Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 26 June (BelTA) – Easing the visa rules between Belarus and Israel will contribute to the development of human contacts and the Belarusian-Israeli relations as a whole, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said as he met with Israeli Minister of Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver, BelTA has learnt.

"Human contacts between our countries should develop actively. We are interested in relaxing the visa rules between the two countries to facilitate these contacts," said Vladimir Makei.

"We would like to see progress on this issue and we would like us to find a compromise," the Minister added.

As was reported earlier, Belarus suggests preparing an agreement on short-term visa-free travel with Israel. The corresponding note was handed over to the Israeli side. Under the agreement, assuming it is signed, the citizens of the two countries will be able to make visa-free trips for up to 30 days.

The initiative on the mutual abolition of visas for the citizens of Belarus and Israel was announced by Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko in his State of the Nation Address to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly on 19 April 2013. The head of state gave the instructions to the Foreign Ministry and other agencies concerned. The mutual abolition of visas will make the holy places related to the emergence and history of the three world religions in Israel more accessible for Belarusians, and will open up Belarus for Israelis. Israel is home to over a million natives of the former Soviet Union, including approximately 120,000 natives of Belarus. The introduction of the visa-free regime will promote the human contacts, and contribute to the development of tourism and business ties between the two countries.