Alexander Gorobets: Ukraine imposes visa a regime for several CIS countries

Starting on January 1, 2002, members of those CIS countries that have no agreements on mutual trips, may enter, leave, and travel via Ukraine only with visas, official spokesman for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry Igor Dolgov reported today. The innovation is provided by the regulations of the cabinet of May 6, 2001 and to be applied to Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In Dolgov’s words, bipartite agreements between Ukraine and the countries mentioned have already been signed but are not in force so far, or they are to be signed in the nearest future.

Entry of citizens from Russia, Belarus, Georgia, and Turkmenistan to Ukraine is regulated by agreements on mutual trips signed in 1992, 1997, 1998, and 1999,respectively. They may visit Ukraine with foreign passports in a case is not provided by Ukraine’s international agreements.

At the same time, talks between Ukraine and Moldova have not yet been completed. That is why people may travel visa-free for another months. They say that Ukraine’s prime minister, Anatoly Kinakh (he is of Moldavian origin), interceded for such an exception for Moldova.

Alexander Gorobets PRAVDA.Ru Kiev Ukraine

Translated by Maria Gousseva

Read the original in Russian: http://www.pravda.ru/main/2001/12/19/34959.html