Slovakia again applies local border traffic agreement to Ukrainians

Slovakia has again started to implement an agreement on local border traffic to Ukrainian citizens, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reported.

"The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry highly appreciates and welcomes the decision by the Slovakian side on the resumption from January 2, 2013 by Slovakia's Consulate General in Uzhgorod of the receipt of documents from the residents of the border zone to register permits for the simplified crossing of the Ukrainian-Slovakian border, as part of the agreement on local border traffic of May 30, 2008," Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry's Information Policy Department Vasyl Zvarych said at a briefing on Wednesday.

He noted that Ukrainian citizens who permanently reside in the border zone have the right to be in the border zone of Slovakia for up to 90 days of each 180-day period.

The consideration of applications for the issuance of respective permits and their registration are free, and the term of registration of such permits does not exceed 30 days.

"The resumed implementation of this agreement, which was the result of the active bilateral negotiating process and fruitful cooperation, will promote the further development of good neighborly relations and intensify cooperation between the border regions of the two countries," Zvarych said.