On March 12, 2008 in Riga, Maris Riekstins, Acting Minister for the Interior, and Michael Chertoff, US Secretary of Homeland Security, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Latvia and the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America regarding the United States Visa Waiver Program and related enhanced security measures. Mr. Andrejs Pildegovics, Latvia's Ambassador to the US, was also present at the signing ceremony. During a meeting with Prime Minister of Latvia Ivars Godmanis and Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, emphasized that President George W. Bush is very much interested in new countries joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Programme. Mr Chertoff also mentioned that he had signed a memorandum of understanding with Estonia in Tallinn earlier that day, and also informed that further signings with other EU Member States have been planned for the near future. The Foreign Minister of Latvia, Maris Riekstins, in his turn, informed that the aims of Latvia and the Community are in full conformity, namely, that the EU Member States should join the U.S. Visa Waiver Programme as soon as possible in order to ensure full reciprocity and equal rights to all EU nationals. The complete text in English: Memorandum of Understanding regarding the US Visa Waiver Progam and related security measures