Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., April 01, 2008 Adar2 26, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:35 (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

Russia, Israel set to sign agreement eliminating visa requirement By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: israel travel, russia, visa  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will sign Thursday an agreement abolishing visa requirements for Russian nationals visiting Israel, and for Israelis travelling to Russia. The agreement is expected to come into effect 90 days after it is approved by the Russian and Israeli governments. Lavrov and Livni were set to meet in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening. 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. Advertisement 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. 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. Related articles: Visa requirement for Russian tourists to be eliminated Russia, Israel to sign deal on removal of visa requirements Israel cancels tourist visa requirement for Russians Last-minute goal tarnishes Israel-Russia relations Bookmark to del.icio.us   The gift of dignity T.A. charity provides female drug addicts with shower, meal and counseling. Sign of life Hamas leader says Gilad Shalit is still alive after two years in captivity.   1.   To Foreign Minister 16:39  |  The Archives 20/03/08   2.   A mountainous amount of Problem 17:17  |  The Archives 20/03/08   3.   So now those spreading blood libels can easily enter Israel 23:12  |  Jon 20/03/08

Today Online Hamas TV puppet 'kills' Bush as revenge for U.S., Israeli actions Responses: 56 Editorial: Israel's settlement policy is one of deception Responses: 21 Barak heeds Rice, softens stance on PA running Gaza crossings Responses: 19 More Headlines 11:55 Shas MK Benizri found guilty of accepting bribes, breach of trust 07:31 Hamas: IDF special forces kill two militants in Gaza raid 10:08 Barak heeds Rice call, reverses course to back PA border plan 10:57 Revealing God's female voice 09:58 Carcinogenic materials found in 2 additional F-16I fighter jets 05:50 Hamas TV puppet 'kills' Bush as revenge for U.S., Israeli actions 10:06 U.K. archives shed light on female spy who led anti-Nazi resistance 05:38 Russia's UN envoy: Moscow summit would energize peace process 05:56 Vatican looks to assuage Jews' anger over controversial prayer 05:53 PMO to bear financial cost of Israel Radio's Farsi broadcasts 11:56 Coming soon - kosher financial instruments 04:16 Palestinians approve $3.337 billion draft budget for 2008 04:42 Restless Druze employ boycotts, arson to combat cellular antennas Previous Editions Select Day 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Behind the Z Word Scholarly essays, commentary, podcasts, blogs and much more. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. 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 |

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