Opinions & Interviews
Poland suggests visa-free regime for Belarusian Brest, Grodno
MINSK, 26 August (BelTA) – It would make sense to extend the visa-free regime for foreign nationals for tourist purposes to the Belarusian cities of Brest and Grodno, Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, President of the Supreme Audit Office of Poland, told reporters on 26 August, BelTA has learned.
The Polish official commended the level of cooperation with the State Control Committee of Belarus. “The monitoring of the implementation of the visa-free travel regime is an important joint activity. We oversee how citizens cross the border and whether they face any problems. By the way, with the introduction of visa-free travel, the number of visitors to Belovezhskaya Pushcha has tripled,” Krzysztof Kwiatkowski noted.
Several days ago, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree establishing visa-free entry to Belarus and departure from the country and permitting visa-free stay of up to five days at the tourism and recreation park Augustow Canal and adjacent territories.
As for further cooperation with the Belarusian State Control Committee in monitoring the compliance with the visa-free travel regulations, Krzysztof Kwiatkowski believes it is necessary to identify “other barriers that need to be removed”. He suggested that it may be advisable to introduce visa-free entry to Brest and Grodno.
The joint plans of the Supreme Audit Office of Poland and the State Control Committee of Belarus include a formal assessment of the use of cultural and natural heritage sites in near-border regions. Plans have also been made to continue joint efforts to improve the use of the Augustow Canal for tourism purposes.
A delegation of the Polish Supreme Audit Office headed by Krzysztof Kwiatkowski is in Belarus on a visit on 25 and 26 August.
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