French Ambassador to Russia Calls for Simpler Visa Regulations

Cooperation between Russia and France in the areas of science and business is being held up by the fact that French specialists often have to wait several weeks to receive Russian visas and occasionally they are even refused visas. As a Rosbalt correspondent reports, this was announced by French Ambassador to Russia Claude Blanchemaison at the press conference Current Economic Relations between Russia and France on Friday, March 14. He said that multi-entry visas would be more convenient for some French people coming into Russia, in particular scientists and businessmen.

Mr Blanchemaison emphasised that any decision to abolish visas for travel between France and Russia could only be taken by the two heads of state but added that this 'will not happen in the near future.' He also mentioned that issues concerning visa regulations would be discussed at the Russia-EU summit in St. Petersburg on May 31.