19/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - Under the principle of reciprocity, Bucharest has, since 15 July, issued short stay visas to Serbian citizens wishing to go to Romania free of charge, EUROPE was told on Thursday by the spokeswoman for Romania's permanent representation with the EU. “We have done away with the tax on visas for Serbian nationals that now pay nothing”, the spokeswoman said. This unilateral decision by Bucharest was able to be taken in so far as Romania does not yet belong to the Schengen Area. Serbia had decided on 5 July to grant Romanian nationals free visas for staying no longer than three months in Serbia. Belgrade reintroduced in 2004 the obligation for Romanian citizens to request a visa further to Romania's decision to demand visas for non-EU nationals, a consequence due at the time to its status as candidate country. (bc)