Czech municipalities say Romany issues agency unnecessary

Representatives of Czech municipalities think that the establishment of a government agency to deal with Romany issues would be an unnecessary step that would bring no fundamental changes, a survey CTK conducted today showed.

They are also opposed to the issues of Romanies living in regions being tackled by clerks in the remote capital of Prague.

Minorities and Human Rights Minister Dzamila Stehlikova (Green Party) who counts with the launch of the agency explains the mayors’ stand as a misunderstanding.

She told CTK that the agency would mainly play a methodological role, that is it would provide know-how for those who would seek it.

The agency would by no means dictate anything to anyone, Stehlikova said, adding that its members already work within the Government Council for Romany Community Affairs.

"Therefore, it will be no new office, but only a new name," Stehlikova said.

The mayors said that various social services work in their municipalities already now, and that they would rather welcome new laws on education and employment of Romanies.

"Attendance of education programmes is of fundamental importance. In our computing skills project for Romanies attendance was negligible or nil after one or two lessons," said Iva Liedermanova, head of the Pardubice, east Bohemia, town hall’s social department.

"A legislative measure would be needed here," she said.

Jaroslav Rohulan, deputy mayor of Nachod, east Bohemia, said municipalities would also need legislation that "would embed levers for forcing Romanies to work."

Radek Vovsik, mayor of Jihlava, south Moravia, said there exist many projects for Romanies and that he would not be opposed to the agency if it were able to coordinate financial aid.

He said, however, that the problem does not concern Romanies only, but generally all people who have adaption problems and who can be of various nationalities.

The centre-right government of the Civic Democrats (ODS), Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and Greens, that has ruled the country since January, has embedded the establishment of the agency against social exclusion in its policy statement.

The agency should coordinate the steps taken to integrate the socially excluded people back into society.

Stehlikova said yesterday the agency should be launched as from January 1, 2008.