Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Switzerland will respect free visa regime for Macedonia

Switzerland will apply a possible decision of the European Commission (EC) on annulment of visa requirements for the citizens of Macedonia, as although non EU country it is a member of the Schengen visa system, Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said Monday after meeting his Swiss counterpart Micheline Calmy-Rey.

Milososki briefed his counterpart on Macedonia's progress in the visa liberalization process and the country's expectations for the desired result to soon enter into effect, local media reported from Bern.

- We have pointed out that Macedonia is a leader in the region in terms of meeting the visa liberalization criteria, which if approved by the EC and other European institutions, will be applied by Switzerland - very significant move for Macedonian citizens living there and for the communication of the peoples of both countries, Milososki said.

Milososki and Calmy-Rey expressed satisfaction with the solid political relations of the two countries and urged for boosting of the economic cooperation.

The Ministers also discussed on developments in the Balkan region, its European prospect, as well as forthcoming engagements of Switzerland and Macedonia as holders of the Council of Europe Presidency.

They shared opinions on possibilities for revising the 1996 bilateral agreement on air-traffic that would offer better services and prices.

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