Israel, Russia reach agreement eliminating visa requirement - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Thu., January 10, 2008 Shvat 3, 5768

Israel Time: 11:43 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Rosner's Domain

Diplomacy

Defense

Jewish World

Opinion

National

Print Edition

Advertising

Books

Arts & Leisure

Business

Real Estate

Easy Start

Travel

Week's End

Anglo File

Last update - 05:32 19/12/2007

Israel, Russia reach agreement eliminating visa requirement

By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: Israel, visa, agreement

Israelis and Russians will soon stop needing visas to visit each other's countries, under a new agreement reached by representatives of both foreign ministries in Moscow last week.

Government sources said the Russian government is expected to approve the new consular agreement soon after Christmas. Once the agreement is approved, the visa requirement should be eliminated within 90 days, they added.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, initialed a memorandum of understanding on eliminating the visa requirement in September, when they met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. However, further talks were needed to translate this memorandum into a detailed agreement.

	Advertisement

In Israel, the main push for eliminating the visa requirement came from the Tourism Ministry, which estimates that abolishing visas would increase Russian tourism to Israel by about 100,000 people a year. The Public Security Ministry, in contrast, opposed the move, fearing that eliminating visas would make it too easy for Russian criminals to enter Israel.

In the end, the cabinet sided with the Tourism Ministry, but decided that the visa requirement should be waived only if Russia would in turn waive its visa requirement for Israelis. Russia accepted this proposal in September, setting the stage for last week's agreement.

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	'Bush go home'
	Israeli Arab parties join leftist protests against the Bush visit.


	Peace overture
	Syria says it isn't seeking a military solution with Israel.




1.	Just as the Beta Israel project is coming to a halt	08:50	\|	Global Citizen	19/12/07

2.	to Global racist	09:05	\|	Puhi	19/12/07

3.	Russian criminals	09:57	\|	Andreas	19/12/07

4.	to Andreas	15:27	\|	Puhi	19/12/07

5.	The Trans Siberian Train....At last.!	15:47	\|	Stephen.	19/12/07

6.	Welcome	17:48	\|	Yakov	19/12/07

7.	Wonderful. Intourist will organise "Pogroms4Israeltourists"progr	18:01	\|	Alan	19/12/07

8.	Here we go again....	11:18	\|	Puhi	20/12/07

9.	Visa to Israel	11:36	\|	Vital	10/01/08

Today Online


	Bush arrives in the West Bank to a red carpet welcome
	Responses: 72


	Libya thwarts Security Council censure of Shlomi missile strike
	Responses: 24


	Shavit: If they want a state, Palestinians must undergo ideology change
	Responses: 15


	W. Bank Palestinians brace for visit by 'that criminal' Bush
	Responses: 22

Rosner's Domain

What does "change" mean for Israel?

How many states between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates? (WTR)

New poll: Who is the candidate that will have better policies for Israel?

Rosner's Guest: Israel at present is not a light unto the nations

Rosner's Mailbox: Anti-Semites within Ron Paul's camp

More Headlines
11:42 Bush: I believe we will reach peace deal in 2008


11:08 ANALYSIS: Bush visit gives Olmert a pre-Winograd respite


10:15 Palestinians in Ramallah brace for visit by 'that criminal' Bush


10:17 Poll: Labor voters want Barak to remain in gov't after Winograd


10:17 Inquiry into Holocaust survivor benefits lacks clear mandate


09:47 Libya thwarts Security Council censure of Shlomi missile strike


10:02 From Amsterdam to Tel Aviv: Israel's 2nd city promotes bicycling


04:02 Environment Ministry opposes plans to protect Herzliya archaeological site


09:00 Father, two children hurt in criminal car blast in Beit Semesh