Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Local Development Minister Jiri Cunek (junior
government Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL) said on Radio Impuls today he had his
own comprehensive plan for the solution of the Romany issue in the Czech
Republic.
Cunek, who in the past was often criticised for his position on Romanies, said
he intended to meet Minister in charge of human rights and ethnic minorities
Dzamila Stehlikova (junior government Greens, SZ) soon to discuss his plan with
her.
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"It is my ambition that my plan is approved by the government and that European
money is distributed on its basis," Cunek said.
He said his work on the plan was interrupted by his five-months absence from the
government after he had to resign from his government postes in November due to
corruption allegations.
According to Cunek, a commission is working at the Local Development Ministry
that deals with these questions.
Cunek in the past was criticised by human rights advocates and his coalition
partners, especially the Greens, over his approach to Romanies.
In 2006 the Town Hall of the north Moravian town of Vsetin at which he was mayor
evicted several Romany families from their homes and resettled them either to
the outskirts of the town or to other regions.
Last spring Cunek said in the tabloid Blesk that to receive social benefits
people must "get sunburnt" (alluding to Romanies' skin colour), "make a mess
with their family and put up fires on town squares."
Later, Cunek apologised for his statements.
This January Cunek said that the traditional Romany culture and its values
contradicted the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.
He said the situation of Romanies could only improve and they would only be
successfully integrated in the majority society if family ties in the large
Romany families were weakened.
Romany activists say it is scandalous that such controversial statements were
pronounced by a Christian politician. They called Cunek's words "an attack on
Romanies' family values" and they perceive them as the Christian Democrats'
withdrawal from their traditional policy.
