Visa Offices in Russia Issue 50% More Schengen Visas
In 2010, the three Estonian visa offices located in Russia issued more than 70,000 Schengen visas, a 50 percent increase from 2009.
"This confirms the fact that Estonia is becoming an increasingly popular destination among Russian tourists,” Minister of Foreigh Affairs Urmas Paet said, addressing Parliament on February 8.
Paet said that in the long-term perspective, concluding a visa freedom agreement with a Russia that respects the rule of law is a natural development. “But the prerequisite is fulfilling various democratic principles and the agreed technical requirements. This is the position held by both Estonia as well as the European Commission," Paet said.
"It is also necessary to solve the problems regarding the border crossing between the European Union and Russia,” he added.