Posted on 06/20/2006 12:42:28 PM PDT by lizol
Polish-Americans urged to lobby for visa-waiver issue
BY CAM SIMPSON Chicago Tribune
WASHINGTON - Amid questions from her countrymen about whether the Bush administration is doing enough for Poland, the new foreign minister, Anna Fotyga, called on the Polish-American community Monday to increase its lobbying efforts on Poland's behalf.
Fotyga began a diplomatic visit to Washington this week with some Polish politicians continuing to ask why the White House has not done more for Poland given Warsaw's strong support. Most notably, a battalion of Polish soldiers remains in Iraq.
She met Monday with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and was scheduled to meet Tuesday with Vice President Dick Cheney.
Poles and Polish-Americans are particularly keen to see Washington add Poland to the list 27 nations whose citizens do not need a visa to travel to the United States for business or pleasure for 90 days or less.
Poland's admittance to the visa-waiver program has long been a gentle point of contention between the two allies, though those concerns are sharpening of late.
The Senate-passed version of legislation aimed at overhauling U.S. immigration policy includes a provision that would put Poland on the visa-waiver list. But key House lawmakers have yet to yield, and the Polish waiver is trapped inside the larger and more contentious debate surrounding the overhaul of immigration policies.
In an interview at the Polish Embassy in Washington, Fotyga suggested her government's influence on the issue may have reached its apex.
Speaking before meeting with Rice, Fotyga seemed to place most of her hopes in the hands of Polish-Americans.
"It is very important for the Polish-American community, and the tools are in their hands. They have a chance," she said of lobbying efforts.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
I can see no reason why Poland should not be part of this program. Poland is one of our best friends in the world right now.
I have a friend from Poland. When his sister came here with husband and kids,they didn't know the language. Within 6 months they had jobs, a place of their own and were taking ESL. Hardest working people I've ever met.
Correction; "One of our few friends...."
ping
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