An online hotel booking system has been launched in Belarus, BelTA learned from Alyaksei Hlamozda, Deputy Director for Business Development of the Belarusian company Generation_P Consulting. The company is the one in charge of developing software for the project.

Co-Chairman of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly(Euronest PA), and head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee for European Integration Borys Tarasiuk has said he believes that Ukraine's activities in the Euronest PA will help introduce visa-free travel for Ukrainian citizens to the EU.

1. What is the situation in the Mediterranean?

The historical events that have occurred in the Southern Mediterranean since the end of 2010 have provided a unique opportunity for the people of those countries to more freely express their wish for democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. An indirect consequence of these events has been a significant movement of populations, mainly from North African countries towards their immmdiate neighbours, but also towards the European Union.

Earlier, France and Italy, which experienced an influx of migrants from some North African countries, sent the European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso a letter proposing the modernization of the Schengen agreements. Both countries have appealed to the European Union to restore the temporary border controls within the Schengen zone. As reported by the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, an initiative of the European Commission provides for the temporary restoration of checks at internal borders in the Schengen area if the State, bordering with countries outside the Schengen area, will be "untenable" in controlling entry into the Schengen zone. In addition, this measure is also provided for those States which are faced with the influx of migrants. In this case, Malmström stressed that the restoration of border controls would be temporary. Proposals will be considered by EU commissioner on May 12 special meeting of interior ministers of EU countries.

In a broad appeal sent to the Belarusian Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, and to the Ministry of Culture, the organizations suggested “to unilaterally reduce Belarusian visa fees and simplify the visa procedures or abolish the visa regime altogether as a gesture of good will”. The authors also called on the authorities to abolish the foreign nationals’ registration procedure (“migration cards” obligatory to fill in for all but Russian citizens arriving in Belarus and register if stay in the country for more than three days).

The government of Lithuania has decided to ask the country’s president Dalia Grybauskaite to submit the Belarusian-Lithuanian agreement on simplified border crossing to the parliament for ratification. The government has also approved a package of measures to implement this agreement.

Marceli Niezgoda, Undersecretary of the State in the Ministry of Regional Development as well as Maciej Zywno, Podlasie Voivode have signed today the agreement on co-financing the construction of the border checkpoint Polowce-Pieszczatka in the framework of the cross-border cooperation Programme Poland-Belarus-Ukraine 2007-2013. A new modern border checkpoint for light and heavy vehicles as well as buses will be opened thanks to the project. The project will equally contribute to enhancing security and strengthening borders of Poland and the European Union.

Belarus’ tourism and information center will open in Berlin, BelTA learned from Vadim Karmazin, head of the Tourism Department of the Belarusian Sport and Tourism Ministry. The tourism and information center will be established with the assistance of the local operator. This center will inform tourists about the country, Belarus’ recreation facilities and the most prominent sights.

Head of the Lithuanian diplomacy believes that the EU has so far not yet exhausted a possibility of making a significant positive impact on Belarus - the negotiations on visa facilitation. Minister A.Ažubalis called on the EU foreign ministers to open such negotiations as soon as possible.

To enter Belarus, you will need a valid passport and a visa issued by a Belarusian Embassy or Consulate in your home country. If there is no Belarusian diplomatic mission in your country, a short-term or transit visa can be obtained upon arrival at the Minsk National Airport as you proceed to passport control (Please see details below).