On February 1, Vitebsk /BelTA correspondent/. In accordance with the agreement between the governments of Belarus and Latvia on the simplified procedure for mutual travel of residents of border territories dated August 23, 2010, consular institutions begin accepting documents for issuing permits from February 1. The Consulate of the Republic of Latvia in Vitebsk is ready to receive documents, the head of the Consulate of Latvia in Vitebsk, Dagnija Lace-Ate, told BelTA correspondent. The consulate has received lists of residents of the border territories of the Vitebsk region who wish to take advantage of the local border traffic opportunity. The lists were compiled by local rural, settlement, and city executive committees based on citizens' applications. Approximately 200 people from the Belarusian side are included in these lists. As Dagnija Lace-Ate noted, these lists are not final. Citizens can submit applications as needed, and the lists will be updated every three months. The next list will be compiled by April 1, and the consulate will begin accepting applications for issuing permits based on the updated lists from May 1. The grounds for issuing a permit may include visiting relatives, organizing or participating in cultural, educational, scientific, and sports events held by authorities and institutions of Belarus and Latvia, owning real estate, visiting relatives' burial sites, receiving medical care, participating in events related to local traditions and religious ceremonies, and regular business contacts. To obtain a permit, you need

The Agreement on the simplified procedure for mutual travel of residents of the border areas of Belarus and Latvia provides for a simplified procedure for crossing the state border by residents of border areas who permanently reside in these areas for at least one year, regardless of their citizenship, provided they have a permit for local border traffic issued by the competent authority of the other party, and a travel document (passport or other document provided for by law).

The permit will be issued for a period of 1 to 5 years. The fee for accepting and considering an application for a permit is set at 20 euros. Pensioners, disabled persons, and children under 18 years of age may be exempted from paying the fee on a reciprocal basis.

A list of administrative-territorial units within the territory of each party has also been established, defining the border area adjacent to the Belarusian-Latvian border and located within a zone of no more than 30 km from it. If part of such a unit is located in the zone from 30 to 50 km from the border, then this unit is also considered part of the border area. In accordance with the list, the following are classified as border areas: Bigosovsky, Chapayevsky, Saryansky, Osvyaysky, Kokhanovichsky, Belkovshchinsky village councils of Verkhnedvinsk district, the town of Verkhnedvinsk; Povyatsky, Perebrodsky, Dolginovsky, Miorsky, Novopogostsky, Turkovsky village councils of Miory district, the town of Miory; Druyevsky, Plyussky, Slobodkovsky, Opsovsky, Dalekovsky, Akhremovsky, Mezhansky, Teterkovsky, Vidzovsky village councils of Braslav district, the town of Braslav, the settlement of Vidzy.

Residents of the border areas of the state of one party, using a local border traffic permit, are obliged to comply with the legislation of that state during their stay in the territory of the state of the other party. For example, they cannot travel beyond the border area, and residents of the border areas of Latvia must register in the prescribed manner during their stay in the territory of the Republic of Belarus.

From the date of entry into force of the Agreement, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Republic of Latvia on the simplified procedure for issuing visas to border populations dated November 27, 2002, shall cease to be effective. However, visas issued in accordance with the Agreement of November 27, 2002, may be used until the expiry of their stated validity period.-0-



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