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VISA-FREE TRAVEL BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN, TURKEY IS NATURAL: AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL EXPERT
Today
http://www.today.az/news/politics/57 467.html
Nov 13 2009
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with renowned Azerbaijani political expert Rasim
Musabayov.
Day.Az: What are your view regarding the current talks between
Azerbaijan and Turkey to lift visa requirements between the two
countries? Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently stated
that the countries have almost agreed to establish visa-free travel.
Rasim Musabayov: Visa requirements for short-term travel have long
been lifted. It suffices to show Azerbaijani passport in Turkish
airports and border to be able to travel and stay in the country
freely for a month.
Turkish nationals are required to obtain a visa which is not cheap
at all. Apparently, they plan to extend term of visa-free stay for
Azerbaijanis while expecting Azerbaijan to respond by a similar step.
I believe that the visa-free regime between Azerbaijan and Turkey
would be natural and make life and business of large numbers of
people easier.
Q: Do you mean one should not think Turkey's move is somehow related
to Iran's recent step to unilaterally cancel visa requirements with
Azerbaijan?
A: There were much talks long ago that it is appropriate to establish
visa-free travel between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Practical steps in
this respect have already been taken.
Iran has persistently proposed to introduce a visa-free regime and most
likely unilaterally canceled visa regulations for Azerbaijan nationals
to facilitate the process expecting a follow up actions by Azerbaijan.
But the question is not simple given the complex relationship of
Tehran with the world and the availability of visa-free regime for
CIS member states.
Q: How will Turkey-Iran rapprochement benefit Azerbaijan?
A: There is no need to exaggerate Turkish-Iranian rapprochement. These
relationships do not go beyond what should be the norm for neighboring
states. Thank God, they have no sharp contradictions and unresolved
problems. Azerbaijan will only benefit from normal relations and
cooperation between Turkey and Iran.
Q: How do you assess current state of Azerbaijan-Iran relations? What
is the reason for recently intensified visits by Iranian senior
officials to Azerbaijan?
A: I do not think visits by senior Iranian officials to Azerbaijan have
become frequent. Such visits take place very often as Azerbaijan and
Iran are neighboring states. So, there is nothing surprising about
regular visits of Iranian officials.
Lack of such visits between neighboring states is not normal. As
for general state of the Azerbaijani-Iranian relations, then I would
describe them as reserved. For example, Iran has openly stated that it
disapproves Azerbaijan's building relations with NATO and Israel. In
turn, Azerbaijan voices its concern over Iran's nuclear program and the
response by major powers to this. Azerbaijan is not either satisfied
with Iran's stance on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, in particular, warm relations between Tehran and Yerevan.
Q: What are your views about Armenian media reports that an "Orange
Revolution" led by former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan is planned
in the country?
A: I see no signs of preparations for "Orange Revolution" in Armenia.
On the contrary, the oposition forces grouped around former President
Levon Ter-Petrosyan in the Armenian National Congress have behaved
very discreetly. No demonstrations are held any more.
On one hand, LevonTer-Petrosyan is critics of Serzh Sargsyan and on
the other hand claims that the current president actually followed the
path in settlement of relations with Turkey and the Karabakh conflict
that Levon Akopovic was trying to implement at the end of the 90's,
but was overthrown by Kocharyan and radical military.
In his current statements Ter-Petrosyan hints that he is ready to
support Serzh Sargsyan if he finally breaks away from Robert Kocharyan
and Dashnaktsutun ARF.
Today
http://www.today.az/news/politics/57 467.html
Nov 13 2009
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with renowned Azerbaijani political expert Rasim
Musabayov.
Day.Az: What are your view regarding the current talks between
Azerbaijan and Turkey to lift visa requirements between the two
countries? Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently stated
that the countries have almost agreed to establish visa-free travel.
Rasim Musabayov: Visa requirements for short-term travel have long
been lifted. It suffices to show Azerbaijani passport in Turkish
airports and border to be able to travel and stay in the country
freely for a month.
Turkish nationals are required to obtain a visa which is not cheap
at all. Apparently, they plan to extend term of visa-free stay for
Azerbaijanis while expecting Azerbaijan to respond by a similar step.
I believe that the visa-free regime between Azerbaijan and Turkey
would be natural and make life and business of large numbers of
people easier.
Q: Do you mean one should not think Turkey's move is somehow related
to Iran's recent step to unilaterally cancel visa requirements with
Azerbaijan?
A: There were much talks long ago that it is appropriate to establish
visa-free travel between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Practical steps in
this respect have already been taken.
Iran has persistently proposed to introduce a visa-free regime and most
likely unilaterally canceled visa regulations for Azerbaijan nationals
to facilitate the process expecting a follow up actions by Azerbaijan.
But the question is not simple given the complex relationship of
Tehran with the world and the availability of visa-free regime for
CIS member states.
Q: How will Turkey-Iran rapprochement benefit Azerbaijan?
A: There is no need to exaggerate Turkish-Iranian rapprochement. These
relationships do not go beyond what should be the norm for neighboring
states. Thank God, they have no sharp contradictions and unresolved
problems. Azerbaijan will only benefit from normal relations and
cooperation between Turkey and Iran.
Q: How do you assess current state of Azerbaijan-Iran relations? What
is the reason for recently intensified visits by Iranian senior
officials to Azerbaijan?
A: I do not think visits by senior Iranian officials to Azerbaijan have
become frequent. Such visits take place very often as Azerbaijan and
Iran are neighboring states. So, there is nothing surprising about
regular visits of Iranian officials.
Lack of such visits between neighboring states is not normal. As
for general state of the Azerbaijani-Iranian relations, then I would
describe them as reserved. For example, Iran has openly stated that it
disapproves Azerbaijan's building relations with NATO and Israel. In
turn, Azerbaijan voices its concern over Iran's nuclear program and the
response by major powers to this. Azerbaijan is not either satisfied
with Iran's stance on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, in particular, warm relations between Tehran and Yerevan.
Q: What are your views about Armenian media reports that an "Orange
Revolution" led by former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan is planned
in the country?
A: I see no signs of preparations for "Orange Revolution" in Armenia.
On the contrary, the oposition forces grouped around former President
Levon Ter-Petrosyan in the Armenian National Congress have behaved
very discreetly. No demonstrations are held any more.
On one hand, LevonTer-Petrosyan is critics of Serzh Sargsyan and on
the other hand claims that the current president actually followed the
path in settlement of relations with Turkey and the Karabakh conflict
that Levon Akopovic was trying to implement at the end of the 90's,
but was overthrown by Kocharyan and radical military.
In his current statements Ter-Petrosyan hints that he is ready to
support Serzh Sargsyan if he finally breaks away from Robert Kocharyan
and Dashnaktsutun ARF.