MOSCOW (CIHAN) - Russia has taken important steps to reducing visa application requirements from the European Union and it has also signed agreements with England and Italy to soften the formerly tough visa regime.
The new visa agreements were signed in Moscow on Tuesday with the participation of the English and Italian ambassadors to Moscow and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The new visa application makes it easier for educational, cultural and official visits.
Diplomatic circles in Moscow said that the new agreements had symbolic meaning but this agreement will also be important to help remove visa application requirements between the European Union countries and Russia.
Last year, the Russian government asked the European Union to remove entirely the application for visas between Russia and EU.
Sergey Lavrov said in his press statement after the signing ceremony that now that the new agreement with England and Italy has been signed, Russia will begin negotiations with the European Union to totally remove visa applications for EU countries.
Removal of the visa application for Russians traveling to EU countries would also be beneficial for countries like Turkey, which attracts thousands of Russian tourists and which is continuing negotiations with the EU for full membership.