BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/08/2007

Belarus Wants Easier EU Travel Rules

Andrey Hiro, the head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry's consular department, told journalists on August 13 that Belarus hopes the European Union will enter talks with Minsk in the near future on easier two-way travel, Belapan reported. Hiro said Minsk unilaterally simplified visa rules for EU nationals "as much as possible" three years ago, but the EU's response to the move did not satisfy the Belarusian side. In particular, Hiro pointed out that an EU citizen can obtain a Belarusian entry visa upon arrival at a Minsk airport, whereas Belarusian nationals can get a visa to a country participating in the Schengen agreement only by applying to that country's embassy. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/08/3-cee/cee-140807.asp