Past Events 2008
President Bush Makes Historic Visa Announcement
President George W. Bush, speaking in the White House Rose Garden, announced on Friday, October 17th that the U.S. is extending the Visa Waiver Program to citizens of seven more countries: Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and South Korea. Although the President did not indicate an actual entry date, he noted that it will be in about a month.
The much awaited announcement was viewed on a live video feed hook up with the U.S. Embassy in Budapest. Speaking to a packed conference room including Hungarian colleagues such as Foreign Minister Göncz and Justice Minister Draskovics, Ambassador Foley noted that the single irritant in an otherwise excellent bilateral relationship was the visa requirement for Hungarians, and now it will soon be gone. Joining the Ambassador in a celebratory toast, Foreign Minister Göncz stated that the news from the White House represented "the cutting of the final piece of the Iron Curtain." Ambassador Foley also said that the hard work of both sides over the past two years to bring about visa free travel for Hungarians has paid off, and one of her main objectives since arriving in Budapest has been accomplished.
