Cyprus multiple visas to Russians in 24 hours

Cyprus has promised to issue multiple entry visas to Russian businessmen and tourists wishing to visit the island within 24 hours at most, with efforts underway to reduce the time to 6 hours of waiting, in an apparent effort to encourage Russians to reconsider shifting their business to Cyprus.

Russian businessmen have recently shifted their operations to other EU countries, namely the UK, Switzerland and Spain, with Cypriot professionals such as lawyers, accountants, auditors and banks losing millions in lost revenue.

Cyprus also wants to encourage more Russian citizens to visit Cyprus on holiday. Last year, arrivals from Russia were up 17% to 115.000 and Cypriot tourist officials are hoping for a similar performance for 2007.

The deal was stuck between Russian Federation Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov and his Cypriot counterpart George Lillikas who met him in Moscow and assured that Cyprus‘ membership to the European Union will not hinder the development of the relations between the two countries.
Lillikas, was in Moscow for a three-day working visit, had talks with Lavrov, which focused on the evaluation of the talks between Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos with his Russian Counterpart Vladimir Putin last year.
During the talks, Lillikas also extended to Lavrov a letter announcing the decision of the Cypriot government to join the global initiative for the combating of nuclear terrorism, which was initiated in 2006 by US President George Bush and the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
Lavrov said that he accepted with satisfaction an invitation to visit Cyprus extended to him by Lillikas, expressing hope that by the time the visit will take place, a series of new agreements for the promotion of the relations between Cyprus and Russia will be concluded.
He added that Russia ”never felt any difficulties since Cyprus‘ accession to the EU,” noting that the current of visits to Cyprus by Russian nationals were not affected.
The head of the Russian diplomacy also praised the Cypriot government as well as the Cypriot Embassy in Moscow for the ”positive results” regarding the establishment of the visa regime, ”giving an example to other EU member states’ embassies.”
Lavrov noted that ”we will try to expand this positive experience to other consular foundations, operating in Moscow.”
”We are grateful to Cyprus for its firm support in the development of strategic and partnership associations between Russia and the EU and we cooperate closely in the framework of other European organisations, of which Cyprus and Russia are members,” Lavrov said.
Lillikas said that ”bilateral relations develop on all levels very well and I believe that our accession to the EU creates new prospects and new opportunities for cooperation.”
Lillikas said that the relations between Russia and Cyprus were not affected negatively by Cyprus‘ accession to the EU, noting that with the launch of the visa granting regime for Russian nationals visiting Cyprus, the Cypriot government tackled the issue of visits from Russia to Cyprus.
”The economic and trade relations have not been affected negatively at all, on the contrary, I believe that with the Cypriot government’s position for the development of a strategic cooperation between Russia and the EU, significant benefits both for Russia and the EU members can be created,” he added.
Lillikas participated in the presentation of Cyprus‘ bid to exploit the hydrocarbons believed to exist in its Exclusive Economic Zone, in the presence of Cypriot Chamber Commerce and Industry representatives, as well as representatives of Russian oil firms.