GUINEA REQUESTS REVISION TO RECIPROCITY SCHEDULE

UNCLAS CONAKRY 001288 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR CA/VO and AF/W E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CVIS CMGT GV SUBJECT: GUINEA REQUESTS REVISION TO RECIPROCITY SCHEDULE ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. Post has received a request from the government of Guinea to revise the visa reciprocity schedule from three to five years. Post recommends this item be placed on the agenda for future bilateral talks between the U.S. and Guinea in Washington. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Post recently received a written request from the Guinean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The request referenced bilateral consultations between the U.S. and Guinea held March 13 - 14, 2006, in Conakry, when both parties agreed to revise the consular agreement signed February 1, 1993. ¶3. (U) The note from the MFA suggests visa validity duration between the U.S. and Guinea be extended from three years to five, with multiple entries, for all types of passports. The Guinean MFA claims the revision should be a reward for their compliance with biometric passports. ¶4. (U) Post recommends this item be placed on the agenda for the bilateral talks between Guinea and the U.S. to be held at a date to be determined in Washington. ¶5. (U) The translated text of the diplomatic note is as follows: BEGIN TRANSLATION Conakry, October 6, 2007 No 1209/MEACIAGE/DAJC/07 NOTE The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Guinean Expatriate Affairs of the Republic of Guinea presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Conakry, and has the honor to submit to U.S. authorities this diplomatic note relating to the formulation of an agreement on visas between both countries. In fact, it reminds the Embassy that, following Guinean-American Bilateral Consultations in March 13 and 14, 2006 in Conakry, it was decided and recorded in the final communique of the meeting to carry out the revision of the consular agreement signed on February 1, 1993 between both parties. This agreement called for the issuance of visas by the authorities of both countries in favor of their citizens for the length of three (3) years with multiple entries and exits. This practice which has been in current use underwent changes carried out unilaterally in the agreement by the US authorities that have not been contested by Guinea, on account of their relevance and foundation of their enforcement. This agreement regulated visa issues between both countries since 1993. However, it appears that the status of present relations between Guinea and the USA, commands an improvement of conditions of trip and citizen stay in the respective countries. That is why it was decided during the bilateral consultations, that the visa validity duration between both countries be revised from three (3) to five (5) years with the possibility of multiple entries and exits for all types of passports. This clause bodes well for convenience. To show its determination to strengthen its consular relations with its partners, the Government of Guinea in relationship with ECOWAS put into circulation since August 2005 new biometrical passports (ordinary, professional and diplomatic) comprising fourteen points of security. These documents are authentic and cannot be the subject of any falsification. The procedure of their production complies with a rigorous strictness that assures their credibility. The Government of Guinea is willing to maintain the best possible relationships with the USA in all common fields of interest, particularly that of migration. For this purpose and in consideration of the foregoing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Guinean Expatriate Affairs requests the intervention of the Embassy of the United States of America in Conakry toward US authorities, so that this note be considered as an accord on visas between both countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Guinean Expatriate Affairs of the Republic of Guinea avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurance of its highest consideration. END TRANSLATION CARTER