Russian Deputy Foreign Minister: Visa free regime for EU and Russia

Both Russia and the European Union are interested in visa free trips, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Razov in the interview which he gave to the Profil magazine.

"After all, a visa free regime is a mutual need," believes the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister.

"If we, the European Union the Russia, set to ourselves the task of building a united, democratic and safe Europe, a Europe without artificial barriers and diving lines, we must orient ourselves on the common space in the economic, cultural and educational spheres, in the spheres of security, justice and so on," said Sergei Razov.

"Unfortunately, things are moving slowly. The European commission take into consideration the opinions of all member-countries of the European Union, but they are not always the same. The European bureaucracy also plays its role," pointed out Sergei Razov.

However, consultations on this score are going on with a number of EU member-countries and candidates.

"The recent agreements of our President and the Prime Minister of Italy, the country which now holds a rotating presidency in the European Union, are promising in this sphere," noted the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister.

At the present time different variants of the possible agreement are being worked out, said Razov.

"There is a possibility, for example, for visa free trips with diplomatic and business passports. And there are different types of visa regimes - visas may be free of charge, long-term and multiple," added the high ranking Russian diplomat. According to him, a simplified procedure of receiving visas can also be established for certain categories of persons - businessmen, schoolchildren, students, participants in scientific and cultural exchanges.