Russia-EU visa relaxation accord possible in Yekaterinburg if official passport issue settled - Czech premier
MOSCOW/PRAGUE. May 27 (Interfax) - Prague believes Russia and the European Union may sign a visa relaxation agreement at the Yekaterinburg summit if they reach a final understanding on official passports.
"I think the European Union and Russia may sign an agreement on further relaxation of the visa regime at the Russia-EU Yekaterinburg summit on June 3-4, but they would first have to settle the issue of biometric official passports," Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said in an interview with Interfax in connection with his four-day visit to Russia.
Already on Monday he will be received by Russian President Vladimir Putin and hold negotiations with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said in an earlier interview with Interfax that the next round of visa consultations would take place in Brussels on May 28-29. The EU preconditions for its consent to include official passports in the agreement are being discussed, he said.
As to when Russia and the EU may switch to visa-free travel, Necas said, "The time of transition to visa-free travel will be the result of a political decision made by the EU on the basis of technical assessments of both sides."
"The Czech Republic supports visa relaxation for Russia with due account of the fulfillment of coordinated terms by both sides. At the same time, the general visa policy is determined by the European Union, not by a member country," he observed.
