Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., August 15, 2008 Av 14, 5768 | | Israel Time: 15:56 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine 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  
 
Robbed in the war zone
Two Haaretz journalists robbed by armed Russian troops in Georgian city of Gori.
The Jewish Brad Pitt
Hollywood star plays American-Jewish hillbilly in the latest Tarantino film.
  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
  10.   Welcome Russia 17:11  |  Mickel 27/07/08
  11.   Flip the coin.. 15:09  |  Isit Wat-Usay 15/08/08
 Read & React
Nasrallah: 'Failed' IDF generals caused Georgia defeat in war
Responses: 103
Brenda Shaffer: By not aiding Georgia, Israel harming efforts on Iran
Responses: 36
U.S.: Hezbollah training Iraqi militants in Iran
Responses: 16
Police admit 'turning blind eye' to settler violence
Responses: 33
Benjamin Weinthal: Would Germany really choose Israel over Iran?
Responses: 11
Marwan Muasher: Arabs want peace, does Israel?
Responses: 20
Rosner's Domain
What killed the campaign for Darfur?
Better chances for a Lieberman VP?
Poll: Who will be better as leader of the Kadima Party?
Clooney wants more "balanced" Israel policy (WTR)


More Headlines
10:24 PRC: Our new rocket can reach as far as Ashdod
10:28 U.S.: Hezbollah training Iraqi militants in Iran
15:47 Rice arrives in Tbilisi with peace plan for Georgia and Russia
08:01 Nasrallah: 'Failed' IDF generals caused Georgia defeat in war
07:27 OPINION: By not aiding Georgia, Israel harming efforts on Iran
07:30 Olmert aides: Talansky court evasion shows he's unreliable
10:38 Jerusalem and Babylon / '80% of Georgian Jews want to move to Israel - just not yet'
13:51 Behind closed doors, police admit 'turning a blind eye' to settler violence
08:14 Haaretz newsletter: All the news from Israel direct to your inbox
13:47 Barak: Kadima can't lead Israel - it can't even decide when to hold primaries
13:54 Miki Goldwasser: We are one family, with a task - to bring home Shalit
12:21 VIDEO / Israel pins Olympic hopes on windsurfer Zubari as other Israeli athletes knocked out
12:47 Man shot in Jaffa after commenting on another man's driving
13:05 Olmert and Peretz reimbursed for expenses in Lebanon war probe
02:37 ANALYSIS / Talansky's absence won't save Olmert from indictment
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Isaac Maimon at Dreamshoppe
Special summer sale. Make an offer now. You will be surprised.
MBA in Israel in English
APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available
Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
www. israel-property.com
Yossi Avrahami Presents:
New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat
Your vacation starts here
Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates
Hebrew Summer courses
From $39.95
ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved