Memorandum of Understanding between Latvia and U.S. on Visa Waiver Programme and related enhanced security measures

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that on 12 March the Acting Minister for the Interior, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, and the United Sates Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Latvia and the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America regarding the United States Visa Waiver Program and related enhanced security measures.

The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, during a meeting with Prime Minister of Latvia Ivars Godmanis and Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, emphasised that U.S. President George Bush is very much interested in new countries joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Programme. Mr Chertoff briefed about the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Estonia in Tallinn this morning, and also informed that further signings with other EU Member States have been planned for the nearest future.

The Foreign Minister of Latvia, Maris Riekstins, in his turn, informed that the aims of Latvia and the Community are in full conformity, namely, that the EU Member States  should join the U.S. Visa Waiver Programme as soon as possible in order to ensure full reciprocity and equal rights to all EU nationals.   

An audio recording of the press conference with Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins and the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff is available here.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REGARDING THE UNITED STATES VISA WAIVER PROGRAM AND RELATED ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES.

 

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