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U.S. Visa Waiver Program Roadmap: Open Dialogue in Alytus

28 October 2005

Media event: media representatives are invited to participate. The event is scheduled to take place on 3 November 2005 at 16.00 at the Alytus Municipality Hall.

On 3 November 2005 at 16.00 the Alytus Municipality will host U.S. Consul James Fellows and the Head of the Lithuanian MFA Consular Department, Vaidotas Verba, who will speak to residents about the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Roadmap for Lithuania.  The presentation will be open to the general public in Alytus, followed by a question and answer session.

Such presentations and Q&A sessions on the U.S. VWP Roadmap will also be arranged in other towns in Lithuania.

In April U.S. Ambassador Stephen Mull and Mr. Verba announced the initial results of U.S.–Lithuania joint cooperation in identifying areas to address before Lithuania can participate in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.

Lithuania and the United States have had a number of consultations on visa issues both in Vilnius and Washington.  The United States Government is committed to working together with the Government of Lithuania to bring Lithuania into compliance with the Visa Waiver Program.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice invited Visa Waiver Program countries and a limited number of other select states, including Lithuania, to a conference in Washington on 23 September 2005.

Senior leaders of the Departments of State and Homeland Security spoke at the conference.  Participants discussed the Visa Waiver Program and the Visa Waiver Roadmaps, developed with selected countries.  Lithuania was represented by its Embassy in Washington.