"It's within our power"

Russia and Israel will get rid of visas by the end of the year

Russia responded to the proposal of the Israeli authorities for the mutual abolition of the visa regime for tourists . In New York, as part of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with First Deputy Prime Minister and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. In a joint statement, the two ministers stated their “intention to explore the possibility of concluding a bilateral agreement on the abolition of visa requirements for mutual travel of citizens.” As motives for this step, Mr. Lavrov and Ms. Livni pointed to “friendly relations between the two countries” and “the importance of human contacts as a positive tool in promoting economic cooperation, developing tourism and improving the quality of life of people, as well as ensuring mutual respect and knowledge in the field of history and culture of peoples.”

"Israeli colleagues suggested trying to complete this work by the end of the year. I think this is within our power," Sergei Lavrov told reporters in New York. On September 16, the Israeli government approved the proposal of a special interministerial commission to begin negotiations with Russia on the mutual abolition of entry visas for tourists. The initiator of this step is the Minister of Tourism of Israel, Yitzhak Aaronovich.

As Vremya Novostey explained on Smolenskaya Square, this issue will now be agreed upon between the two countries through diplomatic channels. “Since the statement was signed only a couple of days ago, it is too early to predict the specific timing of this process. After all, serious negotiations and careful consideration of issues, including those related to readmission, will be required,” a diplomatic source told Vremya Novostei.

The Israeli Tourism Minister is convinced that the abolition of visas will increase the number of Russian tourists several times, which will have a beneficial effect on the economy of the Jewish state. Knesset member from the ruling Kadima party Zeev Elkin, in a conversation with Vremya Novostey, noted: “The Russian Foreign Ministry is interested in abolishing the visa regime with Israel to the same extent as we are, and maybe even more. Russia actively encourages religious pilgrimage to our country. The abolition of the visa regime will allow more Russians to visit Christian shrines. “I am optimistic about our countries’ chances of achieving visa abolition in the very near future.”

However, not only tourists are interested in the abolition of visas, because many Israeli residents still have relatives and friends in Russia. Knesset member from the right-wing Likud party Yuli Edelstein told Vremya Novostei: “Look at the flight schedule from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv - most of it consists of flights to Moscow and various cities in Russia and the CIS. The abolition of the visa regime with Russia is the right step, which will have a positive impact on our tourism industry, the entire economy and on Israeli-Russian relations in general. I will be the first to applaud the government when the first “visa-free” Russian tourist arrives in Tel Aviv, and our compatriots, accordingly, come to Moscow. I just can’t understand what is more in this decision: the desire to achieve an influx of Russian tourists or a political move designed to increase the popularity of Olmert and his government on the “Russian street” in Israel.”

Moreover, the other day, Tourism Minister Yitzhak Aaronovich hinted that if an agreement with Russia fails to be signed by the end of the year, then Israel will unilaterally cancel visas for Russians. The minister’s press secretary, Amazia Bar-Moshe, explained to Vremya Novostei: “We are interested in abolishing visas for Russian citizens, primarily because this would be in the interests of Israel. Israeli Tourism Minister Yitzhak Aaronovich said in the past that he was ready to consider the possibility of unilaterally canceling the visa regime if the Russian side did not agree to cancel visas for our citizens as part of the agreement. However, as far as we know, at the moment the Russian Foreign Ministry has not expressed any objections to the possible abolition of the visa regime with Israel. Therefore, the Ministry of Tourism has no reason to abandon the principle of reciprocity.”

Dmitry DUBOV, Jerusalem, Katerina LABETSKAYA