HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.slovak-l
Date:         Thu, 17 Dec 1992 16:46:22 PST
From:         lhdsy1!HOVMB.HOU281.CHEVRON.COM!TKMARC@UUNET.UU.NET
Subject:      Peoples' Republics

> It is not Berkeley but the City of Santa Monica known as the People's
> Republic of Santa Monica.  CBS's program "Sixty Minutes" even featured it as
> that a couple of years ago.
> Connie Horak, University of Southern California

Actually, we have a few Peoples' Republics here in the US; Santa Cruz
is also known as such...

--Kamil Marcinka (Internet address: tkmarc@hovmb.ion.chevron.com)
From: ljh655@cscgpo.anu.edu.au (Lubosh)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.slovak-l
Subject: RE: Czech and Slovak Embassies
Date: 21 Dec 92 02:35:41 GMT
Organization: ANU
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In article <SLOVAK-L%92121619504076@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU> ,
HAMMERL@UCS.INDIANA.EDU writes:
>  I have learned that one of the regular and most learned contributors
>to our mailing lists here, Jan  Szelepsenyi of Bratislava, has been
>appointed the ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Turkey.
Am I going to conclude that there already are different ambassadors in
Turkey for the Czech Republic and for the Slovak Republic ? As far as I
know the current ambassador of the CSFR to Australia is staying until the
end of June until when the conduct of foreign affairs will be finally
resolved. And when I look at the figures just here in Australia it's
going to cost a lot of money...
I'd appreciate if somebody knows more...
Lubosh
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Date:         Wed, 16 Dec 1992 13:21:53 -0700
From:         POOK@ZENO.MSC.COLORADO.EDU
Subject:      Re: Exchange rates

In response to Patrick Muzila's comments, I just finished a study of
Hungarian wage rates.  While there is a variation between industries
and some within, ofcourse, overall Hungarian wage rates are about a tenth
of comparable industry wage rates in Western Europe (GB, France, Germany).

Hungary experienced about a 30-40 % annual inflation over the past 3 years.

Not as severe as originally expected.  The relative ease with which Hungary
has been converting to market economy is probably the result of a steady
change over the past 10 years.  This is where the term "gulyas communism"came
 from I believe.

Many industries in Hungary can use wage increases if Hungarians are intent
on keeping the expertise in the country: medical field, teachers, researchers,
software developers are just a few.

The saving grace in Hungary is the influx of foreign capital and with it
higher wages.  The down side is that much of the foreign capital has been
going into small businesses (capitalization of $1M or less).  Few exceptions
do exist though do not predominate: Ganz, Csepel bycicle.

We noticed an anual average growth rate of joint ventures in Hungary
 excelerating.  Certanly a good sign.

Greetings,
Laci Pook
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Original_cc:  NABELEK
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.slovak-l
Date:         Sat, 19 Dec 1992 00:13:00 EST
From:         NABELEK@UTKVX.BITNET
Subject:      Szelepczenyi - ambassador

My congratulations, Jan, to your nomination as ambassador to Turkey. I cannot
deny that I am in disagreement with various of your opinions, but still believe
that from your representation there the Slovak nation will have real and
longlasting benefits.

You should like your stay in Turkey.  I was there for several weeks this summer
and was very impressed with it.  It is a beautiful country, very friendly
people, great antique ruins, etc.

Excuse me but I feel I should ask you the following.  It might be assumed that
you have been nominated to your position by Minister Knazko.  But I read
somewhere that Knazko's recent stand re various affairs is at odds
with premier Meciar's positions.  If that is the case, one could expect that
Knazko will not be able to stay as minister for too long.  What
consequencies could such a course of events have on your position?   I do not
wish it to you, but it might happen that your situation will be in a sense
analogous to the present situation of Rector Hajduk, will it not?

Sincerely, Igor Nabelek
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Date:         Mon, 14 Dec 1992 20:08:54 EST
From:         Henry Kucera <HENRY@BROWNVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Trnava university - Student's declaration

>Posted on 14 Dec 1992 at 14:46:56 by Jiri Zlatuska
>
>Re: Trnava university - Student's declaration
>
It would be pretentious of me to comment in any detail on Mr. Zlatuska
very thorough analysis of the Trnava situation. I am not familiar with
the details of the case of, for that matter, some of the legal issues.
(I have been a US citizen most of my life and am an emeritus professor at a
US university, so that my knowledge of European academic structures and
practices is simply not up-to-date). However, I would like to compliment
Mr. Zlatuska on his basic perception of academic freedom, not only in
Czechoslovakia but in general. Even in the US, I regret to say, our
government finds it almost irresistible not to interfere with academic life,
using the usual argument that it contributes funds to universities (be
it only in terms of student loans, for example). We have here
regulations relating to so-called "affirmative action" (number of
minorities and women to be hired), or ethnic "goals" (number of students
of various colors and ethnic backgrounds), "experimentation" with animal
subjects in medical schools, you name it. All this is, of course,
relatively innocuous compared to a government removing a rector or a
university president, but it is troublesome nevertheless.

The problem in the West is that there are no longer any truly
"private" colleges and universities (with a couple of stubborn holdovers,
quite small in size). The governments now contribute financially to all
higher education in some way or another. It is, therefore, DOUBLY
important for all academics to guard the independence of our institutions
from government interference as much as possible. This is not to say
that my colleagues and I could not make mistakes in our judgment in
 appointments, etc. But at least we would know where the responsibility  lies.

   If I may add a personal note, I was particularly gratified
that Mr. Zlatuska comes from Masaryk University in Brno of which I am
also an honorary alumnus (D.Phil., honoris causa, 1990).

Best regards,
Henry Kucera, Brown University
From: pjh3@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (PAUL JEFFERY HISEM)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.slovak-l
Subject: currency union?
Date: 18 Dec 92 04:15:13 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

With all this discussion about exchange rates and salaries, I've been
wondering: Will Slovakia continue its currency union with the Czechs?
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Date:         Sat, 19 Dec 1992 00:27:00 -0500
From:         NABELEK@UTKVX.BITNET
Subject:      Re: Assasination of the Czech Communist Party leader

>> May be the vast majority of participants of this discussion group knows
> exactly
>> what "MP" stands for.  I don't.  Can you tell me that?
>>
>> By the way, I would guess that those of us who do not live in CSFR and are no
   t
>> familar with all the different abbreviations being used there would appreciat
   e
> the definitions of authors abbreviations in individual contributions.  Thankst

George Frajkor answers:

>      I took it to be the commonly accepted abbreviation for Member of
>Parliament,  but I see in this context that it might mean Moravian
>Party or something.  Does it?

Sure, you are wight.  Thanks, IVN
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.slovak-l
From: benes@itk.unit.no (Mila Benes)
Subject: Re:      Exchange rates
Organization: Norwegian Institute of Technology / SINTEF, Trondheim, Norway
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 92 08:06:10 GMT

In article <9212152231.AA08816@relay2.UU.NET>,         lhdsy1!HOVMB.HOU281.CHEVRON.COM!TKMARC@UUNET.UU.NET writes:
|>  
|> Surprisingly, yes. I expected the rate to go through the roof; instead
|> it went slightly down since the revolution (from about 1:35 to about
|> 1:28). In my opinion, this is partially the effect of the policies
|> 
|> --Kamil Marcinka (Internet address: tkmarc@hovmb.ion.chevron.com)

Please allow a little comment. You compare with the US$, but that is a moving target ! (The US currency is "floating".) A comparison with the European currency unit (ECU) would seem to be more appropriate.

Best regards,
Mila Benes (benes@itk.unit.no)
From: KUBASKA@UAKOM.CS
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.slovak-l
Subject: Lorenz and the others
Date: 18 Dec 92 23:41:28 GMT
Organization: UAKOM SAV Banska Bystrica, CSFR
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Mr Marcinka writes:

> Re Lorenz, there has been speculation that he will chose the
> citizenship (C vs S) based on where he can get out of going to prison.
> In another Pravda article, about 3 weeks ago, he was saying how
> much more democratic Slovakia is compared to Bohemia, because
> Weiss (the leader of SLD a.k.a. Communist Party of Slovakia) holds
> a position in the Slovak parliament, and Svoboda, his counterpart
> in the Czech lands, does not. I won't be surprised if he's
> a Slovak citizen soon, and all of his past "mistakes" will be kindly
> pardoned, in the name of human rights. Sigh...

It is more probable that Mr Lorenz would be set free in CR (Mr Havel
is as good as czech president and he said that in this case an
amnesty will took place again).

As you probably know main slovak political forces refused the
"lustration" law (that restricts the access to some posts in the
state service to the persons registred in s~tb files as "agents" or
something like that). They prefer another solution. Everybody has to
be judged for his actual crimes. That means that if somebody was
agent but nobody prove that he did anything illegal he will be no
restricted in his life.

If there are no proofs about Mr. Lorenz or anyone else abuse of power
he will be set free. If there are such proofs then he will be judged
in accord with normal (not revolutional) law. And the institution to
decide about the punishment will be the court of justice and not the
parliament commision.


The question about whether SR is more democratic than CR is
irrelevant. Every nation conforms the form of state power to its
naturel. If Czechs decides that the 1/2 majority is sufficient for
adoption of constitutional law or that left-wing politicians will take
no high posts in czech parliament, it is their business.
So that making the adoption of the lustration law to be the measure of
the democracy is also misleading. I'm convinced that the slovak way to
deal with the recent sad history is better than those of czechs. But
anyone else may think just oposite.

Mr. Weiss holds the position in slovak parliament because his party
was the second in recent ellections, not because of his ideology.

At last, but not at least: Mistakes will be pardoned, but "mistakes"
( crimes ) will certainly be not. Here in Slovakia.


respectfully,

Marian Kubaska
Banska Bystrica
Czech and Slovak Federal Republic
E-mail: KUBASKA@UAKOM.CS
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Date:         Fri, 18 Dec 1992 01:02:55 MET
From:         Milan Jira <ULIMJ@CSPUNI12.BITNET>
Subject:      Bugs in U.S. Consulate and ..

On Thu, 17 Dec 1992 11:54:24 -0500
George Frajkor <gfrajkor@CCS.CARLETON.CA> said:

Subject:      bug


>   I heard recentl;y that the technician who claims to have installed
>the bugs at the US consulate in Bratislava has turned himself in to
>he newspaper Narodna Obroda.   Can someone from Slovakia  confimr and
>laborate on this?   Who did he say he was working for, if in fact he
>s the one?

  1> Americans declered that the bugs were active and used and refused
     to give any technical details to CSFR authorities at thiss moment

  2> The bugs were apparently active, Czech and Federal Media
     mentioned the link to The Department of teh Economic Interests
     of Slovak Republic, subdept. for investigation Head has been
     appoined the formed member of the 12th Departmet of Sate Security
     Police Mr. Orange Mellon (I am not sure on that name but the Slovak
     colleagues might find more details).

 3> there are other theries which could not be excluded, certainly,
    and I am open to believe them

 Milan Jira
 Medical  Faculty, Charles University, Prague
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Date:         Tue, 15 Dec 1992 14:22:19 PST
From:         lhdsy1!HOVMB.HOU281.CHEVRON.COM!TKMARC@UUNET.UU.NET
Subject:      Exchange rates

> Subject: C-S Crown exchange rates
> Can somebody tell me what the approximate official exchange rate is
> between the US $ and the C-S Crown, as well as how that differs - if at
> all - from the black market exchange rates?

Rate as quoted by someone else from Carolina; black market rates are
essentially the same. Based on newpapaper reports, the domestic
"vekslaci" (derogative for "black market currency brokers") are
almost non-existant, with the banner being carried by what is
described as "people of dark complection" ("sneda plet").

> As a frame of reference, I also would like to know what an average
> monthly salary is in Bratislava -- for a highschool teacher, for
> instance.

The 4,000-5,000 crowns is the last number I've heard.

> I have the feeling thet among the former East Bloc countries, only
> Hungary's Forint and C-S' Crown preserved a relatively stable exchange
> rate with western currencies though I am only sure about this with
> regards to the Forint.

Surprisingly, yes. I expected the rate to go through the roof; instead
it went slightly down since the revolution (from about 1:35 to about
1:28). In my opinion, this is partially the effect of the policies
instituted and carried out by Vaclav Klaus.

> Joe Pannon

--Kamil Marcinka (Internet address: tkmarc@hovmb.ion.chevron.com)
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Date:         Thu, 17 Dec 1992 21:52:05 PST
From:         lhdsy1!HOVMB.HOU281.CHEVRON.COM!TKMARC@UUNET.UU.NET
Subject:      Re: bug

> Subject: bug
>    I heard recentl;y that the technician who claims to have installed
> the bugs at the US consulate in Bratislava has turned himself in to
> the newspaper Narodna Obroda.   Can someone from Slovakia  confimr and
> elaborate on this?   Who did he say he was working for, if in fact he
> is the one?
>
>     Jan George Frajkor       _!_

Bratislava daily "Pravda," belonging to SLD a.k.a. Communist Party,
of 12/8/92 states the following information:

1. The minister of the interior of the SR Jozef Tuchyna
is reported to say the
following: A committee put together by the Interior Ministry of SR found
one of the former StB agents who was supposed to be involved with
the installation. He confirmed that at the order of the federal
minister of the Interior Richard Sacher in the spring of 1990
the device was shutdown
("umrtvene"), the central processing location ("centrala") was
shutdown, but the microphones were impossible to remove. The name
of the agent was not made public. Tuchyna is quoted to say:
"The conclusions of our investigation were communicated to the
US ambassador on Friday at 15:30."

2. The article further reports that the editors of Pravda contacted
an experienced officer of CS intelligence ("kontrarozviedka"), who
confirmed that the devices were installed and maintained in the
years 1984-1987, and that they were located deep inside the walls
and the floor of the building. He thinks they could have easily
escaped checks that were done in the building in the past. He added
that meticulous documentation including the photographs was
kept and that this documentation must still be at the Federal
Ministry of Interior, or at FBIS (Federal Security and Information
Agency).

True to its tradition, Pravda also contacted one of the people they
can really trust, General Alojz Lorenc, who is being prosecuted
for abuse of power as one of the top brass in the pre-1989 communist
Ministry of Interior. He says (complete quote): "I can only make
conclusion based on what I learned from the media. I have absolutely
no doubt that the whole affair came up with the intention to hurt
the interests of Slovakia and certainly did not originate at the
US State Department. I fully identify with the position presented
in the media by the Slovak leadership."

Re Lorenz, there has been speculation that he will chose the
citizenship (C vs S) based on where he can get out of going to prison.
In another Pravda article, about 3 weeks ago, he was saying how
much more democratic Slovakia is compared to Bohemia, because
Weiss (the leader of SLD a.k.a. Communist Party of Slovakia) holds
a position in the Slovak parliament, and Svoboda, his counterpart
in the Czech lands, does not. I won't be surprised if he's
a Slovak citizen soon, and all of his past "mistakes" will be kindly
pardoned, in the name of human rights. Sigh...

--Kamil Marcinka (Internet address: tkmarc@hovmb.ion.chevron.com)
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Date:         Sun, 13 Dec 1992 09:36:02 EST
From:         Stan Brunn <BRUNN@UKCC.UKY.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Thanks for congratulation
              11 Dec 1992 23:19:20 MET from <janszel@POSEN.MFF.UNIBA.CS>

I want to wish you well in your new position. Stan Brunn, Univ. of Kentucky, US
A
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Date:         Tue, 15 Dec 1992 19:21:29 MET
From:         Milan Jira <ULIMJ@CSPUNI12.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: C-S Crown exchange rates

Dear Czechoslovak friends and subscribers of Slovak-l@UBVM,

To Subj.:  C-Z Us Currency exchange I will try to reply to both subscribers:

 1. Official rates US-CS are exacttly as reposted from Car-Engl
    Some my students told me that there might be 2-5% benefit to the
    the foreigners willing to change larger ammounts of money

 2> Stan offered the salaries question in different regions. Czech republic
    for University staff (=state employees) the official table depeding on
workk creeativity (12 classes) and upon age (3+3 to 27). I can convince you
    mu salary is less then 2.500 $ /year beeing a Head of Department at the
    Medical Faculty of Charles University.

    Would you expect any suprise in salary differences among University
    staff.

    Or would you congratulate me for such a salary (which is a little bit
    higher then the avarage salary in CSFR).

    I thinks that congratulations are quite welcome on this list.


Best,

Milan Jira, M.D., Ph.D.
3rd Medical Faculty, Charles  University
Prague, Czechoslovakia

Editor: COLUMBUS@CSEARN, MEDMAC-L@CSEARN
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Date:         Tue, 15 Dec 1992 08:49:45 PST
From:         Joe Pannon <pannon@BCSFSE.CA.BOEING.COM>
Subject:      C-S Crown exchange rates

Can somebody tell me what the approximate official exchange rate is
between the US $ and the C-S Crown, as well as how that differs - if at
all - from the black market exchange rates?

As a frame of reference, I also would like to know what an average
monthly salary is in Bratislava -- for a highschool teacher, for
instance.

I have the feeling thet among the former East Bloc countries, only
Hungary's Forint and C-S' Crown preserved a relatively stable exchange
rate with western currencies though I am only sure about this with
regards to the Forint.

Thanks,
Joe Pannon
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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.slovak-l
Date:         Sat, 12 Dec 1992 10:40:42 EST
From:         HAMMERL@UCS.INDIANA.EDU
Subject:      Slovakia's image

                      RFE/RL Daily Report

                                           No. 233, 4 December 1992

FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN SLOVAKIA DROPS. Figures released by the
Slovak National Agency for Foreign Investment on 3 December show
that in the first nine months of 1992 Slovakia's share of foreign
investment in Czechoslovakia was only 7.7%.  Slovakia's population
is one third of that of Czechoslovakia. In 1991 Slovakia attracted
27% of the foreign capital.  Reuters quotes an official from the
Slovak National Agency for Foreign Investment as saying that the
main obstacle to foreign investment is Slovakia's poor image
abroad. He argued that when potential investors actually visit
Slovakia they are surprised that things are normal and "that there
are no riots or nationalist propaganda." The CTK news agency also
reports that Slovakia plans to impose a tax of one koruna per pack
on cigarettes as soon as that nation becomes independent on 1
January.  The revenues, which could amount to 400 million koruny
($10.4 million), will be used to help fund research on cancer and
heart disease.  (Jiri Pehe & Charles Trumbull, RFE/RL, Inc.)
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Date:         Sat, 19 Dec 1992 00:15:23 EST
From:         George Frajkor <gfrajkor@CCS.CARLETON.CA>
Subject:      Re: currency union?
              JEFFERY HISEM" at Dec 18, 92 4:15 am

PAUL JEFFERY HISEM writes:
>
> With all this discussion about exchange rates and salaries, I've been
> wondering: Will Slovakia continue its currency union with the Czechs?
>
    The last I heard, yes.  It is to be a temporary agreement to
support the domestic values as well as the international (that is, the
separate currencies are to be recognized as legal tender in either
country) until the economies of both settle down enough to determine a
market rate.  The last plan I heard of called for a three-year
agreement, but I don't think that is firm, nor that anything is signed.

    Jan George Frajkor       _!_
 School of Journalism       __!__
 Carleton University,         |
 Ottawa, Ontario             /^\
 Canada K1S 5B6           /^\   /^\
   -- gfrajkor@ccs.carleton.ca --
  613 788-7404     fax:613 788-5604
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Date:         Fri, 18 Dec 1992 23:46:19 EST
From:         George Frajkor <gfrajkor@CCS.CARLETON.CA>
Subject:      Re: Assasination of the Czech Communist Party leader
              "NABELEK%UTKVX.BITNET@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu" at Dec 18, 92 10:59 pm

uNABELEK%UTKVX.BITNET@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu writes:
>
> May be the vast majority of participants of this discussion group knows
 exactly
> what "MP" stands for.  I don't.  Can you tell me that?
>
> By the way, I would guess that those of us who do not live in CSFR and are not
> familar with all the different abbreviations being used there would appreciate
> the definitions of authors abbreviations in individual contributions.  Thankst

      I took it to be the commonly accepted abbreviation for Member of
Parliament,  but I see in this context that it might mean Moravian
Party or something.  Does it?


   Jan George Frajkor       _!_
 School of Journalism       __!__
 Carleton University,         |
 Ottawa, Ontario             /^\
 Canada K1S 5B6           /^\   /^\
   -- gfrajkor@ccs.carleton.ca --
  613 788-7404     fax:613 788-5604
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