hankyoreh

U.S. President George W. Bush on Saturday pledged to work with Congress to include South Korea and others in a visa waiver program (VWP) while urging lawmakers to ratify the just-signed free trade agreement (FTA) with the Asian nation.

In a released statement, Bush recalled his announcement in November seeking modifications to the VWP to offer it to Central and Eastern European nations and other allies including South Korea.

"I am committed to continuing to work with Congress to produce legislation that would strengthen our country's security by implementing this initiative," he said.

It is in U.S. interests to facilitate travel to the U.S. while preventing terrorists from exploiting such benefits, he said.

The statement came just after South Korea and the U.S. signed the FTA, starting a process of removing tariff and non-tariff barriers to goods and services flowing between the two countries.

Established in 1986, the VWP currently covers 27 nations. No country has been added to the program since 1999, and efforts to expand it have been discouraged following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Although the visa program is not a part of the FTA, the South Korean government has been pressing Washington for inclusion when negotiating the trade pact.

The U.S. also pledged to provide visa quotas for professionals, allowing specialists to work in each other's country. It would be similar to a program already in place between the U.S. and Australia, under which 10,500 such visas are issued annually.

South Korean officials said they would seek a bigger quota than for Australia, but need to work out measures to cross-recognize certificates.

Bush also welcomed the FTA with South Korea as an avenue to generate export opportunities for the U.S. as well as create better paying jobs.

"The agreement will also further enhance the strong United States-Korea partnership, which has served as a force for stability and prosperity in Asia," he said.

"I call on Congress to ratify this landmark agreement, to the considerable benefit of the American people."
WASHINGTON, June 30 (Yonhap News)