The Polish Foreign Ministry has denied reports that they will waive Visa
fees for citizens from Belarus, Russia and the Ukraine planning to attend Warsaw Pride.
The announcement comes after reports surfaced last week claiming
people traveling to the event in June could enter the EU without paying
the compulsory fee.
But now, Rzecznik Prasowy,
press spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Poland, claims the offer has been misinterpreted.
“The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not inform Warsaw sexual
minority parade organisers that people from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine
wishing to take part in the June march would temporarily be able to
enter the EU for free,” he told us.
“Citizens of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine are required to have Schengen
visas in order to enter the Territory of an EU Member State.
"Poland is bound by the Schengen Agreement and thus has absolutely no
grounds to temporarily waive Schengen visa fees,” he argues.
“Poland always welcomes all visitors irrespective of their
nationality, race, sexual preference or religious beliefs. We are
pleased that many people, including minority groups, wish to visit
Warsaw on the occasion of the June march.”
The confusion seems to have arisen after Pride organisers on received a letter from foreign ministry
official Janusz Bliski in March which said: "there is no possibility of a general
waiver of fees related to visa procedures for all people who might
declare a willingness to take part in the parade."
But it added that "decisions on this issue [visa fee waivers] will be
taken individually on the basis of possibilities created by the common
visa code", giving organisers hope that all genuine gay rights activists
would be let in without paying the fee, the EU Observer wrote.
Polish Equality Parade 2011 organizers have not returned requests for comment for this report.