Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with United States Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, in Tallinn for a visit, on Wednesday, 29 October.

At the meeting, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and USA Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff expressed their satisfaction over the successful co-operation between the governments of Estonia and the United States. A result of this co-operation is that Estonian citizens will be able to travel to the United States without a visa starting on 17 November.

According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, the expansion of the United States of America’s Visa Waiver Programme is, for Estonia, a sure indication of good and tight relations and co-operation with the USA. “The USA is demonstrating trust in the Estonian citizens and nation with its decision,” stated the Estonian foreign minister. Paet added that visa freedom is important for both nations and will certainly strengthen contacts.

However, Foreign Minister Paet also said at the meeting that Estonia thinks it is important that the USA Visa Waiver Programme be expanded to include all European Union nations.

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