Estonia, US make strides on visa-free travel, but criticism grows

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

TALLINN (AFP) — Estonia, a staunch ally of Washington, has made strides in talks on visa-free travel to the United States for its citizens, authorities said Wednesday, amid domestic criticism of an alleged climbdown.

"Estonia has made good progress in talks on visa-free access to the United States," the country's foreign ministry told AFP in a statement, adding that negotiators from both sides had this week discussed beefed-up security rules in an attempt to resolve the thorny issue.

US officials have said Estonia, a country of 1.3 million people, could be admitted to Washington's visa-waiver programme this year.

Estonia broke free from the crumbling Soviet Union in 1991 after five decades of rule from Moscow, and joined the European Union and NATO in 2004....