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Minsk upbeat on visa facilitation talks with EU

Belarus is optimistic about talks with the European Union on agreements on visa facilitation and readmission, Deputy Foreign Minister Alena Kupchyna told BelaPAN.

The deputy minister said that the sides were preparing for the second round of talks on the matter scheduled for this March. She would not speak about when the negotiations could be completed, explaining that "this is a difficult process."

Belarus and the European Commission started negotiations on visa facilitation and readmission agreements during Ms. Kupchyna’s January 29-30 visit to Brussels.

The EU formally invited Belarus to the talks as far back as June 2011.

Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey announced in November last year that Minsk was ready to begin the negotiations.

Belarus remains the only country participating in the EU's Eastern Partnership program that has not signed the agreements so far.