Thursday
31 january 2008
18:30
Poland opts for 15-km zone for free cross-border travel
Talks on free cross-border travel between Poland and Ukraine started Jan. 31 in Warsaw. “According to our information, Poles will seek to limit the area subject to new travel agreement to 15 km. However, Ukrainians continue to insist on a 50-km zone,” a member of the Ukrainian team of negotiators told ZIK, speaking on condition of anonymity.Given the agreement on free travel is signed in Feb. 2008, it will be open for residents of Ukraine border regions only in March 2008, our source said. “We are tolerant people and we will wait. We will not resume pickets at the Krakovets cross-border checkpoint on Feb. 1, as we originally planned. However, there is no knowing what other Ukrainian groups will do. They may resume the blockade on Feb. 1.”
Our source informed that Polish consular officials have started to issue multiple visas to Ukrainians. “But Polish border guards have begun to find faults with Ukrainians, demanding extra documents, like an invitation to work in Poland or a contract with a Polish employer. However, no such document is needed when Ukrainian apply for visas. I think, these are merely excuses not to let Ukrainian into Poland. I believe they got tacit instructions from Polish top officials on that,” one of the Ukrainian negotiators said.
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zmolo.com
In the not too distant future, hopefully, Ukrainians will not have to suffer the discrimiation and unfair restrictions on the right of travel within Europe.
Likewise Ukraine needs to bring its visa requirements in line with Europe's Shenanigan Visas. Currently some nationalities that do not require visa to visit EU countries still require a visa to visit Ukraine. Its in Ukraine's interest to review and address this issue.