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U.S.-Hungarian visa waiver agreement likely in January |
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Monday, 29 September 2008 |
Hungary has a good chance of joining the U.S. visa-waiver when it comes into force around January 12, Foreign Minister Kinga Goncz said in Chicago late on Sunday. "In practice it all depends on whether the U.S. can implement the electronic entry system and control system in time," Goncz said. "In the new system there will be no need for visas, but tourists will need to register before they travel," she added.
Goncz was planning to visit Chicago last year when the new Hungarian consulate general opened but the trip was delayed at the time, foreign ministry spokesman Lajos Szelestey said.
On Sunday she also met leaders of the local ethnic Hungarian community and told them about the Hungarian government's efforts to help ethnic Hungarians living beyond the borders.
"Instead of lifting borders, Trianon can be overcome by exercising the European Union's four freedoms" (the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital), Goncz said. "This of course also requires maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries," she added.
Goncz granted the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic to the architect Laszlo Fulop, who is also board member of the Association of Minnesota Hungarians and the Hungarian-American Coalition, the catholic priest Laszlo Vas, who worked in Chicago for nearly a decade, and to honorary consul Kaarina Koskenalusta.
Goncz is scheduled to hold talks in Washington starting on Monday, meeting her counterpart Condoleezza Rice, as well as foreign policy advisors to presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. Goncz will grant Rice the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic.
Final U.S. visa-waiver pact to be signed on Wednesday
The final agreement required for Hungary to join the U.S. visa waiver scheme will be signed on Wednesday, the deputy spokesman of the foreign ministry said on Monday.
The agreement on the exchange of criminal data is planned to be signed by Hungary's minister of justice Tibor Draskovics and U.S. ambassador April H. Foley in Budapest, said Lajos Kohari.
Once the agreement is signed, Hungary's government will submit the proposal to parliament without delay and will debate the matter as a matter of priority, Kohari said.
Foreign Minister Kinga Goncz said in Chicago late on Sunday that Hungary had a good chance of joining the U.S. visa-waiver when it comes into force around January 12.
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