Canada, Hungary cooperate to prevent Roma emigration

Both the Hungarian and the Canadian governments want to prevent a second wave of emigration of Hungarian citizens, Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley told MTI in Budapest on Wednesday.

The minister held talks with Hungarian government officials on possible measures, including exchange of information, to discourage emigration to that north American country.

Finley said Canada would welcome all tourists without a visa and all visa-holding workers. However, Hungarians seeking a refugee status and settling in Canada within that capacity will be disappointed, she said.

"Hungary is a democracy with a stable government and economy, one that respects minority rights. For this reason, its citizens have practically no chance to obtain a refugee status in Canada," she said.

The first wave of emigration started back in 1997 when thousands of Czech Roma, hit by poverty and discrimination, arrived in Canada. A few years later they were followed by large groups of Hungarian Roma.

In response, Canada re-instated a visa requirement for Hungarians in December 2001.

In early March 2008, however, Canada lifted the visa requirement for the citizens of Hungary, Poland, Lithuania and Slovakia, who can now travel visa-free to Canada for stays of up to six months but they should not seek employment.

A few days after the announcement groups of Roma living in various regions of Hungary were said to be preparing to leave for Canada to find a job and settle there.

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