MOSCOW, June 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and Norway signed intergovernmental visa facilitation and readmission agreements Friday following talks between the two countries' prime ministers.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is in Russia on a three-day official visit, which began Wednesday.
The visa agreement facilitates the procedure for the issue of single entry visas for terms of up to three months, as well as multiple entry visas for certain categories of travelers, such as members of official delegations, businessmen, journalists, and students.
Stoltenberg said visa facilitation is very important, especially with respect to journalists and businessmen, adding that Norway believes a visa free regime should be established between the two countries, and between member countries of the Schengen Agreement.
Russia and 24 EU nations signed a visa facilitation agreement, seen as a crucial step toward a visa free regime, and an agreement on the readmission of illegal migrants a year ago at a bilateral summit in Sochi, Russia. Moscow is also discussing the issue with Iceland, which like Norway is not an EU member, but both are signatories to the Schengen agreement.
The readmission agreement aims to fight illegal immigration and is subject to ratification, since it contains rules and procedures that are not provided for under Russian law.
The negotiations addressed bilateral cooperation between Russia and Norway in energy, trade, environmental protection, and climate change. The parties also considered cooperation in the North, since the development of its northern regions is a priority for the Norwegian government.
Stoltenberg said Norway hopes for more intensive cooperation with Russia in the oil and gas sphere.
Fradkov said Norway and Russia would also sign an agreement demarcating a disputed section of the maritime border near the Varanger fjord in the Barents Sea within the next few days.
The Norwegian prime minister will attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum later Friday.
