Fallout from Canadian visa dispute continues

Czech travelers were shocked by the Canadian government's decision to reintroduce visa requirements, and hopes of invoking European Union solidarity clause have faded.

The Swedish EU presidency strongly denied press reports that it was in favor of visas for Canadians traveling to EU states.

"The information that the Swedish EU presidency said that it was in favor of visa requirements for Canadians traveling to EU member states is not correct," said Catherine von Heidenstam, Sweden's ambassador to the Czech Republic.

At Ruzyně Airport, Prague residents Jaroslav and Pavla Mach, a couple en route to Toronto, felt that even having to ask for a visa was degrading. "It makes you feel like an unwanted visitor, and my first thought was: If they don't want me there, then I don't want to go there," Pavla Machová said.

Like thousands of travelers, the couple learned they needed a visa late on the night of July 13, a mere four days before their departure, when news broke that Canada was going to reintroduce visa requirements. The announcement came after monthlong negotiations between the Czech and Canadian governments with Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Jan Kohout announcing "a breakthrough" was possible. The visa reintroduction took effect July 14 with an initial 48-hour grace period allowing travelers to file for a visa upon arrival in Canada.

Now, the application process has to be completed prior to travel and is processed by the Canadian Embassy in Vienna.

A spokesman for the Association of Czech Travel Agents, Jan Papež, criticized Canada for not providing the visa service in Prague. "It degrades the status of our country to a banana republic. I don't understand why the Canadians have such an enormous embassy here if they are not going to provide any service to our citizens."

Visas were initially granted on the day of the application but due to the backlog of applications may now take two days to process in Vienna, adding to increased costs and inconvenience for travelers.

When the news of the visa requirement broke, the Czech Cabinet called an extraordinary meeting and withdrew its ambassador from Canada for consultation. Kohout stated that the way Canada announced its step was "unparalleled between countries who are partners and NATO allies."

Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said the reintroduction would help the country handle the influx of asylum seekers from the Czech Republic. Applications by Czechs for asylum, which predominantly come from members of the Roma community who claim to be victims of racially motivated violence, have surged from a total of 853 in 2008 to 1,077 between January and April 2009 alone. He added that some applications seemed to come from what he termed false asylum seekers. "All too often, people who really need Canada's protection find themselves in a long line. This is unacceptable," he said.

There are growing fears that Canada's decision will have a massive impact on domestic Czech politics and October's general election.

In discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his Czech counterpart Jan Fischer said he feared that the country's Roma community would end up being blamed for Canada's step. This seems to have been confirmed when the extremist right-wing Workers Party Web site blamed Roma for the situation. It alluded to the supposed economic motivation behind their asylum applications, stating that Roma are now "forced to find another country where milk and honey flow," following cuts in welfare benefits.

Roma rights activist Gwendolyn Albert fears Kenney's rhetoric, in particular the phrase "false asylum seekers," is dangerous. "It simply fans the flames of the neo-Nazi campaign to paint all Roma as swindlers," she added.

Understanding the exodus

Human Rights and Minorities Minister Michael Kocáb believes the main motivation for Roma to go abroad is not economic, adding that, even without severe oppression, they can feel "excluded to the extent that they cannot live a normal, harmonious life."

A report submitted by Kocáb and approved by the Cabinet July 20 on the state of Czech Roma highlighted a surge in right-wing extremism, bad general economic conditions and family ties to those who had left earlier as reasons why Roma sought asylum in Canada. Kocáb said a strategy to combat social exclusion of Roma communities should be developed by October.

Fischer, who had announced the Czech Republic would address the issue in an "adequate and appropriately assertive manner," had discussed a possible activation of the EU's solidarity clause with José Manuel Barrosso, head of the European Commission. Under the clause, the EU as a whole could impose a visas on Canadian travelers. However, this step now seems unlikely, and the procedure can take up to three months. President Václav Klaus remarked on the issue by saying, "Canada can make its own decisions, but the Czech Republic can't. Brussels has to make them for us."

In addition, European Commissioner for Justice and the Interior Jacques Barrot said July 17 that the Czech Republic has committed what he called serious errors in its approach to Roma citizens. He added that it was paradoxical for an EU citizen to have to request asylum in a third country.

Jaroslav and Pavla Mach don't think they will travel to Canada again. "Next time, we won't go to Vienna to get a visa. It really interfered with our travel preparations, so we'd rather just cancel our flight," Pavla Machová said.

Zdeňka Klárová, manager of America Tours, said many people would rather not submit information they are asked to provide, such as their monthly salary. "Some of my clients decided to cancel their trip when they saw what the application entailed," she said.

Sarah Borufka can be reached at
sborufka@praguepost.com