Solana on Russia - EU non-visa regime

EU's Foreign and Security Policy Chief Xavier Solana believes that the issue concerning the non-visa regime for Russian citizens with EU countries will be successfully settled.

"I have no doubts about the successful outcome. I'll never name the concrete date, but we work on the issue and the negotiations are successful so far," Xavier Solana disclosed on Wednesday. According to him, "the introduction of the non-visa regime suits the interests of the both sides." "It is necessary to work out the regime, which would enable people to cross the borders for the sake of the development of cooperation, but at the same time it must not create any problems for the both parts," Solana said.

In his opinion, the EU does not stiffen the visa regime for Russian citizens.

"This is not true. The EU is closely working with the Russian government and we are trying to improve the situation," Xavier Solana said on Wednesday on the air of Ekho Moskvy radio station. "However, we have obligations concerning the improvement of the control on the borders and these measures are not aimed against any country," he added.