Cyprus Reemphasizes Interest in the Visa Waiver Program

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000073


SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR CA/VO/F/P AND EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CVIS CY
SUBJECT: Cyprus Reemphasizes Interest in the Visa Waiver Program


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In response to a Cypriot request, the Ambassador
met on February 4 at the MFA with Permanent Secretary Nicolas
Emiliou and representatives of similar rank from other ministries to
discuss the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Emiliou reiterated Cyprus'
strong desire to join the VWP and catalogued benefits to both
countries. The Ambassador encouraged Cyprus to work toward
satisfying statutory requirements but explained that the evolving
terrorist threat facing the United States requires DHS to focus on
issues other than expansion of the VWP. ConOff accompanied the
Ambassador as note taker. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Emiliou opened the meeting by stating that Cyprus
formally expressed its request to join the VWP in 2005 and has been
working toward that goal since then. He said that Cyprus is
scheduled to begin issuing e-passports that meet ICAO and Schengen
standards in August 2010. He stated that accession to the VWP would
improve Cypriot public opinion of the United States and encourage
more Cypriots to travel to the United States. Emiliou noted that
both the Cypriot public and government are acutely aware that most
EU countries are members of the VWP while Cyprus is not. (NOTE:
Bulgaria, Greece, Poland and Romania are the EU countries in
addition to Cyprus that are not members of the VWP. End Note.)
Emiliou concluded his opening comments by stating that U.S.
acceptance of Cyprus into the VWP would favorably affect the
atmosphere of bilateral relations.


3. (SBU) The Ambassador said that he and the Embassy support Cyprus'
desire to join the VWP. He reminded Emiliou that his personal goals
are to increase Cypriot trade with, travel to, and academic study in
the United States and that Cypriot accession to the VWP probably
would contribute to the attainment of each of those goals. The
Ambassador then cautioned that the worldwide security environment is
making accession to the VWP progressively more difficult for
aspirant countries. He pointed out that Cyprus and other aspirant
countries have not done any wrong. Instead, the changing terrorist
threat confronting the United States, as exemplified by the
attempted airline bombing on Christmas Day, has forced DHS to
concentrate on security issues that prevent it from addressing the
conditions under which aspirant countries may qualify for the VWP.
The Ambassador commended Cyprus' low nonimmigrant visa refusal rate
and its progress toward issuing an e-passport. (NOTE: Embassy
Nicosia consular records indicate that for the three-year period
January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2009, the NIV refusal rate from
Cypriots was 1.93 and that the adjusted refusal rate for the same
period was 1.03 percent. End Note.) The Ambassador encouraged
Cyprus to continue to work toward fulfilling each of the statutory
requirements but emphasized that satisfaction of those requirements
would not guarantee accession to the VWP. The Ambassador conceded
that he did not know when DHS would be able to address in a specific
manner Cyprus' eligibility for the VWP.


4. (SBU) Emiliou concluded the meeting by stating that accession
to the VWP continues to be a priority for his government. He said
Cyprus is doing everything it can to meet the eligibility criteria.
He said that his government hopes to reach an agreement with DHS
that includes a sense of finality but that he understands that a
specific date for accession is not possible at this time.


Urbancic