Opinions & Interviews

Belarus, Russia find balance of compromises on visa recognition agreement

Vladimir Makei. An archive photo

MINSK, 10 December (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia have managed to find a balance of compromises on the mutual visa recognition agreement, Belarus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei told the media on 10 December, BelTA has learned.

“This is a balance of compromises. There were various options, but I believe that the two countries have finally decided on the option which is acceptable for both the parties,” the minister said.

According to him, the main thing for Belarus was to allow third-country nationals to cross the joint border freely. “We have a common border with Russia within the Union State. It is reliably protected. As a transit state, we are extremely interested in our joint border not being an obstacle but a possibility for free movement. We think that this agreement provides such an opportunity,” said Vladimir Makei.

As BelTA reported in late November, Belarus and Russia agreed on the issues regarding the agreement on mutual recognition of visas. “All technical matters have been settled. The document is almost ready for signing,” Belarus’ Deputy Interior Minister, head of the public security police Nikolai Melchenko told the reporters.
 
The two countries have worked on the draft document for the past year and a half. It is expected that the document will be signed at the Union State Council of Ministers meeting in Brest on 13 December.

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