Czech minister submits plan for solving Romany problems

Czech Local Development Minister Jiri Cunek (junior government Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL) has completed his plan of measures aimed at solving problems faced by Czech Romanies, he told journalists today.

Cunek said that today he handed the document to Ethnic Minorities and Human Rights Minister Dzamila Stehlikova (junior government Green Party, SZ).

Stehlikova told CTK that relevant ministries would continue to work on the document. She said it was necessary to upgrade the plan and that she had also received similar proposals from the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry and the Education Ministry.

The final document could be submitted to the government by the end of this year, Stehlikova said.

Cunek’s intention to draft the plan has provoked a wave of dissatisfaction from Romany activists and human rights advocates.

They pointed out that as the mayor of the north Moravian town of Vsetin Cunek ordered to evict several Romany families from their home and re-settle them to the outskirts of the town and to other regions.

In addition, they criticised Cunek for his unflattering statements about Romanies.

An analysis of the situation of Czech Romanies drafted two years ago says that there are more than 300 ghettoes in the Czech Republic in which about 80,000 people, mainly Romanies, live.

"My plan is drafted in the form of a proposal to which other ministries should add their proposed measures," Cunek said.

Stehlikova said that Cunek’s document was based on the original government plan and that his proposals could be a practical recommendation for the solution of Romany situation.

Josef Balaz from Cunek’s team said recently that the money designated for the solution of Romany problems in the areas of education, employment and housing should go to individual municipalities and towns that should prepare concrete plans.

Stehlikova also said it was impossible to solve the situation without local governments.

She said today that she could start a series of talks with representatives of individual ministries as of September.

Previously Cunek said that he expected his plan to become the basis for drawing money from EU funds designated for Romanies.

The Czech Republic could receive billions of crowns from the EU for Romany projects.