Travel restrictions to Germany may be reduced for many Russians

The Russian and German Ministers for Internal Affairs discussed the possibility of reducing restrictions for travel between the two countries. Russian Minister of Internal Affairs Boris Gryzlov said he discussed the question of creating a work group from representatives of Russian and German Ministries of Internal Affairs, and also representatives of Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two governments. In the first stage of work this group plans to determine the categories of citizens which could visit Germany on the basis of a long-term or permanent visa. Gryzlov said that they could be political figures, government officialls, representatives of business who have long-term contracts with German business and students. The group will be expected to prepare a report based on the results of its study in the run up to the October 2003 inter-governmental consultation on the question.