Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BRATISLAVA794
2006-09-29 07:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:
BILATERAL CONSULAR WORKING GROUP DISCUSSES VISA
how-toVZCZCXRO4326 RR RUEHAST DE RUEHSL #0794 2720705 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 290705Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0330 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000794
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS CMGT CASC PREL LO
SUBJECT: BILATERAL CONSULAR WORKING GROUP DISCUSSES VISA
WAIVER PROGRAM ROADMAP
REF: A. 05 BRATISLAVA 960
B. 05 BRATISLAVA 490
C. 05 BRATISLAVA 130
1 Bratislava's Bilateral Consular Working Group (BCWG) met
for the fifth time on September 26, 2006, at the Embassy.
The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Vallee. MFA Political
Director Miroslav Lajcak headed the Slovak delegation. The
most significant positive wads the GOS commitment to notify
the USG (as well as Interpol, as was already being done)
promptly of any lost or stolen passports.
2. Ambassador Vallee discussed the political climate in the
United States, and in reference to the "Santorum Amendment"
proposing visa waiver status in exchange for Certain levels
of contributions to the coalition in Iraq, explained how
Congress passes legislation and the roles of committees.
Ambassador Lajcak discussed a recent meeting in New York of
representatives of the Visegrad Four Slovakia, Czech
Republic, Poland, and Hungary) in addition to the "Baltic
Three" to form a "Coalition for Visa Equality." Lajcak
assured Ambassador that the intent was to provide a unified
approach to visa waiver program (VWP) accession while
avoiding any anti-U.S. sentiment. Lajcak also said that
Foreign Minister Kubis was pleased by his frank discussion of
the topic with Secretary Rice during their meeting on the
margins of UNGA. Lajcak said it is important that the U.S.
realized the "urgency of the situation" and recognize that
Slovakia is doing everything in its power to meet VWP
requirements.
3. Post shared, in confidence, visa statistics with our
interlocutors to help illustrate both the reality of the
situation, as well as the excellent progress that has been
made in recent years (Slovakia's refusal rate for B1/B2
applicants has dropped from 44 percent to slightly over 16
percent since FY 2003). Post reiterated that as the Slovak
economy continues to flourish and unemployment decreases, the
pressure for economic migration will decrease and, as a
result, the refusal rate should decrease.
4. Slovak passport officials shared progress on Slovakia's
implementation of biometric passport data. While Slovakia
had originally sought to phase in biometrics, beginning with
facial recognition in September 2006 and later adding
fingerprint data, the country has since decided to hold off
until passports with both biometric features can be issued.
The GOS anticipates that by June 28, 2008, all Slovak
passports being issued will include both features. The
Slovak interlocutors also briefed us on the new central
storage, processing, and controlled access to blank Slovak
passport books, and notification procedures. They stated
their willingness to provide prompt notification to InterPol
and the USG in the event of theft or loss of blank passports,
while stressing that no such loss has occurred in over a
decade. They agreed to respond to U.S. requests for
information on passport controls and certifications of
passport issuance procedures. Post also shared information
regarding new U.S. E-Passports and emergency passport
documents.
5. The BCWG discussed problems encountered by U.S. citizens
applying for residency in Slovakia; specifically, that local
police are not consistent in acceptance or denial of FBI
fingerprint results without an apostille (which is not
available for the documents). Some Americans have gotten
around the problem by having a certified true copy of the
report made, and then having the notary's signature
authenticated and apostilled. Post requested the GOS
consider uniform acceptance of the unauthenticated document
together with the FBI,s cover letter stating authentication
is not available or, barring that, that post and the GOS
explore acceptable alternatives.
6. Finally, the Slovak delegation raised concerns and
difficulties encountered by their posts in the U.S., such as
consular notification failures or lack of response to
requests for judicial assistance. Post passed along contact
information for the appropriate offices at the Department and
encouraged the Slovak government to contact the Department
(and post) in the event of future incidents.
VALLEE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS CMGT CASC PREL LO
SUBJECT: BILATERAL CONSULAR WORKING GROUP DISCUSSES VISA
WAIVER PROGRAM ROADMAP
REF: A. 05 BRATISLAVA 960
B. 05 BRATISLAVA 490
C. 05 BRATISLAVA 130
1 Bratislava's Bilateral Consular Working Group (BCWG) met
for the fifth time on September 26, 2006, at the Embassy.
The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Vallee. MFA Political
Director Miroslav Lajcak headed the Slovak delegation. The
most significant positive wads the GOS commitment to notify
the USG (as well as Interpol, as was already being done)
promptly of any lost or stolen passports.
2. Ambassador Vallee discussed the political climate in the
United States, and in reference to the "Santorum Amendment"
proposing visa waiver status in exchange for Certain levels
of contributions to the coalition in Iraq, explained how
Congress passes legislation and the roles of committees.
Ambassador Lajcak discussed a recent meeting in New York of
representatives of the Visegrad Four Slovakia, Czech
Republic, Poland, and Hungary) in addition to the "Baltic
Three" to form a "Coalition for Visa Equality." Lajcak
assured Ambassador that the intent was to provide a unified
approach to visa waiver program (VWP) accession while
avoiding any anti-U.S. sentiment. Lajcak also said that
Foreign Minister Kubis was pleased by his frank discussion of
the topic with Secretary Rice during their meeting on the
margins of UNGA. Lajcak said it is important that the U.S.
realized the "urgency of the situation" and recognize that
Slovakia is doing everything in its power to meet VWP
requirements.
3. Post shared, in confidence, visa statistics with our
interlocutors to help illustrate both the reality of the
situation, as well as the excellent progress that has been
made in recent years (Slovakia's refusal rate for B1/B2
applicants has dropped from 44 percent to slightly over 16
percent since FY 2003). Post reiterated that as the Slovak
economy continues to flourish and unemployment decreases, the
pressure for economic migration will decrease and, as a
result, the refusal rate should decrease.
4. Slovak passport officials shared progress on Slovakia's
implementation of biometric passport data. While Slovakia
had originally sought to phase in biometrics, beginning with
facial recognition in September 2006 and later adding
fingerprint data, the country has since decided to hold off
until passports with both biometric features can be issued.
The GOS anticipates that by June 28, 2008, all Slovak
passports being issued will include both features. The
Slovak interlocutors also briefed us on the new central
storage, processing, and controlled access to blank Slovak
passport books, and notification procedures. They stated
their willingness to provide prompt notification to InterPol
and the USG in the event of theft or loss of blank passports,
while stressing that no such loss has occurred in over a
decade. They agreed to respond to U.S. requests for
information on passport controls and certifications of
passport issuance procedures. Post also shared information
regarding new U.S. E-Passports and emergency passport
documents.
5. The BCWG discussed problems encountered by U.S. citizens
applying for residency in Slovakia; specifically, that local
police are not consistent in acceptance or denial of FBI
fingerprint results without an apostille (which is not
available for the documents). Some Americans have gotten
around the problem by having a certified true copy of the
report made, and then having the notary's signature
authenticated and apostilled. Post requested the GOS
consider uniform acceptance of the unauthenticated document
together with the FBI,s cover letter stating authentication
is not available or, barring that, that post and the GOS
explore acceptable alternatives.
6. Finally, the Slovak delegation raised concerns and
difficulties encountered by their posts in the U.S., such as
consular notification failures or lack of response to
requests for judicial assistance. Post passed along contact
information for the appropriate offices at the Department and
encouraged the Slovak government to contact the Department
(and post) in the event of future incidents.
VALLEE