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- Ελληνικά
The goal of abolishing visas to the United States of America (US) by the end of 2024 or early 2025 is fully achievable, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letibiotis said today.
In his remarks to reporters at the Presidential Palace, and asked to refer to a statement by the President of the Republic that we are at the final stage on the US visa issue, the Spokesman said: "During the visit of the Secretary of State to the United States, one of the last pending agreements for the accession of Cyprus to this Programme has been signed. Following this agreement, we are essentially entering the final stage for our inclusion in the Program."
The Under Secretary to the President, who has been appointed since last year to coordinate efforts to bring our country into the Program, where essentially no visa will be required for Cypriot passport holders when they travel to the U.S., is preparing the data, which will be delivered to the U.S.
What remains is a practical difficulty, which exists as a parameter on the part of the US, namely that the rejection rate should be less than 3%. That is, out of 100 applications made by Cypriot passport holders, less than three are rejected. Last year we were very close to the target, and we hope that this year we will be able to reach the target. There is still an agreement to be signed and we hope that this will happen in the very near future.
We are fulfilling all our obligations. The difficulty of 3% remains, but we are optimistic that we will be able to reach this target.
Once these figures are submitted, a period of about three months will be needed to assess the acceptance or rejection of the rate from the US side.
So, the target for the end of 2024 to early 2025 is entirely achievable and it is a target that was set from the very beginning of this administration."
In response to another question, the Spokesperson replied, "Any country applying for membership in the Program must meet this rejection rate criterion."
Moreover, asked when the President will have a meeting with the personal envoy of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General (SG) Ms. Holguín, the Spokesperson said that there is nothing concrete so far regarding the date, noting, however, that "as soon as there is anything new in relation to either the submission of Ms. Holguín's report to the UN Secretary General or the arrangement of a new meeting with the President of the Republic, it will be made public".
(PM/MS/GC)
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