Consulate of Latvia in Vitebsk ready for small-scale border traffic

VITEBSK, 31 January (BelTA) – The Consulate of the Republic of Latvia in Vitebsk is ready to issue permits for small-sale border traffic to residents of the border territories of Belarus, BelTA learnt from the head of the Latvian Consulate in Vitebsk Dagnija Lace-Ate. In accordance with the agreement between the Governments of Belarus and Latvia on small-scale border traffic of 23 August 2010, consulates will start to accept documents for permits on 1 February this year. The Consulate of Latvia in Vitebsk has already received the lists of residents living in the border areas of Vitebsk Oblast who wish to take this local border traffic opportunity. The lists have been compiled by local authorities on the basis of applications from citizens. Belarus’ lists include about 200 people, Latvia’s ones about 4,000 people. As explained Dagnija Lace-Ate, Latvian lists includes more people as the territory whose inhabitants can exercise the right to small-scale border traffic include such cities as Daugavpils and Kraslava. Permits may be obtained to visit relatives, participate in cultural, educational, scientific and sports events held by state organizations of Belarus and Latvia, visit burial places of relatives, receive medical aid, develop business contacts, etc. In order to receive a permit a person should present his/her valid passport to the consulate. The permit form should be filled in and printed at http://www.mfa.gov.lv/by/belarus/konsulate/ and then presented at the consulate. The agreement provides for simplified (visa-free) order of border crossing by residents of border areas, who permanently live in the border areas not less than one year, irrespective of their nationality, if they have a permit for local border traffic issued by a competent authority of the other Party, and a travel document (passport, or other document, allowed by the legislation). The permit will be valid from one to five years and will cost ?20. Pensioners, disabled persons and children under 18 may be exempted from the fee on reciprocal basis. The agreement envisages the list of administrative and territorial units on the territory of each Party that make part of the border area located not farther than 30km away from the Belarus-Latvia border. If some part of such unit is located in the zone from 30 to 50km from the border, such unit is also considered a part of the border area. According to the list, the border area includes Braslav, Verkhnedvinsk, Miory, Vidzy on the Belarusian side, and Daugavpils, Kraslava, Dagda, Zilupe on the Latvian side. Residents of the border area are obliged to observe the legislation of the other Party during the stay on its territory. Thus, they cannot leave the limits of the border area. During their stay in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, residents of the Latvian border areas shall register in the manner prescribed by the law. Belarus has signed agreement on small-scale border traffic with Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.

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