Events

MINSK, 9 March (BelTA) – Belarus hopes to develop a clear mechanism of interaction’ with Russia for tackling the current migration issues, spokesperson for the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dmitry Mironchik told the media, BelTA has learned.

The interstate interdepartmental working group will soon gather for a regular meeting to develop recommendations for a coherent migration policy of Russia and Belarus. “The Belarusian side hopes that the working group will develop a clear mechanism of interaction between the law enforcement, border and other agencies on all topical issues,” Dmitry Mironchik said.

According to Dmitry Mironchik, the issues include the establishment by the Russian Federal Security Service of border zones on the Belarusian-Russian border, and refusal of entry to the Russian Federation to third-country nationals who have valid Russian visas. “Naturally, we are ready to discuss the counter questions that the Russian side may have in connection with the adoption of the decree that introduced visa free entry to Belarus for a period of five days for citizens of several states,” he stressed.

The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received any official lists of issues from the Russian colleagues yet. “At the February meeting in Moscow, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and Russia agreed that the two ministries will promptly transform the arrangements reached by the group into agreements,” Dmitry Mironchik said.

The meeting of the working group will be held according to the schedule and on mutual initiative. The meeting was initially slated to take place in Grodno on 15-17 March. “We are ready to host our Russian counterparts and discuss all important matters. Russia, however, asked us to postpone the date for the meeting for several weeks,” the spokesman said. The program and the agenda of the meeting are under development.

The working group held a video conference in December 2016. The working group comprises representatives of Belarus’ Interior Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Border Committee and the State Security Committee. Russia is represented in it by the Interior Ministry, the Justice Ministry, the Federal Security Service, the Border Service of the Federal Security Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.