bozena_l
27.01.04, 21:51
story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040127/ap_on_re_eu/us_poland_2
By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Making a public appeal to President Bush (news - web sites),
Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski on Tuesday asked the United States
to do away with visa requirements he contends are too harsh on Poland,
especially in view of his country's support of the war in Iraq (news - web
sites).
AP Photo
Bush made no public commitment to change the policy, other than to say the
United States would work with Poland on the issue. But Kwasniewski said
afterward that Bush promised to lower the number of visa refusals and to
modify other regulations, though he refused to drop the visa requirements
altogether.
"The United States of America is not ready yet to accept the concept that I
presented, namely withdrawing visas completely," Kwasniewski told reporters
outside the White House.
Kwasniewski also said that he hopes to see his country reduce the number of
troops it has in Iraq in 2005.
The Polish leader came to Washington hoping to win rewards for Poland's
staunch support of the United States in its war in Iraq. Top on that list
was the visa issue, considered an indignity by many Poles — who also are
becoming increasingly opposed to Poland's continuing military involvement in
Iraq.
Americans can come into Poland without a visa, and the citizens of many
European nations do not need visas to enter the United States.
Though some 65,000 U.S. visa are issued to Poles each year, about 30 percent
of Polish visa applications are refused. The United States has said the
standard for waiving visa requirements, applied to 27 nations, is a visa
refusal rate of less than 3 percent.
A reporter asked Bush about the issue at a photo opportunity at the
beginning of the two leaders' meeting, and the president seemed to suggest
his hands were mostly tied by "visa rules set by the Congress that are on
the books."
He offered only the possibility of a new prescreening system that could
reduce some inconveniences to Poles and the establishment of a U.S.-Polish
study group "to make sure that we come up with rational policy."
He then sought to reassure Kwasniewski by stating how much the United States
values its friendship with Poland, as well as the thousands of Polish-
Americans living here. "Millions," Kwasniewski interjected. "Especially
before the election, there's millions and millions."
Bush, laughing, said he looked forward to working with Poland on those
issues.
"We will work, of course," replied Kwasniewski, gesturing with his hand and
leaning in close to Bush as they sat in chairs in front of a fireplace in
the Oval Office. "But I would like to deliver this idea to you and to our
friends: The future of the world is without visa, not with visa. And that
should be our goal."
As Kwasniewski repeated this several times, Bush seemed to agree. "Right,"
he said. "Well, it could be."
But he offered no commitment to change the policy, other than to tout a
recently announced immigration proposal that would allow illegal immigrants
to work legally in the United States for a temporary period.
"It will help very much. We appreciate it very much," Kwasniewski
persisted. "But, please, Mr. President, the future is no visa."
