I fully agree with Russia's dismay in this drawn out saga regarding visa requirements to EU countries. Firstly, although being married to a Russian citizen I still have to go through a process of applying for a visa on every visit and apart from the cost it's the actual process that can be a little frustrating because once in Russia I have to then wait sometimes upto 2 hours to have the visa registered on top of the several hours getting the visa in the first place. Secondly, had the visa situation with the EU been sorted out then I could of like many other professional fire firefighters gone to Russia and helped in the summer wildfires without the need to process a visa application which I'm sure would of been extremely welcomed by Prime Minister Putin. Thirdly, having a visa regime to prevent crime and terrorism doesn't appear to be that successful anywhere in the world! UK - USA - Spain to mention a few. Suggesting that Russia may have problems regarding crime / drugs is not really a sound basis for denying Russia entry into a visa free Europe as there are many countries already in the EU that have their own issues with crime and drugs. On a personal plea to the EU from me I ask you to consider Russia's request with greater urgency as the benefits from allowing people to work / visit the Russian Federation and vice / versa can only be a good move in building good relations with Russia and increasing business links which will generate a recovery from the global economic gloom that has seen at least 3 EU countries suffer in terms of unemeployment and credit ratings. Regards Daniel Collier UK

You must understand that European nations have a lot more to fear from a visa-free travel than Russia does. Beside you must never forget that America will not appreciate to see a perfect relationship taking effect between E-U and Russia. She has enough puppets in that union to have her own will to stand. Personally, I will like to see Russia decide alone to suppress those entry visa and consequently the need to have an invitation to visit Russian friends...Best Regards...JCM

Meslin, I agree that the US is hell bent on preventing any closer ties between Russia and the EU, and will use any tactic, including reviving old wounds through local proxies, on a constant basis, to stop this happening. Let's not forget that the US has not only military bases, but nukes in the EU as well. If Russia and the EU forge ever closer ties, including the creation of an EU-Rus security umbrella, from the west irish coast to Vladivostok, then there will be no further need for the US missiles or bases to remain (with the consequent reduction in US military numbers, something the budget hungry Pentagon will never agree to). The EU has already asked the Yanks to remove the missiles, and they refused. Might be a different story with EURUS in place. Interesting to note that the Russian proposed EU-RUS security document first presented to the EU was read with great interest, and there is much ongoing discussion. Also interesting to note that the Americans have dismissed it almost immediately saying there is no need for such an organisation, admitting they hadn't even read the document at the time. You're right that the US are seeking to squash any idea of a closer union of Russia and the EU. Let's hope the local Euro politicans are not so greedy for the soon to be thoroughly worthless Dollar, that they can see the benefits of such a union for the long term future. For all Europeans and Russians, this must happen soon, and be done swiftly, or we're likely to see yet much greater interference from over the pond, as they realise we're all very serious about deciding our own futures, without their "help" or permission, and so they will work much harder to disrupt this process. Daniel, you do know that the UK gov, possibly on behalf of the US, is one of those opposing the visa free regime? Might be worth writing to your local MP.

Problem solved by 50%. Russia suspends visa requirements now for EU citizens entering Russian Federation. Benefits - tourism increases - business increases and Russia's economy grows rapidly with the open arms attitude to EU citizens who will of course be spending money in this fantastic country. Meanwhile the abstinent EU countries will continue to drag their heels over the so called dilemma of Russia's legitimate request to get rid of visas and needless to say those countries will continue to suffer from global recession including the drop in tourism etc. Another quick solution for Russia would be to follow Turkey by allowing a small fee to be paid for a visa at the border and stamping the passport thus allowing a 1 month - 3 month ( or whatever amount of time ) to stay without the need for hours of bureaucracy as is the situation now. Russia does not need to wait for the EU - If they do we could be waiting for a long time. Finally as a UK resident the problem is worse because the UK is not part of the Schengen Agreement and I suspect that this could take many years to get someone to make what appears to most of us a really simple decision. The comment made by Meslin on this subject is that Europeans have more to fear than Russia? About what? Russian people / Russian Government appear to be doing everything they can to tell the world that their country is as friendly as any other country, so what fear? The truth is that whilst in Russia I feel safe because you see more Police / Militia on foot than any other country I have been in which includes UK, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Turkey, Germany to name but a few. As for the comment regarding upsetting the USA – someone should tell the USA we live on a planet with many different countries and that the majority of people in those countries are peace loving ones. As discussed by Dr Wayne Dyer – When American people were asked if they knew of any Russian that they hated the answer was a unanimous NO!

To Alex Stone, Thanks for your advice on writing to an MP but I will of course give that a wide berth. I'm not at all interested in Politics of the UK and furthermore less concerned about the United State of America.(pun) Different Parties same old mess and no one will ever convince me otherwise. More than happy to exchange my worn out UK passport for a nice clean Russian one and live in a country that's moving in the right direction. (forwards) You don't have to have a degree in Politics to see what is happening around the globe and instead of making comments about the friends over the pond and their poor problems with forging real working ties with Russia and other countries I suggest we all concentrate on the good stuff. Russia is a country of progression and inclusion, hence the desire to attract business and tourism to it. I truly hope Russia wins the bid for the FIFA World Cup too as this would be such a fantastic event to stage in the RF. ( maybe the EU might want to consider removing the visa requirement too) I'll be basic though - In Russia, people still care about people as seen in the devastating wildfires. My wife's parents were brought up in Communist Russia but show no traces of hatred or resentment to the West including me, their son in law. Maybe we should all start to be more concerned about things that matter rather than going on about weapons and wars. At the end of the day if all the Nuclear weapons were fired there would be no more discussions as we'd all be vaporised and gone. So, lets keep our minds focused on working together as Planet Earth and strive ernestly for peace and co-operation something I believe is very BIG on the Russian Goverment Agenda. Step away from poilitics for a while and get back to reality, which is, the planet belongs to each and everyone of us and we all have a responsibility to to avoid conflict and promote harmony. Regards Daniel Collier UK

Daniel Collier, First all visa relations are bilateral between countries, meaning we won't change our scheme until the EU changes theirs. However, I hear what you are saying about your own situation. In the interest of humanity and furtherance of respect for family life, I think someone who has married a Russian spouse should be spared the formality of Visas. As I understand it you can now go to a consulate with your wife and get a visa free. But that is not going far enough. Why not allow a Russian spouse to have your name entered in their passport, allowing you to cross the border with them, while you ahev a valid passport, also waiving registration for this particular situation. I would prefer this to the 'turkey' system, as it affords a privilege to someone who is joining Russian life, above others who just want to travel and must be covered by bilateral negotiations. I just suggested one way, there are others, but this seems the simplest, even though it restricts you to travelling only with your wife. Would that do it for you? It would just mean attending an embassy once with passport and Marriage certificate. Kids could obviously be added as well.

Coun Cash. Thanks but I already know that visa requirements are bilateral between countries. My point was tongue in cheek. Russia is pressing for a visa free system with the EU. The problem is that this has been on the agenda for 3 years now with little progress from the EU. i'm sure you also meant " we cannot change our scheme until the EU does" otherwise you contradict the term bilateral by saying won't. (implying you could if you wanted too) Just a quick note to end this mini debate. Funny how a game of football between 2 English teams in Russia solved the visa problem. The Russian president issued a special decree that allows more than 40,000 British fans to enter Russia by presenting their passports and match tickets. Although Britain did not cancel visas, it welcomed this gesture and eased visa regulations for Russian fans - they received visas without paying consular fees. Thus, both governments used sports as an excuse to take an important political step - to demonstrate their readiness to start rapprochement and put the current crisis behind. "Soccer diplomacy" will go down in the history of international relations as one more positive example of resolving seemingly insoluble problems. Football is just a game - my marriage and my family are not! As they say in Russia - never say never. Best wishes Daniel Collier UK p.s I'm waiting for my visa to be completed in London in order to go to Russia on 02/10/2010 to vist my wife and daughter at a small price of £135 which is about the same as my brother in law earns every month in Tambov working for 12 hours a night 15 times a month.

Dear Daniel, As an American-Italian dual national living in the UK, I am somewhat dumbfounded by some of your statements. Russia is moving forward? You want to tear up your worn out old UK passport for a Russian one? The US Dollar is worthless? (I assume the pound sterling is also worthless) Your wife and child are in Russia? Well, the solution is simple: move to Russia (as I am sure you have a right to being the spouse of a Russian citizen), renounce UK citizenship, and gain Russian citizenship via your marriage to your wife. Simple. You can then enjoy the safety, progressive living and politics, and all the other benefits Mother Russia offers. Also, convert all worthless currencies (pounds, dollars and euros) into rubles. After all, the ruble is where it's at. I work in the former Soviet Union including Russia all the time and I very much like the people, culture and different ways of living, etc. However, the Russian Federation has serious problems - a very serious degradation of its military; financial problems of serious proportions; unstable borders with bellicose countries; a fragile nuclear arsenal; a serious healthcare situation; old age pensioners who cannot have a decent living in the New Russia; horrific corruption and mafia violence; angry minorities; the list can go on. I agree that the visa regime should allow Russians visitors to visit the EU. In fact, in spite of the usual jibes at the USA, there has been serious talk of abolishing visas bilaterally between the US and the RF - meaning Russians can use the visa waiver access programme. However, some of your comments are quite bizarre. It is fine to love Russia and its culture, but I think it is rather incredible to disparage the UK and the US as somehow regressive and the RF as progressive. The RF is now becoming Neo-Tsarist and that is rather alarming - mostly for the citizens of the RF.

Daniel Collier. I did not mean that Europe has any fear of a Russian aggressiveness. I simply mean than considering the increasing difficulties met by Europeans who are so badly governed an exodus Eastward could take place. Living in Russia is becoming more attractive year after year. I know that much because since 1997 I spend one to three months in Orenburg. Being a 71 years old retiree with one pension from France (25 years of work) and one from America (20 years); financially I manage all right. Nevertheless, I see the improvements for everyone else...If there were not the language barrier and all the western politic and medias BS concerning that country, many young French, British, German, even Spaniard will leave and take their chance in that huge wide open country. Some Americans start doing it. If well managed Russia is the FUTURE. European US prostitutes decisions-makers have better learn this and adapt to it, quickly. Can-they !!! Personally, I vill love to see Russia, on her own, decide to totally abolish that visa' system. Consequently she will have to refrain her people from taking all the Western bad habits...Best Regards...Jean-Claude Meslin

Mr Collier. I did not explain myself correctly and must precise that I go to Russia every year. This year, it was my 14th trip (3 months). Sincerely... JCM

I agree Russia is a beautiful country, and the cultural exchanges between europe and Russia would benefit everybody. Tourism business etc. How do sailors on merchant ships manage to enter the country? or do they have to stay on board ship when they are in port (I think not) so let everybody travel where they wish in europe and russia. We only get one life so why not learn as much about the world as we can. I am sure Many millions of europeans feel the same. Regards Ralph