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Release Date: November 3, 2008
Washington, D.C.
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Secretary Chertoff: Congratulations.
Secretary Chertoff: I will now take the opportunity this morning to say a few words. As you know, we just signed the Memorandum of Understanding between Romania and the United States regarding entry into the Visa Waiver Program. This lays down the various steps that will be undertaken to position Romania to enter the program once the requirements of the program are met, including, of course, the requirement with respect to the visa refusal rate.
It's an important first step and an acknowledgement that we are achieving a milestone, moving down the path toward admission to the Visa Waiver Program.
I know this has been a long-awaited moment. Of course, there are some additional steps to be taken, but it is, I think, important to indicate that it's a commitment on both sides to get this process done, which I know will be welcome not only in Romania but in the United States, as an expression of our friendship, an expression of Romania's movement towards equal status for travel purposes with the traditional visa waiver countries in Western Europe, and we look forward to completing this process not only because it will further travel and tourism between our countries but because of the exchange of information which will be embodied in the implementation of this agreement will help make both countries more secure.
So it is a beneficial movement for both our nations and both our peoples. Mr. Ambassador?
Ambassador Vierita: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. Allow me to say that this is a very important day for us and I like to thank you and to thank the staff of the DHS for the constant support and for the excellent cooperation with our Romanian authorities in this regard.
It is a very important day because it's a very important step, I think, that we have taken today. We know that we are not at the end of the road and I'm looking forward to that day when Romanian citizens could visit without a visa, could come to the United States. And let me tell you, let me assure you also on behalf of the Romanian Government, and I like to note that I have signed the Declaration today on behalf of the Minister of Interior, that we are ready to take the necessary measures in such a way that at the end of the day, we will have safer borders and safer traveling to the United States and from the United States to Romania.
I like also before ending to thank all your colleagues in the Administration and we are very thankful to the United States Congress for having passed this legislation and I also like to thank, Mr. Secretary, to thank the Romanian American community in United States who also is helping us and is promoter of this very important project for the Romanian citizens.
Thank you so much once again.
Secretary Chertoff: Now, we will be happy to take a few questions, if you tell us to whom your question is directed.
Moderator: Do we have any questions?
Question: Well, do you know from past experience how long does it take from the signing of this document until actually the visa waiver would become applicable in Romania?
Secretary Chertoff: Well, I don't. It's hard to predict because, first of all, obviously we have to implement the agreements, but, secondly, it depends upon the visa refusal rate which is a function of people applying and whether in fact we're reducing the number of people whose visas are declined.
So I would hesitate to make a prediction, but we obviously would like to move forward as soon as we can.
Moderator: Any other questions?
Question: We all know that the visa refusal rate does not depend only upon Romanians. It also depends on the U.S. Consulate in Romania.
Secretary Chertoff: Right.
Question: So how can that influence the percentage?
Secretary Chertoff: Well, because the Consulate's decision is based upon whether the people who are applying are able to satisfy them, that they are in fact intending to return rather than to stay, over-stay. So as we've seen with every other country that's been through this process, as the authorities within the country make it clear that people should be responsible in their travel, that tends to decrease the level of refusal and that obviously gets it towards the goal.
Question: I have a question. Which requirement would be the more difficult to be met by Romanians, in your opinion?
Secretary Chertoff: Well, I mean, the visa refusal rate is probably the one that usually takes the longest. The implementation, of course, is in the hands of both of the governments.
Yes?
Question: Romanian Public Television. I understand that this Declaration means the engagement of political will to move forward. How does this change the present situation? Hasn't the political will been there so far?
Secretary Chertoff: It lays out an agreement with the very clear requirements of what has to be met under the law and then once these various elements of the agreement are met, the only thing that remains is for the legal requirement of below 10 percent refusal to be met. Once that happens, the program becomes open.
So this is the step necessary to identify the specific measures that have to be implemented as legal preconditions to visa waiver status and so in that sense, it actually gives us a clear path with respect to the various information exchange and security measures.
Question: If I may, a follow-up. Can you tell us what some of those measures are and those conditions?
Secretary Chertoff: It largely is, for example, exchange of information about known and suspected terrorists who may be traveling, exchange of information about convicted criminals who are traveling, exchange of information about lost and stolen passports. All of these are designed to make sure that both countries are better able to protect their citizen from criminals who might try to exploit the travel process in order to achieve illegal or even dangerous objectives.
Question: Once this agreement was signed today, where is the ball now, in your opinion; Romania's courtyard, in United States' courtyard, or in the middle?
Secretary Chertoff: Well, I guess I have to try to figure out what sports analogy I want to use. I would say that reaching the implementation of the underlying elements of the agreement are a mutual responsibility. The visa refusal rate, as we indicated, is something that is going to be dependent on the nature of the people who are applying for visas. So in that sense, it lies with the travelers.
Moderator: Thank you very much for your time today. Thank you.
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This page was last reviewed/modified on November 3, 2008.