Wednesday, April 4, 2001

Ambassador looks beyond visas Canadian envoy hopes to educate, dispel stereotypes By Kate Swoger Canadian Ambassador Margaret Huber has been pleasant for 45 minutes -- smiling frequently as she discussed the delights of representing her country to the Czech and Slovak Republics in even, measured tones. But her face tightens at the mention of the Czech government's decision to impose tourist visas on Canadians beginning April 1. The move was a response to Canada's 1997 decision to stem a tide of Romany, or Gypsy, refugees by requiring a visa for Czech citizens. "We regretted very much the decision of the Czech government to impose a visa requirement," Huber said, repeating Ottawa's official line on the subject. "It is not a positive signal to potential investors, for example," she continued. "But we fully respect the right of the Czech government or any government to decide who shall require a visa." Canadian visa requirements will be formally reviewed in 2002, but the Czech decision will not be a factor in that process, she said. While she denies that the issue has strained Czech-Canadian diplomatic relations, it is clearly not a favored subject. Instead, the poised and neatly-coifed Huber, 52, prefers to talk about the ties that bind Canada with the Czech and Slovak republics, including joint membership in such organizations as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and, in the case of the Czech Republic, NATO. Huber, a career foreign service officer, arrived in Prague for the first time a little more than six months ago. "My knowledge was zero, so, tabula rasa, no preconceptions," Huber said. Much of her first half-year as ambassador has been spent crisscrossing the two nations trying to learn as much as possible about her new territory. And on a recent trip home to Canada, she, along with Ottawa's ambassadors to Poland and Hungary, toured the nation speaking about Central Europe. Stripping away stereotypes on all sides -- Czech, Slovak and Canadian -- is part of her self-declared mission. "Canadians are familiar with the stereotypes. 'Oh, you're Canadian. You have beautiful mountains, gorgeous Niagara Falls.' Plus there's the perception that you live on the frontier, not understanding that's it's a very urban, high-tech society," Huber said. THE HUBER FILE Margaret Huber Born: 1948 in Germany. Grew up in Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada. Family: Single. Youngest of six children. Languages: English, French, German and Japanese Career: 1973 - joined Canadian foreign service, serving in Manila, Tokyo and Brussels 1991 - named consul general at Osaka 1997 - became director general of foreign service's North Asia and Pacific bureau 2000 - appointed ambassador to the Czech and Slovak Republics "In the same way, ... [some Canadians] may associate fighting in Bosnia and elsewhere more closely with this part of the region than is actually the case." Her days are busy, attending events aimed at strengthening cultural, educational and trade links between the countries. "There is no typical day," Huber said during a late March interview. "Yesterday, it was leaving early for Bratislava to meet with the chairman of the Parliament ... then opening a francophonic film festival with a Canadian film ... then back late last night to be here in time for a meeting with the minister of transport and communications." Huber is well-practiced at such diplomacy. Most of her adult life has consisted of similar meetings and ceremonies. After completing her master's degree in 1973, Huber joined the foreign service, telling herself she would stay in the game for five years or "until I got bored." Twenty-eight years later, much of the time spent in Japan, with stints in Manila and Brussels, she's still at it. Huber anticipates her posting in Prague will last at least three years, during which she hopes to focus on boosting business relations, cultural exchanges and security and military cooperation. She doesn't believe a glitch like the visa requirement will make a shred of difference. "I'm expecting a lot of visitors," she said. "Prague is a very popular place." Kate Swoger's e-mail address is kswoger@praguepost.cz