    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [October 17, 2008]
    [Pages 1319-1321]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Visa Waiver Program
    October 17, 2008

        Thank you all. Please be seated. Thank you. Welcome to the White
    House. I'm pleased to stand with the representatives of seven
    countries--the Czech Republic,

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    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, 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 the 11th, we could only expand travel opportunities if we
    increased security measures at the same time.
        So nearly 2 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 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 Roadmap that is helping them qualify for the Visa
    Waiver Program. I welcome the Ambassadors from these roadmap 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.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:13 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. In his

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    remarks, he referred to Bulgaria's Ambassador to the U.S. Elena B.
    Poptodorova; Cyprus's Ambassador to the U.S. Andreas S. Kakouris;
    Greece's Ambassador to the U.S. Alexandros P. Mallias; Malta's
    Ambassador-designate to the U.S. Mark Miceli-Farrugia; Poland's
    Ambassador to the U.S. Robert Kupiecki; and Romania's Ambassador to the
    U.S. Adrian Cosmin Vierita.