| MOSCOW, July 18. 'A visa-free regime can be introduced
between the EU and
Russia in the long term,' said Italian ambassador to Russia Gianfranco
Facco
Bonetti today. According to the ambassador, talks between the EU and Russia
on this issue have been expressed in the EU's programmes as a 'long-term
task'. He added that as the current holder of the EU presidency, Italy
is
'ready to start talks on this issue very soon.' The ambassador said that
'in
order to introduce a visa-free regime between the EU and Russia a 'road
map'
needs to be drawn up.' Bonetti believes that the EU and Russia will move
to
wards visa-free travel within the Schengen Agreement, expanding it when
possible. The ambassador also said that it would be beneficial for Russia
to
become a member of the EU as this would 'enable democracy to develop in
the
country.'
Bonetti suggested that when the Baltic states join the EU next year,
the
status of their Russian-speaking populations would probably improve, as
both
the EU and Russia 'are concerned by the human rights situation.'
See also:
Russia-EU
Relations
|
