STRASBOURG, 24 January (BelTA) – Andrea Rigoni, Rapporteur on Belarus of the Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), welcomed Belarus' decision to introduce five-day visa-free stay for foreign citizens as he spoke at a meeting of the PACE Political Affairs Committee in Strasbourg on 24 January, BelTA has learned.
Andrea Rigoni noted that citizens of all countries of Europe will be able to enter Belarus visa-free for up to five days. “Starting from 12 February, we all will be able to travel to Minsk without a visa,” he said.
Andrea Rigoni pointed out that Belarus has recently hosted a Site and External Events Design (SEED) mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency. He said this fact indicates that Belarus is becoming even more open.
The PACE Political Affairs Committee held a hearing on the situation in Belarus in Strasbourg on 24 January. The meeting listened to reports by Belarus' representatives, Andrei Naumovich, Chairman of the Permanent Commission for Human Rights, National Relations and Mass Media of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, and Anna Kanopatskaya, member of the Permanent Commission for Economic Policy of the House of Representatives.
BelTA reported earlier that Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko's decree No. 8 “On the introduction of the visa-free entry and departure for foreign citizens” will come into force on 12 February. The document will allow visa-free entry to Belarus via Minsk National Airport for up to five days.
