Britain breaks Russian laws and humiliates Russians in visa center

The situation with issuing British visas to Russian citizens still remains a tense one. One may not say that the British Embassy is friendly to those Russians who want or need to visit their country. Now the embassy has stopped issuing visas because of technical problems.

"We are seriously concerned about the fact that because of technical malfunctions in the work of the consulate office of the British Embassy many people experience very big problems. It goes about tens and even hundreds of people, who suffered moral damage because of that," Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the State Duma committee for international affairs said.

"These technical problems occur against the background of the policies of restraint about visas, which the British side has been practicing during the recent years, since the so-called Litvinenko's case," the official added.

According to the official, he does not understand, why the British try to connect these two absolutely different issues.

"From our point of view these two subjects do not relate to each other. Of course, we are interested in solving Litvinenko's case and punishing the guilty, whoever they are. However, it is inadmissible to make other people hostages of this criminal case. They just want to cross borders for educational, cultural, scientific and political interests," Kosachev said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said that one should not connect the visa issue with Litvinenko's case. Britain's David Lidington, the Minister of State responsible for European issues and NATO, stated that Britain could resume the talks with Russia about easing the visa regime with Russia only after Russian national Andrey Lugovoy goes on trial in London.

Britain accuses Andrei Logovoi, a deputy of the Liberal and Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), of being involved in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, a former FSB officer, in 2006.

Russian citizens do not see the connection between visas and Mr. Lugovoi either. Now there are technical problems in the British Embassy in Moscow, although British diplomats have not been friendly towards Russian travelers recently. The humiliating problem of the process to receive the visa to England, as well as numerous unfounded refusals to people have made many Russians rethink their plans to visit the UK.

Many Russians are particularly concerned about the fact that they have to undergo the process of dactylography. Moreover, people must fill in all the documents only in English. Consulate offices of the majority of all other countries accept questionnaires and other documents written in Russian.

It is humiliating indeed that people have to use a foreign language in their homeland. This rule violates the Constitution of Russia and the Federal Law "About the Russian Language." The law says that the only state language on the entire territory of the Russian Federation is Russian (except for the national regions where the language of a title nation is the second state language).

The fact that the English language virtually acts as the language of international communication does not give it any preferences at all. English is no different from any other language of the world from the legal point of view. Just try to imagine what would happen if the consulate office of, let's say, China would make Russian travelers fill in visa forms in Chinese.

Moreover, when going to the British Consulate for a visa, Russian citizens communicate with the British visa center, not with the consulate office. The British visa center is a Russian legal entity. The Russian law does not allow a Russian legal entity to use a foreign language as the only possible one in written communication with Russian citizens.

It just so happens that Great Britain violates Russian laws as it tries to put pressure on Russia just because a Russian citizen offended agains

Russia-US visas to ease 'within weeks'

Russia-US visa rules will ease within weeks, according to US Ambassador John Beyrle.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum he said major changes could be just three weeks away.

And he is expecting tourists and business travelers to be issued with three-year multi-entry visas as standard.

The news comes after reports of that an easier visa regime with the EU is also making progress.

Hong Kong And Ukraine Sign Visa-Free Agreement And Customs Co-Operative Arrangement

HONG KONG -- The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today signed a visa-free agreement and a Customs Co-operative Arrangement with the Government of Ukraine at the Government House.
The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, and President of Ukraine, Mr Viktor Yanukovych, witnessed the signing ceremony.

The Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, on behalf of the HKSAR, signed the Agreement on Mutual Abolition of Visa Requirements with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Mr Kostyantyn Gryshchenko.

The agreement provides visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders visiting Ukraine for a stay of up to 14 days.

Likewise, Ukrainian nationals will also enjoy 14 days' visa-free access to Hong Kong. "The agreement will enter into force on November 3, 2010 after completion of the internal procedures," a spokesman for the Security Bureau said.

"We welcome the signing of the agreement. This is a significant step forward for the travel convenience of Hong Kong travelers, which will help promote trade, business and tourism between the HKSAR and Ukraine," he added.

The availability of visa-free access to Ukraine has brought the total number of countries/territories agreeing to grant visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HK SAR passport holders to 142.

Also at the ceremony, the Commissioner of Hong Kong Customs and Excise, Mr Richard Yuen, signed a Customs Co-operative Arrangement with the Chairman of the State Customs Service of Ukraine, Mr Ihor Kaletnik,regarding co-operation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters with the State Customs Service of Ukraine.

"The signing of the Customs Co-operative Arrangement signifies the mutual commitment and determination of the two customs administrations to enhance co-operation in combating transnational smuggling and criminal activities.

And both parties are committed to co-operating more closely through mutual administrative assistance on matters relating to information exchange and enforcement of Customs laws," the spokesman said.

Hong Kong Customs and Excise has so far signed Customs Co-operative Arrangements with 17 of its counterparts.

Foreign Ministry: Macedonia Halts Visa Regime For Ukraine

KIEV, Ukraine -- The Republic of Macedonia for the period from 5 August till 15 October 2010 introduces a visa regime for Ukrainian citizens, who intend to visit Macedonia on short-term visits (up to 90 days).
Ukrainians in this period can come to Macedonia with a valid passport, insurance and money needed to stay in the country or the confirmation of receiving financial support from other sources.

In addition, the intergovernmental agreement between Ukraine and Macedonia on mutual trips of citizens will come into force on 27 August 2010.

Under the agreement, citizens of the state of one party, when entering the territory of the state of the other party with the purpose of business contacts, exchange in scientific, technical, educational, cultural and sports fields or journalistic activities, short-term stay for the purpose of education and treatment, as well as visiting relatives or friends, shall enter, exit and stay on the territory of the state of the other party without a visa up to 90 days within 180 days.

Tourists shall enter, exit and stay on the territory of the state of the other party without a visa on the basis of the original contract for rendering tourist services (voucher) and the confirmation of acceptance of foreign tourists from the organization involved in tourist activities on the territory of the state of the other party for 30 days.

At the same time, given the above-mentioned decision of the Macedonian side about the temporary suspension of the visa regime for Ukrainian citizens till October 15, 2010, the provisions of the said agreement would actually be applied by the Macedonian side to the citizens of Ukraine starting October 16, 2010.

Visa-Free Travel From Ukraine

TEL AVIV, Israel -- The cabinet on Sunday approved a proposal by the foreign and tourism ministers to cancel the mutual tourist visa requirement between Israel and Ukraine
The plan, which has been discussed for a year, is expected to raise the numbers of tourists from the Ukraine.

At the meeting, Tourism Minister Stas Meseznikov argued for the change, noting that the Tourism Ministry has been promoting tourism in the Ukrainian market for several years.

However, obtaining a tourist visa in a procedure that is both cumbersome and protracted, he said, and prevents the realization of the tourism potential from the Ukraine to Israel.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed his support for the visa cancellation and noted that the relevant ministries should work implement it. The visa cancellation will go into effect after an agreement is signed by both countries’ foreign ministers subsequent cabinet ratification.

“Given that with every 100,000 additional tourists, about 4,000 new jobs are created and about $200 million injected into the economy, this is a decision with important economic and social implications for the economy,” said Meseznikov.

“Russian tourism alone has already created thousands of new jobs and brought in hundreds of millions of dollars into the Israeli economy since the cancellation of the visa requirement in October 2008.”

In 2009 73,500 people visited Israel from the Ukraine.

According to Tourism Ministry estimates, the number would reach 200,000 a year once the visa requirement is dropped.

The cancellation of visas for Russians produced a significant increase in incoming tourists, from about 193,500 in 2007 to 402,000 in 2009.

The Tourism Ministry sees countries from the former Soviet Union, in particular Russia and the Ukraine, as having great potential for incoming tourism.

Before the visa requirement from Russia was canceled, organized tour groups from Russia and Eastern Europe were allowed to visit Israel for one day, a ministry spokeswoman explained.

This option still exists today, but now, having been exposed to Israel, it is easier for these day-trippers to come back for a longer visit.

The cabinet decision was greeted warmly by most local tourism operators.

“The cancellation of visa requirements from Ukrainian tourists who wish to visit Israel will contribute to the development of incoming tourism to Israel,” read a statement from the Incoming Tour Operators Association.

“This decision will enable the realization of the Ukrainian tourist potential for travel, vacations and pilgrimages.”

Not everyone was impressed by the decision, however. Joseph Fischer, owner and executive board member of IDB Tourism, said that the decision was at heart a political one and not an economic one and that the prospects of Ukrainian tourism are over-hyped.

“The tourism minister is a man with a clear political agenda,” said Fischer. “As a high-ranking figure in Israel Beiteinu, the minister is committed to his constituents.

By promoting tourism, he is actually assisting Ukrainian immigrants to Israel to go home on visits without having to pay for visas.”

Fisher said that Ukraine, which was hard hit by the global economic crisis, is not a lucrative market for the Israeli tourism sector and that most of the Ukrainian visitors who come to Israel, do so on day trips, without leaving their money behind in Israeli hotels and shops.

“I would urge the minister to divert his attention to markets which offer quality tourism potential to Israel,” said Fischer.

Visa changes to lure more foreign talent to Russia

Russia is set to lure more talented managers to the country by reducing red tape for foreign experts who earn over 2 million roubles ($65,000) per year and offering them tax concessions.

From January 2011, qualified specialists will be granted work permits within 14 days of a written request of the employer - and bypassing the quota set by the Federal Migration Service - if the bill is passed on its second reading in the Duma on Friday.

This procedure currently requires companies employing foreigners to apply from 12 to 23 months beforehand.
Together with a work permit of up to three years, experts and their families will gain permanent residency in Russia and will pay the flat rate 13 per cent tax from the start, instead of paying 30 per cent for any year in which they are in the country less than six months.

"This could radically change the bulky process of recruiting foreigners and make Russian companies more flexible hiring expats," said Irina Kurganova of the Manpower
recruitment agency. "I suppose big international players may totally reform their HR-policy from now on [and it] will also be handy for local companies aiming to work abroad."

Tarasiuk Opposes Ukraine's Resuming Visa Regime With EU Member Countries

KIEV, Ukraine -- Borys Tarasiuk, a Verkhovna Rada deputy of the Our Ukraine - People's Self-Defense Bloc faction, the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee for European Integration, opposes Ukraine's possible resumption of visa regime with EU member countries, the deputy's press service said.
"I do not see any advantages of this move. It is rather populism than a reasonable decision. I hope it will not be made," Tarasiuk said in an interview with Polish reporters.If the visa regime for EU citizens is resumed, this might wrap up the dialogue on a visa-free regime for Ukrainians held since 2008, Tarasiuk said.Ukraine's possible resumption of the visa regime is a negative step towards the European Union, according to Tarasiuk."One wastes time and is naivete expecting any EU concession in response," Tarasiuk said.Moreover, the visa resumption may bring about a revision of the agreement arranged between Ukraine and the European Union on the simplified visa regime, the people's deputy admitted.Tarasiuk said Ukraine had benefited from the visa-free regime for EU citizens because Europeans had increased their tours to Ukraine and thus were replenishing its national budget.As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Germany's Ambassador to Ukraine Hans-Jurgen Heimsoeth considers it unreasonable to resume the visa regime with EU member countries.Ihor Popov, deputy head of the President Viktor Yuschenko's Secretariat, president's representative in Verkhovna Rada, predicts that Ukraine can resume the visa regime for EU member countries before May 7.Ukraine considers possible resumption of the visa regime for EU citizens because it was not actually eased, and the agreement on the simplified visa regime that came into effect more than a year ago is only a formal document.EU citizens have enjoyed the visa-free regime with Ukraine since May 1, 2005 when they are staying here for 90 days or are in transit.