Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 17 November (BelTA) – The Belarus-Russia draft intergovernmental mutual visa recognition agreement will soon be finalized, State Secretary of the Belarus-Russia Union State Grigory Rapota told the media following the session of the High-Level Group of the Union State Council of Ministers on 17 November, BelTA has learned.

“We have an instruction of the Belarusian and Russian presidents to sign this agreement by the 2017 year-end. If the two ministries of foreign affairs, which are mainly in charge of this task, finalize the document before the Union State Council of Ministers convenes in Gomel on 8 December, the Council will sign it at the session. Otherwise, it will be signed in another place. At the end of the day, it does not matter. The main thing is that it will be signed,” Grigory Rapota remarked.

In his words, there are some nuances remaining in place, which need to be agreed upon. “This is part of the work process,” the state secretary said.

“The most important thing is that both countries understand: this has to be done. This is important for the comfortable coexistence in the Union State,” Grigory Rapota summarized.