Events

BREST, 30 November (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia have come to terms on every point in the course of preparing the mutual visa recognition agreement. The information was released during the latest session of the interstate working group on working out recommendations on pursuing a coordinated migration policy in the Union State of Belarus and Russia in the national park Belovezhskaya Pushcha, BelTA has learned.

Belarusian Deputy Internal Affairs Minister, Chief of the Public Security Police Nikolai Melchenko said: “All the technical issues have been addressed. The document is highly ready for signing.”

Russian First Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Alexander Gorovoi noted that the work on the draft document had lasted for a year and a half. “Today we’ve finished the approval process for the mutual visa recognition agreement. We hope that our heads of government will sign it in December,” he said.

The mutual recognition of Belarusian and Russian visas will make the two countries more appealing by removing certain barriers. Once the agreement is signed, third-country citizens will be able to travel in the Union State of Belarus and Russia using visas obtained from either of the countries.

For the sake of domestic security the Belarusian and Russian law enforcement agencies will share information by digital means. “It will make oversight over the presence of foreign citizens easier. It will produce uniform lists of citizens, who are forbidden to enter or leave Belarus or Russia,” added Alexander Gorovoi.

Participants of the session also discussed the practice of implementation of international and interagency agreements. Interaction between the relevant authorities in offering smooth travel experience to participants and foreign tourists during the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 was also mentioned. There was a total of 16 items on the agenda.

The next session of the interstate working group on working out recommendations on pursuing a coordinated migration policy in the Union State of Belarus and Russia will take place in Russia in H1 2019.