Press Releases 2008
U.S. Delegation Arrives for Talks Related to Visa Waiver Program
May 27, 2008
In the context of on-going bilateral talks and implementing arrangements for the Visa Waiver Program, a delegation of American consular experts led by the U.S. Department of State is visiting Athens on May 27-28.
In meetings in the Greek capital with counterparts from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Justice, the four U.S. officials will discuss, among other things, the sharing of information on terrorism. In addition to the U.S. Department of State, the American delegation includes representatives of the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Greece was the first country to receive a formal nomination to the modernized VWP after the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 became U.S. law last August 3. Two other expert delegations visited Greece previously, in November 2007 and February 2008.
In addition to the on-going talks with Greece, the United States has now signed bilateral Memoranda of Understanding on the Visa Waiver Program with eight aspirant countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, and South Korea.) Simultaneously, the United States is holding discussions with the European Commission on issues that fall under its competence.