Finland to open visa centre in Tatarstan
Finland will in March 2011 open a visa centre in Kazan, the country’s President Tarja Halonen announced during her visit to the Russian city.
The visit to Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, is part of Halonen’s four-day state visit to Russia.
Speaking with republican President Rustam Minnikhanov, Halonen said that the visa centre will be opened in order to “make relations between people easier, more comfortable and closer“. -Nothing can replace communication between people, she stressed, RIA Novosti reports.
The Finnish President also told journalists that Finland will do whatever it can to help introduce visa-free travelling between Russia and the EU, but admitted that this is a very complicated process.
Read also: Finland, Norway to strengthen diplomatic presence in Russia
Russian tourists have for several years been the largest group of foreign travellers to Finland. In 2010, Finland will grant nearly one million visas to Russian businessmen and tourists, more than any other EU country. Furthermore, over 80 per cent of the visas will be multiple entry visas.
Read also:Medvedev, Halonen to discuss Arctic
