1. Ahn Young-jip, Director-General for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs of MOFAT, held the 11th ROK-Russia Meeting of Director-Generals of Consular Affairs with Andrei Karlov, Director of the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, in Moscow on July 12. The two sides discussed bilateral consular issues, including the expansion of exchanges between the peoples of both countries and the protection of their nationals.

2. The ROK and Russia reviewed the implementation of major bilateral consular agreements, including an agreement on the facilitation of the issuance of visas for short-term visits (effective from January, 2010), an agreement on temporary employment, and an agreement on visa exemption for flight attendants (each effective from January, 2012). They noted that the agreements are being implemented smoothly and laying the groundwork for constructive bilateral relations.

3. The two sides, in particular, agreed to continue efforts to improve institutional framework for the expansion of people-to-people exchanges. To this end, they decided to review the signing of an agreement on visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports.

4. The ROK called for Russia’s interest and active cooperation to remove inconveniences facing Korean companies and nationals in Russia. Among the issues discussed were the issuance of transit visas to resume the operation of the Sokcho-Zarubino-Hunchun route; visa exemption for sailors returning home via Russian ports in the middle of operation; easing restrictions on the issuance of a letter of invitation for violators of Russian administrative laws; and registration exemption for those who stay in Russia for less than 30 days.

5. The two sides shared the view that the continuous expansion of people-to-people exchanges through cooperation in consular affairs can serve as a cornerstone for building substantive and future-oriented relations between the two countries. They also agreed to hold the 12th ROK-Russia Meeting of Director-Generals of Consular Affairs in 2013 in Seoul. 


                    Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation