Paet calls on EU to block visa talks with Russia

Sep 04, 2008
In cooperation with BNS

TALLINN - The Estonian foreign minister has called on the EU to halt talks with Russiaover a visa waver program in light of the continuing crisis in Georgia. 

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet told reporters on Thursday that Estoniawould push for a cessation of talks over abolishing the visa requirement for Russians looking to enter the EU.

“One topic that we don't consider possible to go on with is the continuation of the dialogue with Russiadirected toward the abolition of visas, in a situation where visa facilitation talks with Georgiahaven't even started,” Paet said.

The comments came ahead of a Friday EU meeting in which the bloc’s foreign ministers will discuss taking further actions over Russia’s continued presence in Georgia. The meeting will be based on the conclusions of a wider summit that took place on Monday.

Paet also said that other aspects of the EU-Russia relationship should be subjected to a scrutiny, including financing provided toRussia under the EU's neighborhood program.


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