| The Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO has started
collecting signatures from Russian citizens demanding the elimination
of the visa regime between Russia and EU member states. According
to YABLOKO's official press release, published at the website of
the party, the request shall be forwarded to the President of Russia
Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the European Commission Romano Prodi,
heads of states and leader of parliaments of the European Community
member states.
"Russia is a European country and we have the right to feel
that we are fully-fledged representatives of European civilization,"
runs the document. "We realise the concerns of a number of
EU countries, but we think that these problems can be resolved.
At the Russia-EU summit in St. Petersburg most participants agreed
with the idea of eliminating the visa regime between Russia and
the EU. Most importantly, the political will of the leaders is
not lost in bureaucratic delays," state the organisers of
this action.
Internet users already can put their signatures under the address
at YABLOKO 's website. On Monday the party will begin collecting
signatures from Russian citizens who don't have access to the
Internet. In particular, people queuing at the embassies of EU
member states will be able to sign the address.
See also:
Russia
- EU Relations
YABLOKO starts collecting
signatures to eliminate the visa regime between Russia and EU
member states. Press Release. June 5, 2003
Deputy Speaker of
the State Duma Vladimir Lukin proposes the introduction of a visa-free
regime for Russian and European students. Press release, May 20,
2003.
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