MINSK, 15 November (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia are set to sign an agreement on mutual recognition of visas by the end of 2017, Belarus' Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei told the media following his meeting with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on 15 November, BelTA has learned.
“Today, considerable attention was paid to the work on the intergovernmental agreement on mutual recognition of visas and other issues related to the entry of foreign citizens and stateless persons to the territory of the states parties to the Union State Treaty. We hope that this agreement will be signed before the end of 2017,” Vladimir Makei said.
Belarusian and Russian experts cooperate closely together when working on this document. Several rounds of consultations have been held. The next one will take place in Moscow in the next few days. “There remain some controversial points, primarily associated with the duration of stay of foreigners on the territory of this or that state. We hope that we will be able to find a compromise on the contentious issues,” the Belarusian minister noted.
Sergei Lavrov said that Belarus and Russia studied the experience of the Schengen Agreement which has proven to be very effective. “Perhaps we will apply this experience on the territory of the Union State. “This matter will be discussed further," he added.
