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to Hellenic Issues RAPTAKIS ASKS RHODE ISLAND’S US SENATORS TO PUSH
FOR TIMELY ACTION TO INCLUDE Praises Rhode Island’s two Congressmen, Representatives Kennedy and
Langevin, for signing on to letter (Coventry, RI 4/16/09) Rhode Island Senator Leonidas Raptakis is calling on United States Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse to work with their colleagues to strengthen American security and enhance our economic, cultural and political ties with Greece by allowing our Mediterranean ally to join the Visa Waiver Program. While the majority of European nations have been included in the program, Greece’s participation was delayed by the Bush administration. Many observers believe that Greece was shut out as punishment for leading the effort to block the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia’s inclusion in NATO. Raptakis said the time has come to allow our long-standing ally to take part in the Visa Waiver Program. “The Visa Waiver Program was an initiative designed to improve security and make sure participating countries were taking appropriate steps to combat terrorism and protect the traveling public,” said Raptakis. “The refusal to green light Greece’s application has made a mockery of the purpose of this initiative and represents an irresponsible policy that puts politics ahead of common sense and security.” Raptakis concluded, “With a new administration in the White House, we have an opportunity to put the visa waiver process back on track by recognizing that Greece has taken the steps necessary to be included in the program.” In addition to asking the Senators to take action on the issue, Raptakis praised Rhode Island’s two Congressmen, Patrick Kennedy and Jim Langevin, for signing on to a Congressional letter urging Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to support Greece’s timely inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program. Raptakis noted that putting political considerations aside, Greece had a strong case for being included in the program. Greece is the only nation of all the candidate nations to have been formally nominated by the State Department and has implemented passport biometrics exceeding the technology used by current VWP nations. Furthermore, Raptakis pointed to a September 2008 Government Accountability Office report which found that Greece’s visa refusal rate of 1.6% is well below the 3% level set for VWP inclusion.
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