Czech Cabinet admits Gypsies discriminated

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, July 20 (UPI) -- The Czech Republic's minorities minister said the government is working on a plan to curb discrimination of Gypsies and to improve their social status.

Michael Kocab, Czech minister for human rights and minorities, Monday told the government a strategy to fight social exclusion of the Romany community, as Gypsies are formally addressed, will be ready by October, Prague Radio reported.

A report submitted by Kocab and approved by the government Monday said the Romanies suffered under general discrimination in the Czech Republic in 2008.

The government move comes less than a week after Canada imposed travel visas for Czech visitors, most of whom were Czech Gypsies.

Since January the number of Czech Romanies seeking asylum in Canada has been on the rise, prompting the Ottawa government to introduce visas in a bid to stem the tide of Gypsies coming to Canada.

The report approved by the Czech government said the reason for Gypsies seeking asylum in Canada could be seen in the hate talk and racial assaults by Czech ultra-right nationalists and in the poor economic conditions for the minority in the Czech Republic, the radio reported.