Prague Eases Curbs on Travel to West

The government lifted some restrictions on citizens who want to visit or emigrate to the West, the Communist Party newspaper said Saturday.

Authorities no longer will require that citizens receive invitations from family members if they want to visit the West, the party newspaper Rude Pravo said. It said an invitation can come from any Western resident, including emigres who left Czechoslovakia illegally.

Czechoslovak citizens still must apply for an exit visa when traveling to the West, it said.

Another new measure eases difficulties faced by families who wish to move abroad to join relatives who have illegally left the country. A five-year waiting period had been required before a Czechoslovak could apply for emigration, but Rude Pravo said that restriction was dropped effective Saturday.