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Russia and EU should have visa-free travel – Duma legislator

Pushkov did not rule out that it is necessary to begin from cancelling visas for students

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

BERLIN, March 12 (Itar-Tass) – Visa rules between Russia and the European Union should be cancelled, the head of the State Duma international affairs committee, Alexei Pushkov, told a meeting of the German Society for Foreign Policy on Monday.

The Russian legislator arrived in Berlin on a working visit.

“This obstacle (visa regime) should be removed,” he said. “I am not a radical in this sphere. Some processes should maturate. Cancellation of visas will take place,” and it is necessary “to calmly move towards this.”

“We have reached progress with U.S. partners in this sphere,” Pushkov said. “Recently the State Duma ratified an agreement on three-year visas for any citizen of Russia and any citizen of the United States applying for visas.”

“In some relation this is a better regime than we have with the European Union,” the legislator said adding that in this issue “it is undoubtedly necessary to move forward.”

Pushkov did not rule out that it is necessary to begin "from cancelling visas for students.”

“This would be a right step after which we would be able to move towards full abolition of visas,” he said.

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