RT.com
22 Sep 2022, 08:13 GMT+10
Helsinki vows to stop being a ?transit country? for Russians with visas issued by other EU members
Finland is "working" on new regulations that would further toughen the restrictions introduced against Russian tourists, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto told journalists on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
"Finland does not want to be a transit country, not even for [holders of] Schengen visas issued by other nations," Haavisto said, adding that Helsinki seeks to bring the Russian tourist traffic "under control."
The Finnish foreign ministry is currently working with a group of experts on a "solution" that would help Finland "limit this traffic or completely stop it," the foreign minister said, adding that the measures might involve some new laws or amendments to existing ones. In any case, the national parliament "will quickly deal with it," Haavisto said, without naming any specific dates for the potential changes.
Unlike the Baltic States, which repeatedly cited "security reasons" for introducing visa restrictions against Russian tourists, Finland does not see Russians traveling to the EU as a security threat, Haavisto said.
"An ordinary person traveling for the purpose of tourism is not a security threat," the minister said, adding that there is "a moral and ethical principle involved." Russians cannot just continue to spend their vacations in Europe as normal when their nation is "waging a war," according to Haavisto.
Finland already has a mechanism in place that allows it to deny visas to Russians and deny entry to those who had already received them. Earlier this week, Helsinki also asked Brussels to allow EU nations denying entry to a Russian person to revoke their visas or place them on a Schengen entry ban list as well. The measure would prevent such people from entering the bloc through another member's territory, Finland argued.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has questioned the EU visa restrictions against Russians. On Sunday, he said doing so "may not be a good idea," according to the RIA news agency.
The EU suspended a visa facilitation agreement with Russia earlier this month. Some member states also stopped issuing tourist and business visas, while the three Baltic states and Poland announced they would deny entry to all Russian citizens, even those with valid Schengen visas issued by other EU members.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Belgium Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Belgium Sun.
More InformationDHAKA, Bangladesh - Md Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, has stated that the European Union's decision not to ...
DUBLIN, Europe: Trinity College Dublin has secured its position among Europe's top academic institutions, clinching the 31st spot in the ...
ANKARA, Turkey: During a meeting, Michael Evans, President of the Alibaba Group, told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that the Chinese ...
WARSAW, Poland: As part of European Union (EU) sanctions imposed against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, Poland banned all ...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Days before the Riksbank, Sweden's central bank, is expected to again raise interest rates, the Swedish krona hit ...
BORDEAUX, France: Some Ireland rugby fans were among the 25 people hospitalized after a botulism outbreak in Tchin Tchin Wine ...
HONG KONG: The Chinese Foreign Ministry has issued a request to all foreign consulates in Hong Kong, seeking the personal ...
MARTIN COUNTY, Florida: An Amazon driver making a delivery to a Florida home this week was bitten by a rattlesnake ...
CALGARY, Canada: From early 2024, the long-delayed and controversial Canadian government-owned Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion (TMX) is expected to ...
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan's Supreme Court proceedings were broadcast live on state television on Monday, providing an unprecedented glimpse into the ...
MORGANTOWN, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania state police said that nine teenage boys who escaped from the Abraxas Academy detention center this week ...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska: Anchorage is struggling to find housing options for more than 3,000 homeless residents, as the city's mass shelter ...