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President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Dmitry Rogozin, chairman of the State Duma's international affairs committee and the presidential envoy to the EU for the Kaliningrad Region

April 23, 2003, Novo-Ogaryovo

Mr Putin and Mr Rogozin discussed unimpeded travel by Russians to and from the Kaliningrad Region.

The European Union said it was ready to add new regulations to its Schengen legislation related to the unrestricted travel of Russians. According to the new rules, Russians often traveling to the Kaliningrad Region from Russia or back across Lithuania by ground transport must obtain a three-year transit document starting on July 1. This document entitles its holder to use all types of ground transport to move across Lithuania within a period of 24 hours. No foreign passport is required, a Russian passport is enough. Those making a one-time trips through Lithuania to the Kaliningrad Region need only to buy an ordinary railway ticket, fill in a questionnaire on the train, and receive a simplified transit document.

For this agreement to come into effect, it must be ratified by the European Parliament. The Russian State Duma must, in turn, ratify a treaty on the state border with Lithuania and pass several other legal acts.

April 23, 2003, Novo-Ogaryovo