Poland offers Russia, Belarus eased visa regime

Poland is ready to lower the cost of visas for citizens of Russia and Belarus if the move is reciprocated. The announcement was made at a press conference here Monday by Vlodzimezh Tsimoshevich, Poland's foreign minister. He stressed Poland's readiness to cut the visa free in half, saying even a minimum fee would be enough to cover the costs of the system.

The foreign minister also told the journalists that the European Commission was working toward simplifying cross-border traffic in Poland's eastern areas in a 50-kilometer zone extending from the border. A simpler system of cross-border traffic will encourage cooperation along the border, he said. Tsimoshevich noted the possibility that people who live near the border could be exempted from visa requirements.

Poland introduced a visa regime for its eastern neighbors on October 1 as part of its entry in the European Union.