The ambassador of Israel, Yosef Shagal said that Minsk (capital of Belarus) and Jerusalem (capital of Israel) have agreed on signing the visa-waiver program agreement.
Yosef Shagal proclaimed the signing of agreement on Friday to 700 contestants at the Limmud FSU conference.
Belarus is eager to increase its binds with western nations such as Israel, and this bond is vital to many non-Jews in Belarus.
Citing to this move, Shagal said that in recent years Ukraine and Russia nations have waived visas with Israel. This move really improves business ties, tourism and reinforces Jewish culture in those nations.
At present, visitors from Israeli should apply for a visa in advance to just five of 15 former Soviet countries such as Uzbekistan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
The visas for Russia, Ukraine and Georgia were waived in 2008, 2011 and 2013 correspondingly. The waving of visas has significantly improved cultural bonds between Russian-speaking Israelis and their relatives in their nations of origin, added Chaim Chesler, Limmud FSU founder.
Shagal said that nearly 70,000 Jews reside in Belarus and visa-waiver will be taken into effect late in 2014.
