Belarus invites Ukraine to hold additional consultations on ID cards

Dmitry Mironchik

MINSK, 9 March (BelTA) – Belarus invites Ukraine to hold additional consultations on ID cards, with the visa-free regime between the two countries remaining in place, spokesman for the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dmitry Mironchik told BelTA.

“The regime of trips between Belarus and Ukraine established with the agreement signed in 2009 remains in full force and effect. However, taking into account that the agreement does not provide for such a document as an ID card we have suggested Ukrainian partners we held additional consultations on the matter,” said Dmitry Mironchik.

According to the State Border Committee of Belarus, Ukrainian citizens cannot yet cross the Belarusian border with a plastic ID card. Ukraine introduced passports of new format early in 2016. “Ukrainian people are mistaken to think they can enter Belarus with such a document. The current bilateral agreement on visa-free trips the two countries signed in 2009 does not envisage a new Ukrainian passport as a document to cross the state border of Belarus,” noted representatives of the State Border Committee of Belarus. Moreover, Ukraine has not yet initiated ministerial procedures on recognizing these ID cards as a valid document to cross the border within the visa-free agreement, the State Border Committee of Belarus added.

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