EU expects Azerbaijan to 'take necessary steps' for easing visa rules
By Nigar Orujova
The European Union expects Azerbaijan to take all the necessary measures to simplify visa regulations, according to EU Delegation head Roland Kobia.
"We are preparing for the next round of negotiations on visa facilitation between Azerbaijan and the EU and signing of a readmission agreement," Kobia told the local press Wednesday.
"The next meeting will be held in Baku in November. We expect progress and hope that Azerbaijan will be able to take all the necessary steps," Kobia said.
He said the main obstacle to expediting the process of easing the visa regulations concern the signing of an agreement on readmission.
"Azerbaijan does not have such an agreement with any country...This is something new for the country and we understand this. Both processes -- visa facilitation and signing a readmission agreement -- must go in parallel," Kobia noted.
"Negotiations on an association agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan are underway. We will resume the video conferences soon...Then a plenary session will be held," he said.
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev told media earlier that Azerbaijan expects to accomplish some results after its negotiations on visa facilitation with the EU in 2013.
"Simplifying the visa regime will affect major population groups -- students, persons traveling for medical treatment, and entrepreneurs," he said. "Overall, it will cover about 10 to 12 categories. We are trying to increase this figure."
An agreement on the simplification of visa entry for citizens of Azerbaijan provides for a reduction of the list of documents submitted along with the application for a visa and the possibility of issuing multiple entry visas with a longer validity period, thus reducing the cost of visas or even making them free for particular categories, and envisions time limits for processing an application.
The agreement on readmission will develop a mechanism for repatriation of those residing in the EU and Azerbaijan without permission.
The EU and Azerbaijan are maintaining relations under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which was signed in 1996 and came into force in 1999. In 2009, the EU passed a decision to sanction negotiations on the conclusion of bilateral association agreements of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia with the organization. These agreements will be a new practical instrument to replace the bilateral action plans.
Azerbaijan is also included in the EU's Eastern Partnership program, adopted at the initiative of Poland and Sweden and approved at the EU summit in Brussels in 2008. The Eastern Partnership is aimed at political and economic rapprochement of six post-Soviet states with the EU.
EU projects
The EU is discussing projects for financing in 2013 with the Azerbaijani government, Kobia said.
"At present, we are considering various projects that we could finance," he said. "We want to work in coordination with the Azerbaijani government and civil society."
Kobia said the parties have failed to make progress on the project on managing state funds in Azerbaijan in 2012.
"We wanted to provide 20 million euros in funding for a huge project, but we failed to reach an agreement with the government," Kobia said.
The ambassador expressed confidence in further growth of the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the EU.
"At present, Azerbaijan carries out more than 60 percent of its foreign trade transactions with the EU countries," he said.
"Italy is the biggest importer of Azerbaijani goods, in particular oil. We hope that this trend will continue. It is advantageous for Azerbaijan to have such a stable partner as the EU. And it is advantageous for us to purchase the goods offered by Azerbaijan. This cooperation is mutually beneficial for both parties," Kobia stressed.