that I wasn’t going. What am I, enough for me.They’re usually the last two sentences that I want some sort of hippie? I don’t want to sleep in a tent.” to hear.But that doesn’t mean that Iwouldn’t want to have a beautiful petit la mort.” “Small death?” “Orgasm. La petite mort. You lived in France and don’t know what it is?” “Maybe it’s because I never had an orgasm in France.” “How long were you there for?” “Two semesters.” “And that seems normal to you?” Hana blushed a little. Now she kind of felt abnormal. In fact, she had been in France for three semesters. She went to school, and allowed herself to be swallowed by the atmosphere of Lyon and completely forgot about sex. “When I kind of think about it, I’d really feel like a grand mort” said Krist˘na “Or even a proper massacre.” *** *** Werner May. When Hana finally found out that he had been By the time they stepped out of the café, the city had been testing her in Bulgaria, she wanted to give him a slap. But covered by night.They took each other by the hands and crossed instead, she just got up and left. He screamed something in her the street. They stood on a bridge just as a boat full of tourists direction,but she didn’t listen.For a long time,she didn’t want to went by. admit that he was the first guy with which she had experienced “La petit mort!” Hana shouted out as a tram screeched by. In her little ‘large death’ - La petit mort. the cabin, instead of a driver was a large dog. She took her “I think I still love him” said Hana pouring herself another blocked mobile out of her handbag and decided that she didn’t drink. want to be disoriented any longer.It was time to find a new direc- “Who?” tion. To try a different speed. “Werner.” “Everything gets unblocked!”She exclaimed. Krist˘na spurted out her wine. “Fuck off Europe!”said Krist˘na as she threw her phone,exer- “What?” cise book,and even her reading list into the river below.She sud- “I still love him. I think I’m going to call him.” denly felt as if things were only just getting started. “Are you stupid or something?” A group of Japanese tourists began taking pictures. “No. Just in love.” “Do you really watch suicides on live TV?” asked Hana in Hana pulled out her mobile, and typed in her PIN. She got it English. wrong. She tried again, and got it wrong again. Hysterically, she “Beefy and Antichrist!”shouted Krist˘na. threw the phone into her handbag and started crying. Hana felt that she had never been so free. Krist˘na began to hug her. “Fuck off Werner May!”she shouted into the Japanese camera “He was an idiot and no good in bed.” lenses. Hana froze.“In bed? How would you know?” “Fuck off geography. Fuck off garlic Crisps.” Krist˘na also froze.She wanted to say something,but couldn’t. Hana and Krist˘na stepped up on to the railings and both held “I’m asking how you can know.” hands as they swung back and forth. “Because I slept with him.” Krist˘na hugged Hana. “What? But I’m your best friend.” The river flowed quietly beneath them. “It was after he split up with you...” The Japanese tourists thought they were kissing. “But Werner is a German.” But Krist˘na just shrugged her shoulders. Jaroslav Rudi‰ is a writer,musician and journalist.His debut novel “I’m sorry.” Heaven under Berlin won the Jiﬁí Orten prize. He is also the author “You think that’s enough?” of two comic novels (together with Jaromír 99) known as Alois “I’m really sorry, but he was half Estonian.” Nebel: Main Station and Alois Nebel: White River. Tour d’Europe “But I loved him.” was written exclusively for our sister paper Pﬁítomnost as part of “You know what was worst of all? I found the same kind of their issue examining at the subject of responsibility.

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THEN AND NOW Czechs in Iran

In this section, we reprint articles from our original sister publication that show how little things have changed.

From Pﬁítomnost vol. 35 no.29 19th June 1939 ic measures. Not long ago, an insulting comment in the French press brought about a nasty diplomatic conflict with that country. This year a large number of Czechs went off to find work in The participation of Czechs in the building of a new Iran has Iran. Meanwhile, the Czech press became interested in the fates been highly significant. The result of this long and hard work is of these people and began to publish numerous “letters from our the good name that Czechs have there.Today Czechs are influen- countrymen in Iran.” Sadly, the press appears not to be paying tial technical players in Iran. The events in Europe (the rise of sufficient attention to the content of these letters, happily Hitler’s Germany –Ed.) have also naturally been felt in this coun- reprinting anything it receives. Usually, these oversights are try.But so far, Czech companies have been able to maintain their inconsequential, and simply end up presenting the country in competitive abilities. But it is necessary to help us from back a none-too-pleasant light.A lack of familiarity with the different home too.It is also necessary to engage with the forms of impru- values of Iran, as well as the narrow perspectives of some of dence that might undercut this position. these letter writers, presents a false picture, one peppered with Here in Iran, they pay considerable attention to the foreign a great deal of romanticism. However, another press. Every comment is studied with great interest. It should aspect of these letters is far more serious - they therefore be easy to imagine the effects of such negative cover- are, albeit unwillingly, undermining of our busi- age - the kind, for example, that was recent- ness interests in the country. ly published by a leading Prague-based Iran is a country which is catching up with newspaper. What kind of sympathies did the West by leaps and bounds. It wasn’t long Iranian officials afford us when they ago that the current leader of Iran (Reza Shah found out that their famous railway,whose Pahlavi - Ed.) trampled out the former rotten completion resulted in best wishes being and antiquated system with new sparks of sent by various European nations, suddenly progress and civilisation. He carved out had “considerable deficiencies”? Surely this a new way for his people and freed a gener- is not the behaviour of a guest, even when ation from the reactionary clenches and one does see certain deficiencies. overt influences of religion. He re-awoke It is clear that after such ill-informed out- patriotism, gave the people schools and bursts, the Iranian decision makers are not intelligentsia educated at the finest going to have particularly warm feelings to European universities. He established Czech companies operating here.When they read local universities. He implemented ever romanticised accounts about how they all travel more bold reforms,which are bringing this country ever clos- around on camels in other equally ill-informed er to the West.It is an achievement which is almost unparalleled. journals, then all that remains for them to do is to He created industry and an army, which he armed with mod- shake their heads in disgust. Let us not forget that this is a coun- ern weaponry. He established order and security in the country. try where most people travel around in good quality cars, and New factories and new roads crossing the greatest of deserts where there is a decent bus network. Forget the camels. Let’s talk were built,and farming methods improved.He tore down the old about the railways, planes and airports. Iran is giving priority to city with its uneven alleyways and illness and built a new Tehran news about progress, about the ability to process 65,000 tonnes of full of wide asphalt roads.He created a functioning state appara- wheat with the most modern machines – which were built by us tus. He cleansed the country of foreign political influences. His Czechs. It is focusing on the roads, sugar factories and other proj- dream is to make Tehran the Paris of the orient.Today,Iran plays ects which Czechs have all helped to create. a significant role in the politics of the Middle East. To this end it It is certainly important to learn about the activities going on implemented a plan to create the first railway connecting the in other countries. But one should take greater care when select- Caspian and Persian seas. It was a difficult feat, but today trains ing what to print.It is important to aim further than to entertain are riding on this very track. one’s readers.Every responsible editor has to consider the conse- A natural result of these major changes is that its people have quences of each word that he or she chooses to print. It is started to view their country as a renewed nation.The reactions to a shame that the damage here has already been done. all of the unkind sentiments in the international press have been very strong, and have resulted in various sanctions and diplomat- Engineer H.K. Lanna, B.P.44 Tehran

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LETTER FROM… Latvia

Dear Friends,

Latvia is literally made out of wood. The country is covered ulation remains on bad terms with their neighbors to this day. with forests that stretch into the distance,whilst its towns are full Tension between Latvians and the many ethnic Russians (gen- of old rustic wooden houses. erally descendents of the original, Soviet-encouraged settlers) Latvia is a country of 63,400 square kilometers, almost the in the country is palpable. Many Latvians feel that the Russians size of Ireland,with a population of only 2.3 million. This means have an undeserved sense of entitlement. It doesn’t help that very few people in a lot of space. It’s also on the edge of the EU, a large segment of the minority population doesn’t speak so the pace and speed of modern Europe slows when you get Latvian. Additionally, say the natives, the Russian population here. Much of Latvia is rural or small village, and the country has little or no interest in the history and traditions of their feels quiet, unhurried and generally happy just to be there. adopted country. Our first experience of the country is in a village called Rucava, This is particularly apparent in the suburbs of Riga, the capi- just over the border with Lithuania. Turning off the highway, we tal. In the kilometers of high-rise communist apartment blocks, drive down a road canopied over several kilometers by trees. ethnic Russians and Latvians live separate lives and seldom mix. Though marked on the map as The average Riga pub is a town,Rucava is really just patronized by either Russians acollection ofhalfadozen or or Latvians, rarely both. so wooden houses and a small Outside of this uncomfort- “cultural center,”which proba- able ethnic blend, Riga is in bly once formed the social hub many ways typical of Latvia. of the town. Even though it’s the capital Our first real destination is and home to about a third of Jurmalciems (yes, it took me the country’s population, it a few days to learn how to pro- still feels like a small place. nounce that). Hugging the The celebrated medieval dis- coast of the Baltic Sea, trict, Old Riga, is a cozy little Jurmalciems is basically oval squeezed between the a small collection of wooden Daugava River and the river’s pensions for holidaymakers. canal (once upon a time, the Our rooms are just over the dunes from the sea,convenient for the city’s moat). The district’s winding, cobblestone, medieval only one out of six of us who wanted to get in an early morning streets - similar to Prague’s - can easily be walked through and swim. The stragglers, including me, barely make it to breakfast, experienced in half a day. And that includes generous breaks hitting the water closer to noon. for food and some of the country’s good beer. After Jurmalciems, we drive along the coast on what the Riga is as big as it gets in Latvia.Most of our trip,though,is in Latvians call a highway, which is really just a four-lane road and through the small, quiet parts that make up so much of the sparsely occupied by cars. This sleepy thoroughfare takes us to country. We take a multi-day canoe ride down the Abava River, Liepaja, Latvia’s biggest city. But even here, the predominance of and for most of the trip we do not encounter another human wood is striking. Trees frame the highway, and buildings made being. The river is still and quiet, with a thick, unspoiled forest out of them form much of the historical center of the city.“City”, reaching almost to its banks. We stop and settle down for the in this case,is a loose term.Liepaja feels more like a sunny,pleas- night at several campsites along the way, basically clearings in ant suburban neighborhood with a few people loping around, the forest with fire pits and the occasional bench or table. The than a significant population center. furniture, naturally, is roughly cut from local trees. Coastal Latvia has a few notable remnants from the bad old It is in these sites that we see the only structures we would days of Soviet domination. Placed strategically at certain points encounter in the Latvian countryside. These are outdoor toilets, on many beaches are the tall, rusting skeletons of old Warsaw simple little booths set back from the river for a little privacy Pact watchtowers. The country’s former dominators were evi- and hygiene. And the material they are constructed from? dently worried that enterprising and energetic Latvians would Wood, of course. attempt to boat their way to freedom across the sea to Sweden. The Russians kept a heavy boot on Latvia,and the native pop- Eric Volkman

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PARTING SHOTS

William and Democracy then I am making you prelate of the About seven years ago, I attended the annual 4th of July gar- entire parish. Now go down there and den party at the residence of the US Ambassador in Prague. fix it.”It didn’t take William very long. During the party,a friend rushed up to me with a priest in tow – Today, Father Faix’s Sunday masses – the friend was on his way out but the priest wanted to stay and both in Czech and in English – are have some desert. Since the priest and I were both native New standing room only. His sermons are Yorkers, we began to converse, convinced that we would find becoming legendary.When Iran into much common ground. We did. Vlk at a recent event and mentioned After reminiscing over some mutual NYC haunts, Father William,he paused and said “You know, William Faix told me about his seventeen years of service as an he’s one of the best priests I ever met.” Augustinian in Poland and of his subsequent transfer to St. Sometimes I play the organ for high mass at St. Thomas. Thomas’ Church on Prague’s Malá Strana. He spoke of the shock I look down and see my father, sitting in his wheelchair in the of leaving a country where the priest is akin to God himself, to middle of the aisle, just before he died. I see my grandfather arriving in the most atheistic nation in Europe. His dry humor Jaroslav - who in 1948 as Minister of Education was barred by only partially masked his disappointment. the Communists from communicating with the Church - sitting About a month later,he called me up,sounding unusually agi- in the front pew and nodding to the Cardinal as a signal to close tated. “The Cardinal wants to see me. [Pause]. What should the schools for a Catholic holiday, which the Communists did I do?” “Well, go of course….oh, and let me know what he said.” not want. I recall father Vít, who knew five generations of my Two days later, he called again and told me how he was escorted family at St. Thomas, recalling how, as a priest-in-training, he through the long corridors of the Archbishop’s palace to a big would open the back door for my great-grandfather Adolf to go room in the middle of which was a tiny desk. Sitting in a red upstairs for a “little drink” with the prelate. I see William hold- chair behind the desk was Cardinal Vlk. The Cardinal apparent- ing a small infant during baptism at mass and exclaiming “meet ly had an issue of our sister magazine Pﬁítomnost rolled up in the newest member of our family!”and then showing that child one hand, and was gently striking it into the palm of the other. to each and every person in the church, so that they could touch The magazine, carried a rather critical piece on the cloistered it. I see my son Filip as an altarboy, his hands shaking with mentality of the Catholic Church and had made its way to the nerves, pouring the water into a gold chalice held by William, Cardinal via his friend at the Strahov monastery, who in turn, which also shakes due to the priest’s advanced years. What had gotten it from William. He asked if there was any truth to a racket they made. The church may have ceased playing a role the rumors that William was busying himself with all sorts of within the Czech state long ago, but as an institution it is surely strange initiatives, such as starting church meetings for unwed making a quiet comeback. Democracy can only exist against a mothers, etc.. William nodded. Vlk continued “We in the background of established faith. Catholic Church have had problems with the Malá Strana parish for the past seven hundred years...If you think you are so smart, Martin Jan Stránsk˘

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60 THE NEW PRESENCE