Foreign Minister to propose visa requirements for Canadians

Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda has said he will propose to the government to impose visa requirements on the citizens of Canada after he failed on Monday to convince the newly elected Conservative government in Ottawa to abolish visas for Czech tourists. Canada imposed visa requirements on Czech citizens in October 1997, following a wave of Roma arrivals who asked for political asylum in Canada. Prior to the talks Mr Svoboda said he was prepared to file a suit against Canada at the European Court of Justice if the meetings in Ottawa were not successful. As a member of the European Union, the Czech Republic can request that the EU impose visa requirements on Canadians.