VZCZCXRO0734
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSL #0524/01 2611536
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181536Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1208
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 4148
RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN 0121

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRATISLAVA 000524 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR: CA/VO 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CVIS CMGT CASC PREL LO
SUBJECT: BILATERAL CONSULAR WORKING GROUP DISCUSSES VISA 
WAIVER PROGRAM ROADMAP 
 
REF: A. 06 BRATISLAVA 794 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: On September 11, Ambassador, DHS DAS for Policy 
Development Nathan Sales, Director for the Visa Waiver Program 
Office Daniel Sullivan, and Embassy officers met with 
representatives of the GOS to discuss the visa waiver program in 
light of the recent 9/11 legislation. Discussions included a direct 
meeting with Interior Minister Kalinak followed by the broader 
Bi-Lateral Consular Working Group. Discussions were seen as positive 
and solution-oriented. The most controversial topic was the proposed 
exchange of passenger name record data for passengers not traveling 
to the US, which GOS feels may be in violation of the EU data 
privacy directive. Overall, GOS presented a strong picture of its 
national security efforts, many in preparation for entry into the 
Schengen zone, which position them well to fulfill VWP criteria. END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. MOI Kalinak discussed the stable nature of Slovakia, the lack of 
terrorist group activity within the country and the very strict 
Slovak asylum laws.  He stressed that the GOS has been focused 
heavily on security improvements for Slovakia's expected entry in 
Dec 07 into the Schengen zone.  These include scanning systems that 
allow full inspection of  truck containers within 40 seconds to 
identify human forms, as well as systems on the border with the 
Ukraine designed to indicate humans, but prevent false positive 
reactions to large animals. DHS Sales and Sullivan lauded measures 
and expressed appreciation for the Interior Ministry's political 
will to meet VWP requirements. 
 
¶3. After meeting the Minister, Ambassador Vallee, Sales and 
Sullivan, joined conoffs and poloff at the MFA for the Bi-lateral 
Consular Working Group Meeting, chaired by State Secretary (Deputy 
Minister) Diana Strofova.  Also present were representatives from 
the Slovak MOJ and MOI.  Stofova stressed throughout the meeting the 
GOS desire to work with the United States to gain entry to the VWP 
and therefore improve relations between the two countries.  DAS 
Sales presented, in detailed form, the seven security requirements 
for designation of new countries to the VWP. 
 
¶4. In a number of areas, the GOS provided evidence that Slovakia is 
already in compliance with the requirement. The GOS already 
publishes a database with the numbers of lost and stolen passports 
(including personalized passports) on a publicly accessible website. 
Slovak e-passports with one biometric feature (digital face map) 
will be issued as of Dec 15, 2007.  GOS is awaiting technical 
specifications from the EU before adding the fingerprint biometric 
information, but the systems are in place to do so. Slovakia already 
currently accepts its citizens for repatriation from abroad. (On the 
point of repatriation, Sales stated that despite the 9/11 
legislation wording, countries will not be expected to take back 
former citizens.) Despite currently having no direct flights to the 
US, GOS highlighted that all its major airports (Bratislava, Poprad 
and Kosice) recently passed security evaluations for inclusion in 
Schengen without problems.  In addition, the police force has 
experience in the past executing air marshal work, and the GOS 
clearly signaled that incorporation of an American air marshal 
program should pose little difficulty. 
 
¶5. The most discussion and potential obstacles surrounded the topic 
of information exchange.  The initial sharing of watch list and 
other criminal activity information was generally accepted with a 
few questions on actual implementation.  However, once the talks 
moved to the discussion of PNR, especially the sharing of 
information on passengers not traveling to the US, a representative 
from the MOJ stated that she felt fulfillment of this requirement 
may be in direct conflict with the EU directive on data privacy. 
When asked directly if non-fulfillment of this requirement would 
prevent a country from entering the VWP, DAS Sales declined to state 
so definitively. 
 
¶6. At the conclusion of the general VWP discussions, Ambassador 
Vallee addressed the issue of the refusal rate waiver, communicating 
that the rate continues to fall (FY2006 was16% and FY2007 to Sept 
7th is 12.1%).  He stressed that the government must continue to 
promote economic opportunities for its citizens at home. 
 
¶7. Conoff and MFA/MOJ officials then continued with non-VWP 
discussions (septel) while Ambassador and DHS representatives joined 
Strofova for a luncheon.  Sullivan expressed his strong praise for 
the national security actions in place or in process in Slovakia, 
stating that "they should be proud of the work they have done" and 
that this work will provide a strong basis on which to build towards 
entry into VWP. 
 
¶8. As the next step, DHS is expecting a formal GOS response to the 
security requirements presented to determine areas of focus for 
cooperation and assistance. 
 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000524  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶9. DHS has not cleared this cable. 
 
¶10. COMMENT:  DHS representatives expressed their very positive 
impressions to post about the tone/current activities of the GOS. 
Given the timeframe that DHS indicated to create an ETA system (9 - 
12 months), Post will actively support the GOS in its efforts to 
meet VWP requirements.  Post will also continue to stress to the GOS 
that they should carry out a public relations campaign to encourage 
their citizens not to overstay visas.  Post welcomes any additional 
information from VO or DHS regarding a model bi-lateral Memorandum 
of Understanding regarding VWP requirements. END COMMENT. 
 
VALLEE