"We proposed drafting an intergovernmental agreement on simplified border crossing for residents of border territories. Our Norwegian colleagues agreed to this," Sergei Lavrov told a press conference after talks with his Norwegian counterpart, Jonas Gahr Store.
The Russian minister said border residents should have no problems "for everyday communication with their colleagues on the other side of the border", adding that the new scheme should not be held back with excessive red tape.
Lavrov said a visa facilitation agreement has been signed, and that the two countries will soon exchange ratification instruments.
The upper house of Russia's parliament ratified on May 30 a Russian-Norwegian simplified visa issuance agreement, which will apply to officials, businessmen, journalists, scientists, culture and education workers, and students.
Lavrov and Store also opened on Wednesday a laboratory in Murmansk to research the behavior of oil during accident spills, and to formulate recommendations to eliminate the consequences of spills.
The lab was built with financial support from Norway's TatoilHydro at a cost of 12 million rubles ($510,000).
Murmansk is a major port in northern Russia, and handles large oil tankers departing Russia for Europe and the United States.
