Belarus government asks EU to facilitate visa regime

The Belarusian authorities have proposed that the European Union facilitate the visa regime, according to a statement by Belarus's deputy foreign minister Valery Varanetski.  He said that this country "had unilaterally made several steps to liberalize the visa regime for EU citizens". Varanetski is confident that the time has come for "joint actions", reports the Belarusian official news agency Belta.

"Our geographic position, our economy, our universal potential make it possible and necessary to contribute to the strengthening of Europe on the grounds of joint use of mutual benefits," the Belarus official said.