President Klaus warns against escalating tension with Canada

President Klaus has warned against escalating tension over Canada’s reported intention to reintroduce visa restrictions for Czech nationals. Speaking to journalists on Monday the president said he hoped there was still space for negotiation with the Canadian authorities which could prevent the re-introduction of visas. He criticized the force of the Czech reaction, saying that it was premature to speak of retaliation. A Czech TV report claiming that Canada had already decided to reintroduce visas for Czechs and would make the announcement publicly on Tuesday, elicited a sharp response from Czech political leaders over the weekend, with the Social and Christian Democrats suggesting the Czechs should ask the EU to respond in kind or for the Czech Republic to take the matter to a European court. Ottawa is thought to want to reintroduce visas due to the high number of asylum claims it has been receiving, predominantly from members of the Czech Republic’s Romany community.