MOSCOW, July 26 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after a telephone conversation with his Polish opposite number Radoslaw Sikorski on Thursday that the Russian-Polish inter-governmental agreement on local cross-border movement would expand opportunities for cooperation and would be a step forward towards a visa-free regime with the European Union.

“The conversation took place in connection with the Russian-Polish inter-governmental agreement on local cross-border movement that is coming in force on July 27. It covers the entire territory of the Kaliningrad region and the northeastern provinces of Poland,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“It was emphasized that it (the agreement) will noticeably facilitate human contacts between the residents of these regions and will considerably expand opportunities for developing business ties, inter-regional cooperation, youth exchanges and tourist trips,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The Russian and Polish foreign ministers exchanged views on other urgent bilateral issues, including preparations for a forthcoming meeting of the Committee for Russian-Polish Relations Strategy to be co-chaired by the Russian and Polish foreign ministers. It is slated to take place in Moscow before the year’s end,” the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.