Minister of Foreign Affairs Oana Toiu said that diligences are being made on all levels for having Romania included in the Visa Waiver Program, stressing that „we are in a much better place than a few months ago.”

„In this period, the Visa Waiver Program is also extremely important for us. We have a few bridges to rebuild there, but we are in a much better place than a few months ago, I would say,” the minister declared on broadcaster TVR Info on Sunday.

The Romanian top diplomat refrained from making a prediction as to when Romanians could travel to the US visa-free, indicating that she wants to announce the breakthrough when it is finalized.

„Romania must join the Visa Waiver Program. It cannot be acceptable in the medium and long term for a Schengen country not to be in the Visa Waiver Program too, and we are not talking only Romania’s interest in this. The Visa Waiver Program also generates tourism growth, which is also of interest for the United States of America. (…) Institutionally, what we are doing now is to work especially at the level of the Ministry of the Interior, of the Chancellery, the Foreign Ministry and the Embassy, and of course this is a very important point on the president’s agenda as well. However, too many optimistic statements have been made over the years regarding the Visa Waiver Program. I would like to publicly announce the progress when it is indeed finalized,” said Oana Toiu.

AGERPRES