Nicosia and Washington accelerate efforts for Cyprus to become part of the Visa Waiver Program

Nicosia and Washington accelerate their efforts to include Cyprus in the United States’ Visa Waiver Program, with the two sides setting up a Working Group to deal with this matter.
 
A Foreign Ministry announcement says that Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides, Interior Minister Nicos Nouris, and Minister of Justice and Public Order George Savvides met jointly on Tuesday with US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Carl C. Risch, who is paying a working visit in Cyprus.
 
The meeting, it is added, is part of the effort to further strengthen Cyprus-US cooperation on a wide range of issues, including the process to abolish the need for Cypriot passport holders who want to travel to the US to obtain a visa.
 
During the meeting the two sides reviewed the progress achieved so far in relation to Cyprus’ inclusion to the Visa Waiver Program and they decided to immediately set up a Working Group, with competent officials from both governments, to accelerate the efforts and successfully conclude the process the soonest possible.
 
It is noted that they also discussed ways to further develop bilateral relations, and that they exchanged views on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, which highlight the positive role Cyprus is playing as a factor for stability and security in the broader region.
 
Finally, the two sides agreed to continue their bilateral contacts on all levels, in order to monitor and deal with consular affairs, withing the framework of their contractive and mutually beneficial relationship.