German ambassador to Russia regrets delay in easing of visa regime between Russia, EU
MOSCOW. Nov 14 (Interfax) - German Ambassador to Russia Ulrich Brandenburg has expressed regrets about the fact that Russia is linking the signature of the updated agreement between Russia and the EU on easing the visa regime with a visa waiver for holders of official passports.
"As for the visa waiver for holders of official passports, I have heard that Russia included that issue in the agenda very late and that Russia is linking the signature of the updated agreement on easing the visa regime to whether or not visas will be waived for holders of official passports," Brandenburg told Interfax before the German-Russian interstate consultations.
"If it is so, I regret it very much because the negotiations on easing the visa regime for many travelers have been suspended over a relatively small group of holders of official passports," the ambassador said.
Commenting on the introduction by Russia of a visa regime for crewmembers of EU planes on November 1, Brandenburg said Germany is closely following the debate on the matter. At the same time, he said: "Germany and Russia signed a bilateral agreement on waiving visas for crewmembers many years ago and that did not directly affect us."
Responding to a question as to whether he believes an agreement on this matter can be reached and signed before the end of this year, for example, at the EU-Russia summit, the ambassador said: "I do not participate in the negotiation process. We do not conduct it. However, I still hope that an agreement on the matter will be reached in the nearest future."