Poland Making Free Visas for Belarusians

30.12.2010 09:08
Архив Редакция

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski made the decision on January 1, 2011 to cancel the fees for issuing national Polish visas for Belarusian citizens in the Polish consular offices in the territory of Belarus.

«This decision is an expression of solidarity and gratitude to the Belarusian people, who made a signal of support to democratic movements during the elections on December 19. We want to help our neighbors to strengthen the European identity through more frequent contacts with the Poles and other citizens of the European Union,» the Polish Foreign Ministry said.

Previously, the cost of the national Polish visas for Belarus was €20. Three consular missions in Belarus (Brest, Hrodna and Minsk) have issued 172.486 visas for Belarusian citizens since 2010. Long-term national visas are usually issued to ordinary citizens, but not to government officials.

«We also keep the right to take measures to prevent officials and citizens of the Republic of Belarus, responsible for organizing a wave of repression against civil society on December 19, 2010, from entry into the Republic of Poland,» the Foreign Ministry of Poland said.

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