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President Bush Discusses the Visa Waiver Program
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary October 17, 2008

President Bush Discusses the Visa Waiver Program Rose Garden

˙ /news/releases/2008/10/20081017-5.wm.v.html ˙˙Presidential Remarks
˙˙Audio

˙˙˙˙˙ Fact Sheet: Extending Travel Opportunities to Our Allies

11:13 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. (Applause.) Please be seated, thank you.
Welcome to the White House. I'm pleased to stand with the representatives
of seven countries -- the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Slovakia, and South Korea -- that have met the requirements to
be admitted to the United States Visa Waiver Program. Soon the citizens of
these nations will be able to travel to the United States for business or
tourism without a visa. I congratulate these close friends and allies on
this achievement, and I thank you for joining us here.

I also thank Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of the
Homeland -- Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff for working
hard to make sure this day has finally arrived. Appreciate other members of
the administration here and members of the Diplomatic Corps.

All of the nations represented here today allow American citizens to travel
to their countries visa-free. The United States has not accorded their
citizens the same privilege. For years the leaders of these nations have
explained to me how frustrating it is for their citizens to wait in lines
and pay visa fees to take a vacation or make a business trip or visit their
families here in the United States. These close friends of America told me
that it was unfair that their people had to jump through bureaucratic hoops
that other allies can walk around.

I told them I agree with them. I also told them that in the world after
September 11th, we could only expand travel opportunities if we increased
security measures at the same time. So nearly two years ago, my
administration asked Congress to modernize our Visa Waiver Program in a way
that accomplished both of these goals. I appreciate the bipartisan support
this initiative has received on Capitol Hill. My administration worked with
Congress to pass a law allowing us to admit new countries to the Visa
Waiver Program. These countries agree to share information about threats to
our people. They also agree that their citizens use a new system that
requires travelers to register online ahead of their visits to the United
States. These citizens will travel to the United States only if they have
tamper-proof biometric passports. I'm grateful to the dedicated officers
from the United States and our allies who worked hard to complete the
agreements to meet these new requirements.

Because of this good work, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has
notified our Congress that the administration intends to use its new
authority to admit seven countries into the Visa Waiver Program. In about a
month, we will be proud to extend to citizens of these seven countries the
privilege of visa-free travel.

Today's announcement signifies a new chapter in the relationship between
the United States and your nations. It is a testament to the strong bonds
of friendship that unite our people.

This is a significant achievement, but it is only the start. A number of
America's other close friends are participating in a process called the
"visa waiver road map" that is helping them qualify for the Visa Waiver
Program. I welcome the ambassadors from these "road map" countries --
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Poland, and Romania. We thank you for
coming today. We thank you for your friendship. And we look forward to the
day when your countries join the Visa Waiver Program.

I believe the best foreign policy for America is one that lets people from
other countries get to know this country firsthand. Throughout our history,
some of the strongest advocates of freedom have been those who came to
America and saw the blessings of liberty with their own eyes. Extending
this opportunity to some of our closest allies deepens our friendship and
makes all our countries safer. I'm grateful to all the countries here for
seeking to strengthen the ties between our citizens. I look forward to even
stronger partnerships in the years ahead.

Thank you for coming. (Applause.)

END 11:17 A.M. EDT

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