Russia expects results in EU visa-free talks in 2012

Moscow expects that Russia and the EU will start talks on the visa-free regime after December’s summit in Brussels, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday. “Now we have the document, fully approved by the negotiators, which will be adopted and supported at the summit in Brussels, at least we have agreed to recommend our leaders to do so,” Lavrov said during a meeting in Moscow with the EU foreign chief, Catherine Ashton. Russia and the EU have already reached an agreement on long-term visas for up to five years. The EU currently issues short-term visas from several days to one year, although the Schengen Agreement allows five-year visas. Five-year visas will not be issued immediately but only after a person has received a short-term visa and proved his responsibility.