In a recent interview in the economic daily Hospodárske noviny, Slovak Ambassador to the United States Rastislav Káčer says the law cancelling U.S. visa fees for Slovakia and other new members of the European Union is almost ready to pass in the U.S. Congress.
Káčer has been lobbying Washington for such a bill for four years hoping to peruade Congress that "this was a good thing for the U.S. not just for us." The ambassador says in the interview that the world image of the U.S.has deteriorated and that that this step will go a long way to improve that image.
Various versions of the law are still under discussion, the most advantageous to Slovaks being one proposed by Congressman George Voinovich. Káčer said that in the best case scenario visa-free travel to the United States could be reality within a year. The current U.S. administration supports the Voinovich proposal.
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
