Kwasniewski to seek easing of U.S. visa requirement for Poles
Published:
10 January 2004 y., Saturday
President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Friday that he will press U.S. President Bush to waive visa requirements for Poles, citing Poland 's role as a steady ally in Iraq .
Poland has long been lobbying against the visa requirement, but Kwasniewski said the new U.S. policy of fingerprinting visitors from most nations made the matter more pressing, especially viewing Poland 's contribution to security in Iraq .
The U.S. administration argues that visa-free travel applies to nations with less than 3 percent of application rejections. About 30 percent of Polish applicants for U.S. visas are rejected. About 160,000 Poles a year travel to the United States.
Kwasniewski, who raised the issue when the leaders talked by telephone on Tuesday, said he will press the point when the leaders meet in Washington later this month. They also are to discuss the Iraqi mission and possible reconstruction contracts for Polish companies.
Poland commands some 9,500 international peacekeepers in south-central Iraq , contributing some 2,400 troop of its own.
Šaltinis:
AP
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