A list of 18 countries has been approved whose citizens can obtain electronic single entry business, tourist or humanitarian visas when entering the Russian Federation through checkpoints at the Free Port of Vladivostok. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the investment appeal of the region and expanding business ties by facilitating projects involving foreign companies, and attracting more foreign tourists.

Reference

Submitted by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East.

The Federal Law No. 114-FZ dated 15 August 1996 Procedures to Enter and Exit the Russian Federation have been amended per Federal Law No. 28-FZ dated 7 March 2017 to simplify visa procedures for foreign nationals arriving in the Russian Federation through border checkpoints located within the Free Port of Vladivostok.

It has been established that the Russian Government shall determine the countries whose nationals are to be granted e-visas when entering Russia through checkpoints at the Free Port of Vladivostok.

The signed directive contains an approved list of 18 countries: Algeria, Bahrein, Brunei, India, Qatar, People’s Republic of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey and Japan.

The citizens of these countries shall benefit from simplified procedures when obtaining visas of up to 30 days with a period of stay in the Russian Federation not exceeding eight days. These visas can be executed as e-documents.

The initiative to introduce simplified visa procedures for checkpoints at the Free Port of Vladivostok for foreign nationals from the listed countries is aimed at enhancing the investment appeal of the region and expanding business ties by facilitating projects involving foreign companies, and attracting more foreign tourists.

In 2017-2018, a new project will be implemented to further strengthen the WHO’s capability in emergency medical services readiness and response. This project is expected to last for two years, and provides for the allocation to the WHO of $3.5 million as a targeted voluntary contribution with a view to further enhancing WHO medical logistics capabilities and ensuring emergency response and training. The WHO will use these funds to purchase various medical modules and build up stocks at UN humanitarian warehouses. Aid receivers (the government or health ministry of the affected country) will be designated by Russia. The delivered medical modules shall bear Russian labels. The Russian embassies in aid receiving countries will take part in the delivery of medical modules to the local authorities. The funding to this effect has been factored in the federal budget for 2017 and 2018-2019 planning period.

Reference

Submitted by the Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief of the Russian Federation.

In accordance with the Concept of the Russian Federation’s State Policy in the Area of International Development Assistance (approved by Presidential Executive Order No. 259 dated 20 April 2014, hereinafter the “Concept”), one of the state policy objectives in this area is to provide assistance in relief efforts following natural disasters, industrial accidents and other emergencies.

Specifically, the Concept provides for the payment of contributions to the international agencies of the United Nations and other international organisations and financial institutions, international and global funds.

As part of efforts to implement this Concept, as well as the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation (approved by Presidential Executive Order No. 640 dated 30 November 2016), the Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief of the Russian Federation cooperates with the World Health Organisation (hereinafter, the “WHO”), coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in areas related to improving emergency readiness and response and delivering aid to the affected countries in the aftermath of disasters and crises.

In 2012-2016, a project was carried out to enhance WHO’s capability in terms of emergency medical readiness and response, as well as support national healthcare in disaster and crisis situations.

In 2017-2018, a new joint project is expected to be carried out to further enhance WHO’s capability in emergency medical readiness and response. This project will run for two years, and provides for the allocation to the WHO of a targeted voluntary contribution equal to $3.5 million ($2.5 million in 2017 and $1 million in 2018) for further improving WHO’s medical logistics, emergency response capability and training.

The funds for the new joint project with the WHO have been factored in the federal budget for 2017 and the 2018-2019 planning period. The relevant budget allocations will be directed to these aims as per the signed directive.

The WHO will use these funds to purchase various medical modules and build up stocks at UN humanitarian warehouses.

Aid receivers (the government or health ministry of the affected country) will be designated by Russia. The delivered medical modules shall bear Russian labels. The Russian embassies in aid receiving countries will take part in the delivery of medical modules to the local authorities.

The adopted decision will help Russia deliver on the objectives of the state programmes ‘Foreign Policy’ and ‘Managing state finances and regulating financial markets.’

The agreement introduces visa-free travel for citizens of Russia and Jordan holding diplomatic, special and service passports, for up to 90 days.

Reference

The agreement was drafted by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

An order was signed approving the draft agreement between the governments of the Russian Federation and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports (hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”).

The Agreement allows citizens of either country to enter, exit, transit through and stay in the other country without a visa for up to 90 days.

The Agreement will facilitate mutual official contacts and create favourable conditions for their further development.

The two officials discussed investment cooperation and the two countries’ joint projects.

Excerpt from the transcript:

Talks with President of Italy Sergio Mattarella

11 April 2017

Talks with President of Italy Sergio Mattarella

11 April 2017

Предыдущая новость Следующая новость

Talks with President of Italy Sergio Mattarella

Dmitry Medvedev: This is President Mattarella’s first official visit to Russia as head of the Italian Republic.

We attach special importance to relations with Italy. Russia and Italy have a good partnership despite the current difficulties in our relations with the European Union.

We are certainly ready to restore the former dynamics in relations with all European countries.

With Italy, we have long-term contacts in various fields: the economy – primarily energy, industry, trade and investment, as well as culture and education. I hope that your visit will help further strengthen these relations.

Our mutual trade has decreased from $54 billion to $20 billion over the past three years. There are objective reasons for this, namely, the change in prices for a number of goods, including energy carriers, but there are subjective reasons as well: Europe’s restrictive measures, which hardly contribute to the development of relations. Yet, we do understand that you have certain obligations and how they work.

Sergio Mattarella (via interpreter): The relationship between our countries is excellent. It is a relationship of friendship, a strong relationship, something so many politicians have worked on. These relations are developing in all sectors – politics, the economy and trade. We are successfully weathering this difficult period; on both sides, there is mutual interest in resolving the problems as effectively as possible and returning to the level of relations we can sustain.

Our economic relations can be described as strategic. There is huge potential for growth, and we attach great importance to this.

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The message reads:

“On behalf of the Russian Government and myself I express my deep condolences in connection with the numerous victims resulting from the explosions in the Egyptian town of Tanta. 

The terrorists attacked parishioners of the Coptic church on Palm Sunday, a holiday for all Christians. This barbarous crime cannot be justified. The masterminds behind it should suffer severe punishment.

Mr Prime Minister, please pass on my words of sympathy and support to the victims’ friends and families, and my wishes for a speedy recovery to those wounded or hurt in the attack.”