No visas for European Commonwealth, Switz. during summer

[Jack]

From Ukraine Embassy London web site:

The Embassy of Ukraine in the UK would like to inform that on the 31st March
2005 the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko signed the Decree "On
temporary implementation of the visa-free entrance regime for the EU and
Swiss citizens".

The Decree implements temporary Visa-free regime for citizens of the
European Union and Swiss Confederation aimed at facilitating the preparation
and holding of the European Song Contest "Eurovision-2005"as well as
developing tourism.

According to this Decree, starting from the 1st May 2005 till the 1st
September 2005 the EU and Swiss passport holders will be able to enter
Ukraine without visas for the period up to 90 days.

[Leslie]

Hi Jack,

Yushenko actually announced this policy on Ukrainian TV on February 20th. I posted the news on the same day:-

http://russianwomendiscussion.com/view_topic.php?id=172&forum_id=7

Since then the Ukrainian government has been trying to negotiate visa concessions from the EU.  The EU has not been prepared to make any significant concessions.  The announcement that the visa concessions are "temporary" for the Eurovision song contest is a face saving move IMHO.

I cannot forsee any future circumstances where the current Ukraine government will rescind this visa free travel policy.  Yushenko wants to initiate talks on EU entry....

 

[tim 360]

Yes Les,

Yushenko definitely wants to be on great terms with the EU and the west in general.  He just finished charming the US Congress this past week.  Admittance to the EU will take some time,  but I feel it is the best way for the Ukrainians to go and despite objections I expect it will happen if Yushenko's people continue.  One can expect hardliners in the Kremlin to tamper with their former vassal state to avert that.  But,  their power has declined significantly.

Russia,  is a very different story.  Entrenched Rodina.

[jb]

I read that.

A lot of political smoke and mirrors, pure and simple.   Prospective brides and grooms should not get their hopes up about a magic silver bullet solving their immigration problems at this point.  Mostly they will still have to contend with BCIS in all the fine points of immigration law.

But,,, if the Ukrainians extend this to include US citizens, it may may travel easier for a few months.  Good luck to that.

[anono]

yes, this is a fact. the lady at this agency just told me that from 1 may to 1 septemeber they expect everything to be booked..along with higher prices...

[Bruno]

JB have true about politic... these story about no more visa for eurovision is the excuse... the reality is other ...

A article on http://www.liga.net/ the 07/02/2005 :

" Vice-Prime Minister of European Integration Oleh Rybachuk declared that Ukraine intends to cancel visa regime for Europeans. He also added that Europeans, who want to visit Kiev in order to attend Eurovision Song Contest, will not have any problems with visas to Ukraine.

According to BBC Ukrainian Service, Oleh Rybachuk also shared his hope that in April EU may give Ukraine the status of market-economy country. He added that, in his opinion, now it is a political issue. Vice-Prime Minister of Eurointegration also said that he expects an upsurge in the influx of foreign investments in the economy of Ukraine this year. "

And in April, EU have agree that Ukraine is a market-economy country... and this allow more simple procedure for EU business and industrie men for invest and develop business in Ukraine... The eurovision is the starting point... but money and economie is the reality... Yushenko don't wish Ukraine be EU country without positive return for his country...

About the relation with US, don't forget that the wife of Yushenko work for the white house... and that Bush have via some obscure way sponsor the election of Yushenko ( around 68 million $$$ )... and seriously, this amount is not a lot pay for have a friendly president in a ex-USSR country... some other big move are on the way... by example, be member of NATO... but Russia will not be happy of this... Yushenko, Poutin, and Bush have already speak of this during the celebration from the end WWII in Germany... and during the visit of Bush in Belgium, Yushenko have meet him at the SHAPE... the NATO command center for europa located in Belgium...

Visa procedure is only what we, simple people, see... but great political move are on the way...