November 10, 2021
BY MOHAMED M. SESAY
In the Fourth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone, Honorable members of Parliament have yesterday the 9th of November 2021; spoken with a unified voice by ratifying an agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Government of the Russian Federation on Visa-Free Travel for holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports.
Explaining the historical background of the agreement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation Professor David Francis, informed Members of Parliament that during his official visit to Russia in May 2021, he sought a bilateral agreement with his Russian counterpart Foreign Minister of the Russian Foreign Ministry on Visa Free Travel for holders of Diplomatic and Service Passport. He said the objective of the travel weaver agreement is for nationals of either country who are holders of a valid Diplomatic and Service Passport to be exempted from visa requirement for entering into, exist from or transit through either countries for a period not exceeding ninety days. He added that the exemption from visa requirement shall also apply to the spouse and children not exceeding the age of 18 years accompanying a member in a diplomatic mission provide if they hold a valid Diplomatic passport or service passport.
“Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members of Parliament, we are all aware that the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Russian Federation established diplomatic relation in 1962. The diplomatic relationship has continued to grow with the establishment of the Sierra Leone Diplomatic Mission in Moscow”, he said.
Professor Francis further intimated that in January 2022, the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Russian Federation will commemorate sixty years of amicable bilateral relationship. He noted that Sierra Leone has been a beneficiary of valuable support from Russia especially from the areas of education through the provision of academic courses, particularly in the fields of medicines, engineering, science and technology.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also informed that more than two thousand Sierra Leoneans have benefited from the then Soviet Union and now the Russian Federation education scholarships. He concluded by moving a motion for a speedy ratification of the agreement describing it as a very essential agreement for the country.
Speaking on behalf of members of the opposition, Hon. Marley Spain said posterity will judge them and reference will be made to them as Members of Parliament if they failed to enact good bills and ratify good agreement. He said they are in the house of Parliament to move Sierra Leone forward by doing the needful by representing the people adequately.
Hon. Marley Spain confessed that the agreement is a good agreement for the country. He however, advised the Minister to make the agreement more inclusive and more people centered by not limiting the agreement to only holders of diplomatic and service passports. He further encouraged the Minister to extend the agreement to the ordinary Sierra Leoneans other than just circumventing it to holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports.
The Deputy Leader of Government Business Hon. Bashiru Silikie said the agreement is not controversial. He added that the agreement will make the people very proud for going into such agreement with big countries like Russia. He thanked the minister and also encouraged him to bring more agreements that will put the country into the limelight. He also encouraged members from the opposition to speedy join in the ratification of the agreement of which the agreement was consensually ratified.