Minsk is ready to enter into talks with EU on visa matters, foreign ministry’s spokesman says

Minsk is ready to enter into talks with the European Union on visa matters, Andrey Papow, spokesman for the Belarusian foreign ministry, said on February 5. The official was commenting on a campaign for a reduction in Schengen visa fees for Belarusians launched by three members of the European Parliament.

“We have taken a number of unilateral steps in this direction, in particular abolished the invitation requirement for EU citizens who plan to stay in Belarus for no more than 30 days on a short-term guest or business visa; introduced lower visa fees for citizens of the EU countries that border on Belarus,” he said. “We believe that we have the right to count on reciprocity on the part of the European Union under these conditions.”

Mr. Papow described the European Parliament members’ campaign as “a step in the right direction.” “It is obvious that even those European politicians who cannot be suspected of an excessively loyal attitude toward Minsk are well aware that the visa system in Europe must not obstruct the development of contacts between people and economic ties,” he noted.

The Belarusian foreign ministry was bewildered by the trio’s allegation that Minsk was not taking active steps to negotiate an agreement on easier visa travel with the EU, according to Mr. Papow. “In this context, we would like to remind [them] that the Republic of Belarus has consistently invited the European Union to sign such an agreement since 2004,” he noted, adding that the proposals had not been heeded by the European Union.

The three members of the European Parliament are collecting signatures to a petition calling for lower Schengen visa fees for Belarusians. They are required to collect the signatures of at least 392 members of the European Parliament for the petition to be submitted to the European Commission and the EU Council.

In an interview with BelaPAN in late 2007, Javier Solana, the EU’s high representative for the common foreign and security policy, said that the EU would be ready to enter into negotiations on a visa facilitation agreement with Belarus when an action plan for the country’s involvement in the European Neighborhood Policy was in place.

Nine countries joined the Schengen zone on December 21, 2007, namely the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Belarusian citizens now have to pay 60 to get a Schengen visa.

Polish and Lithuanian visa fees have thus rose from 5 to 60 for Belarusians.