31 August,2022 10:07 AM IST | Prague | Agencies
Elon Musk. Pic/AP
Germany and France warned on Tuesday against a European Union ban on tourist visas for Russians, saying it would be counter-productive, highlighting divisions within the 27-nation bloc as foreign ministers prepared to discuss the measure.
Eastern and Nordic countries strongly back such a ban, saying travel to the EU is a privilege, not a right, and that allowing Russians to party on European beaches at a time when their country has invaded Ukraine is unacceptable. The Kremlin slammed the proposed ban as "irrational," while Paris and Berlin argued that, six months into the war, the EU should avoid penalising ordinary Russians who might oppose their government's actions and harbour pro-Western sympathies.
Also Read: WHO director in Asia accused of racism
"We caution against far-reaching restrictions on our visa policy, in order to prevent feeding the Russian narrative and trigger unintended rallying-around the flag effects and/or estranging future generations," France and Germany said in a joint memo seen by Reuters. One EU diplomat said divisions on the issue meant an agreement at the two-day meeting of ministers in Prague was unlikely.
ALSO READ
Poland holds state burial for over 700 WWII victims
Poland marks the 85th anniversary of Nazi invasion
Woman attacks passengers with knife on bus in Germany, 5 injured
Germany deports 28 Afghan migrants to their homeland
Islamic State group claims responsibility for knife attack in Solingen, Germany
Billionaire Elon Musk has spent months alleging that the company he agreed to acquire undercounted its fake and spam accounts, which means he doesn't have to go through with the $ 44 billion deal.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever