YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin welcomes today’s statement
by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
on introduction of a visa-free regime between Russia and EU.
“We hope that consultations conducted by experts will reach
a solution in the nearest perspective and we shall be able
to speak about definite time [for implementation of the visa-free
regime] then. Russia is ready to transfer to a visa-free regime
with Russia already tomorrow,” Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign
Minister, told the journalists after his negotiations with
Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European
Union.
In early February YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin called
the European Union and Russia to activate their efforts for
introduction of a visa-free regime between Russia and the
EU at the meeting of the PACE Group Alliance of Liberals and
Democrats for Europe (ALDE).
“The European Union should initiate such projects which would
involve Russia’s society and the Russian elite into the circle
of European values and approaches. Implementation of such
a strategy may start from introduction of a visa-free regime,”
Sergei Mitrokhin said at the ALDE meeting.
According to Mitrokhin, in 2003 YABLOKO discussed the possibility
of introduction of a visa-free regime with then Russia’s Foreign
Minister Igor Ivanov.
See also:
On Eliminaiton
of Visa Barriers Between Russia and EU. Statement of YABLOKO's
Chairman. February 1, 2010
European liberals welcome
Russia to the European Union. Press Release, February 3, 2010
Russia-EU
Relations
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