Dictatorship deprives Belarusians of cheap Schengen visas

German Bundestag adopted a resolution at the session on 14 February, according to which visa fee for Belarusians remains the same - 60 euro.

Belarus has found itself outside the Schengen zone, although it had all chances to become a full member of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The country needed have fulfilled 12 offers of the European Union, the main of them being release of political prisoners, freedom of speech and free election.

The resolution adopted by the Bundestag on 14 February names certain categories of people, who won’t pay visa fees by a concrete decision of a consul. The draft resolution, founded on the project of the leading parliament coalition – Christian and social democrats, was sent to consideration to the German Government, Radio Svaboda reports.

As social democrat Uta Zapf, head of the parliamentary group on Belarus, said at the debate the authors of the project wanted to “give an opportunity to visit Europe for as many Belarusians as possible.”

Meanwhile the authors of an alternative project – member of The Greens and the Free Democratic Party, think the situation when certain groups of people could receive free visas had existed before.

The opposition proposed to reduce Schengen visa fees for Belarusians from 60 to 35 euro, and grant free visas to all people having privileges.

As the Green Party member Mariluisa Beck said the current situation resembled “the other side of the Berlin Wall.”

“Why can the other EU country, France, grant free visas to Belarusians, but Germany can’t? But at the same time we stand for a dialog and supporting democratic forces,” she said.

It was found out during the debates that the EU had sent its proposals on support of the country in economic and social sectors in 2006. If Belarus had accepted them, it would have given Belarus great opportunities in the frames of the European Neighbourhood Policy. However, such support entrusts Belarus with certain duties as reforming, guarantee of democratic rights and freedoms. As the deputies emphasised, opposition can’t be active in conditions of authoritarian regime.

Some positive steps of Minsk were also noted. It means release of political prisoners, opening the European Commission office on Minsk, appointing of new OSCE ambassador, the planning meeting of Belarusian minister Martynau in the German Foreign Office.

Social democrat Uta Zapf expressed her hope for soon release of political prisoners Alyaksandr Kazulin and Andrei Klimau. According to her, “It would be a very important step.” As the German politicians think, “these parliamentary elections are to be a real touchstone.”