Minister Lavrov, a staunch supporter of the visa-free travel regime, in the press conference after the meeting called for concrete action. –Our goal must be clearly announced […] and we would like to elaborate a transparent roadmap which can bring us in this direction, he said.
-If we succeed to move in this direction, it will be clear evidence of the mutually deepening of the strategical partnership, Lavrov said, RIA Novosti reports. He expressed hope that the roadmap, which will include a timeline for the introduction of the new traveling regulations, will be elaboreated in the course of the Spanish presidency of the EU Council. Spain took over the EU chairmainship from Sweden on 1 January.
The Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé in the press conference held after the talks agreed that both sides have to work for the elaboration of a roadmap, which can facilitate the process of improving contacts and travel between Russia and the EU.
-We are talking about an extended area, which includes relations between people, Mr. Moratinos Cuyaubé said. –I believe this is want we are working for, he added, RIA Novosti writes.
-We have to continue to create conditions for the future introduction of a visa-free regime, the Spanish minister highlighted. The terms and timelines will be subject for discussions with EU member countries, as well as with the Russian side, he maintained.
As BarentsObserver recently reported, the new Lisbon Treaty could help speed up the process of abolishing the visa regime between Russia and the EU. Italy has already announced that it intends to bring the issue up for a vote in the EU.
Read the Russian Foreign Ministry’s press release on the meeting here
