Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 3 March (BelTA) - Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Yelena Kupchina believe that Belarus and the EU will be able to initial an agreement on visa facilitation by the time of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit in Riga. The official made the statement to the media after the Belarusian-Italian ministerial consultations on 3 March, BelTA has learned.

“We do not rule out the possibility of initiating this visa agreement before the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga,” Yelena Kupchina said.

In her words, the next round of consultations on easing visa restrictions will be held in the near future. “They will take place in Minsk,” Yelena Kupchina noted. Attending the consultations on Belarus’ behalf will be representatives of the Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry. “Two agreements, on visa simplification and readmission, will be under consideration,” the Deputy Foreign Minister said.

According to Yelena Kupchina, the EU is currently working on a new negotiating position in what regards the visa regime with Belarus. “We also hope that progress will be made at the forthcoming consultations,” she stated.