MOSCOW, January 21. /ITAR-TASS/. The program of ‘joint steps’ to cancel the visa regime with the European Union is fulfilled, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference reviewing the results of 2013 here on Tuesday.

“Negotiated package of blocks has earlier been prepared for transition to visa-free regime. According to our estimates, they are fulfilled, criteria set in them are attained,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lavrov noted EU attempts to link these steps with other agreements not related with them, particularly in human rights, hamper transition to next stage of talks.