Official Minsk says it is ready for dialogue with EU

Belarus confirms its readiness for a dialogue with the European Union, Belarus's Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Papou said in a statement.  He referred to Belarus's unilateral decision to keep unchanged the visa costs for new members of the Schengen agreement and the visa issue procedures, reports Interfax.

Papou noted that "the leadership of Belarus had planned adequate measures" to retaliate the higher costs of Schengen visas for Belarusians. Presently, a Schengen visa for Belarus nationals costs Euro 60 regardless of the length of stay or the type of the visa.