BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

19/06/2009

Lithuania: The EU Visa Policy with Regards to Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad Region was Discussed in Brussels

On 18 June, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas U?ackas, who is taking part in the European Council in Brussels with the delegation headed by President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, met with Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security Jacques Barrot and discussed the EU visa policy with regard to Belarus and the Kaliningrad region in Russia.

Minister V.U?ackas emphasized that proper EU visa policy in the region of East-Central Europe could play a special role in promoting regional economic, cultural and political cooperation.

The Minister stressed that Lithuania spoke up for a visa-free or a much more facilitated Schengen visa regime with all the countries in the Baltic Sea region.

According to Minister V.U?ackas, it was necessary to find flexible solutions, which would provide an opportunity for as much of free movement for residents of Russia's Kaliningrad region and, respectively, the citizens of Lithuania as possible, and to cut visa cost for the citizens of Belarus.

Head of the Lithuanian diplomacy informed that currently Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Poland and Russia were preparing an initiative regarding the facilitation of travelling for residents of the EU Member States - Lithuania and Poland - and for residents of Russia's Kaliningrad region.

V.U?ackas spoke up for a visa-free regime for residents of Russia's Kaliningrad region and invited the Commission to come up with appropriate suggestions.

J.Barrot and V.U?ackas discussed the agreements that were being concluded regarding the travelling of border residents of Lithuania, Belarus and Russia, and said that they would provide a possibility for border residents to cross the border and enter the border territory of another country without visas, but with special permits.

The Minister also drew the Vice-President's attention to the fact that now the conditions of visa regime for citizens of Belarus travelling to the EU were worse than for the citizens of Russia and Ukraine (visas cost 60 euros for citizens of Belarus and 35 euros for citizens of Russia). According to V.U?ackas, now that Belarus has become a member of the Eastern Partnership initiative, the visa-free regime for Belarus has to be revised and the cost of visas reduced. The Minister stated that this would stimulate people-to-people and business contacts between the citizens of the EU and Belarus, cultural exchange and would increase the volume of tourism.

Vice-President of the European Commission J.Barrot highlighted that the EU's Eastern Partnership initiative foresaw further liberalisation of visa regime for members of this initiative; therefore, reduction of visa cost for citizens of Belarus had to be discussed. He said that he was allegedly ready to discuss the suggestions regarding the facilitated visa regime for residents of Russia's Kaliningrad region and that he was waiting for joint suggestions of Lithuania, Poland and Russia.

During the meeting, issues of evaluation of crimes of totalitarian regimes in Europe and joint initiatives of Lithuania and the European Commission in this sphere, seeking to mark the 70th anniversary of signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact at the EU level were discussed.

Source:

http://www.isria.com/pages/19_June_2009_60.htm

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