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Report: Visa Consultations in US Consulates in Russia May Resume Soon

by Reuters

   MOSCOW --

   Visa consultations in U.S. consulates in Russia could be resumed in the
   near future, TASS news agency cited U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon
   Huntsman as saying on Monday.

   "I believe that in the near future they [visa consultations] may be
   resumed," the agency quoted him as saying.

   "We are trying to do everything possible, and I hope that in coming
   weeks we will be able to effectively issues visas."

   In August, the United States began to scale back its visa services in
   Russia, drawing an angry reaction from Moscow three weeks after
   President Vladimir Putin ordered Washington to more than halve its
   embassy and consular staff.

   The U.S. consulates are located in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg in the
   Urals and Vladivostok in Russia's far east.