Opening up border towns
The Russian Border Commissioner has notified his Norwegian colleague that the border towns of Nikel, Zapolyarny and Pechenga soon will be open for all visitors again.
For a couple of years, the Russian border towns of Nikel, Zapolyarny and Pechenga have been closed for all visitors without a special border zone permission. Therefore, travellers going from Norway to Murmansk have had to drive straight through the border zone without any stops other than at the local gas station
Now it seems like the FSB might ease the strict regulations of the border towns, information from the Norwegian and Russian Border Commissioners indicates.
– The Russian Border Commissioner has confirmed that there will be changes in the Russian border regulations. All three cities will be removed from the current regime and opened for all visitors with an ordinary Russian visa, says Norwegian Border Commissioner Leif Arne Ljøkjell to Norwegian radio-channel NRK.
Secretary General Rune Rafaelsen at the Norwegian Barents Secretariat says that he has been confident all the time that these regulations would only temporary. It was first of all the Russians themselves who where affected by the closing of these communities, he says to BarentsObserver. Mr. Rafaelsen says it is very important for the everyday life of the border towns that all Norwegians and Russians once again can visit the local markets, shops and hotels in the border zone.
However, the Russian Border Commissioner can not say for sure when the changes will be effectuated. Hopefully it will happen sometime before New Year, he says.
Read also:
FSB wants Shtokman village out of border zone 15 October 2008
