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Russian, Greek foreign ministers set to discuss visas

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MOSCOW, July 6 (RIA Novosti, Olga Protasenko) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Greek counterpart, Petros Moliviatis, will meet July 8 in Moscow to discuss simplifying visa regulations between Russia and the European Union, a deputy foreign minister of Russia said Wednesday.

A bilateral agreement on visas will be considered as well, Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Chizhov said.

"The ministers will discuss the issue of simplifying visa regulations between Russia and EU as well as between Russia and Greece," Chizhov said.

According to the diplomat, Russia-EU visa talks are ongoing and the latest round will be held next week in Brussels.

"Greece, just like some other countries, is ready to discuss in parallel a bilateral agreement on simplifying visa regulations similar to the agreements Russia has already concluded with Germany, Italy, France and Cyprus," Chizhov said. Russia is currently holding talks on this issue with Greece, Spain and other countries, he added.

According to the deputy minister, this means simplifying visa regulations for certain groups of people.

Chizhov said many important milestones in Russia-EU relations were connected with Greece.

"The current agreement on Russia-EU Partnership and Cooperation was signed in Greece in Corfu in 1994, when Greece held the [rotating] EU chair," the diplomat said. He said the 2003 Russia-EU summit was also held when Greece chaired the EU.

"That summit resulted in a political decision on establishing four common spaces (Economic; Freedom, Security and Justice; External security; Research, education and culture) which found its practical embodiment in road maps adopted at the Russia-EU summit in Moscow," Chizhov said.

The deputy minister added that as an old friend of Russia, Greece would continue to exert a positive influence on the EU's policy toward Russia.

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