A U.S. delegation of experts on consular issues began a two-day visit to Athens on Tuesday for bilateral talks on the Visa Waiver Program.

"In meetings they will be having in the Greek capital with counterparts of theirs from the foreign affairs, interior and justice ministries, the four American officials will be discussing, among other things, issues concerning the exchange of information on terrorism. Apart from the foreign ministry, the delegation includes represenatives of the Internal Security ministry and the Federal Bureau of Investigation," according to an announcement by the U.S. embassy in Athens.

The announcement added that Greece was the first country to receive an official candidacy for the renewed Visa Waiver Program, according to the Law on the
Implementation of the Proposals of the Committee for September 11, that was implemented in the United States on August 3, 2007. Two other delegations of experts visited Greece in November 2007 and in February 2008.

Apart from the discussions with Greece, the United States have signed bilateral memorandums on the Visa Waiver Program with eight other candidate countries (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and South Korea. The United States is also holding talks with the European Commission on issues belonging to its jurisdiction.

Source: Athens News Agency

^
top

print this page   send this page