  Using the quantum Fourier transform F, we describe the block decomposition
and multiplicative structure of a subalgebra Z + F(Z) in the center of the
small quantum group u_l at a root of unity. It contains the previously known
subalgebra Z, which is isomorphic to the algebra of characters of finite
dimensional modules over u_l. We prove that the intersection $Z \cap F(Z)$
coincides with the annihilator of the radical of Z. The whole center of u_l
coincides with the obtained subalgebra Z + F(Z) in case of sl_2, and is bigger
than that in general.
