IRKUTSK, September 15 (RIA Novosti's Natalia Byrkina) - Russia is working for new foreign-travel passports, up to Schengen standards. Entrusted with the job is the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications in team with other involved federal offices, says Leonid Reiman, Information Technologies and Communications Minister.
It will take a new-standard passport and visa, since next year's start, complete with an iris photo and fingerprints, to enter the USA and Schengen zone countries, he said to Novosti.
An ad hoc team of his and Interior ministries is making sample passports. Corporate contests for passport printing and biometrical gauging will be held before the year's end.
"Will Russian home IDs fix irises and fingerprints in overall security efforts?" our reporter asked Mr. Reiman.
"You'd better address Interior Ministry men. We are merely to appoint manufacturing technologies, and the police will say what papers to use them for. We shall offer all-purpose techniques, which may be used for home identity papers, if need be," he replied.
