Iran cancels visas for Azeris (Updated)
Iran has canceled visa regulations with neighboring
Azerbaijan, according to the Iranian state-run TV channel`s
website.
The country`s cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal by the Foreign Ministry. Iranian Vice President Mohammad Rahimi has forwarded the decision to the ministry for enforcement.
Of note, Iranian officials have lately begun hinting in statements about the need to bilaterally cancel visa regulations. Numerous statements were made following a cool-down in Turkey-Azerbaijan relations prompted by the signing and discussion in the Turkish parliament of the October 10 agreement on reopening Turkey`s border with Armenia, Azerbaijan`s long-time foe.
Iranian diplomats immediately sensed the timing was right for a political rapprochement with Azerbaijan, with which Tehran`s relations have been far from warm. Baku has not reciprocated Iran`s overtures toward better ties, and there are quite a few reasons for that, according to observers. In its statements, Iran has always supported Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity, while in practice it has been doing just the opposite - by backing Armenia, which is responsible for occupying Azerbaijani territory. Moreover, Baku, which is developing relations with European institutions, has been rather cautious in expanding its friendship with Iran, a foe for the powerful West.
It appears that Azerbaijan`s caution has not subsided today, otherwise, Baku would have easily reciprocated Tehran`s move. Baku said it would consider canceling visa regulations with Iran in line with Azerbaijan`s interests.
``If the Iranian side offers Azerbaijan to consider the possibility of canceling visas on our end, we will review the proposal and a decision will be passed based on our national interests,`` according to Elkhan Polukhov, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.
Polukhov added that visa regulations with Iran have already been simplified and there are no problems with Iranian citizens` obtaining visas to Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani political analyst Rustam Mammadov told the Russian-speaking Zerkalo newspaper that Azerbaijan definitely should not cancel visa regulations with Iran, saying the measure would cause ``huge trouble.``
``We have already amply suffered from Iranians` coming to Azerbaijan and have seen nothing good from that. Smuggling of drugs, the advent of Iranian Mullahs - all this is adversely affecting our country. Just imagine what would happen if the borders were transparent based on the ``from one house to another`` notion. A big menace - that`s what will happen. So, I am opposed to canceling the visa regime, especially because our treasury may be hit hard by this.``
According to Mammadov, Iran is overpopulated and is ``trying to get rid of a part of its population by sending it to Azerbaijan.``
But another local analyst, Zardusht Alizada, countered that visa-free travel poses no threat to Azerbaijan.
``What threat comes from the Mullahs? Essentially, $50 [an approximate cost of an Azerbaijani visa] is not that much money for Iranian Mullahs, so, visa regulations are not a hurdle for them at all. And if they wanted to, they would have long come here anyway,`` said Alizada.
The pundit believes bilateral canceling of visas, actually, has some benefits for both sides.
``On the contrary, both us and them will have a good opportunity to visit each other`s countries, become acquainted closer with the culture and everyday life. For instance, Iran is a very `cheap` country, so Azerbaijanis would be able to afford taking recreational tours,`` Alizada said.
Iran had long been considered relatively sealed off to foreign nationals. A number of observers note that fees for Iranian entry visas in many countries have often been the main obstacle for tourists, turning Iran into one of the countries with high visa costs. However, the situation began to change in the late 1990s. In 1999 the Islamic republic cancelled visa regulations with six Arab Gulf states, paving the way for increased travel by citizens from neighboring states.
The inflow of Azerbaijani tourists is now anticipated as well. Iran attracts Azerbaijanis not only with its cultural and religious proximity, but also by the fact many relatives of Azerbaijanis live in the neighboring country. Also, it is quite possible that Azerbaijani entrepreneurs will seek to do business in Iran.
Meanwhile, the Turkish government said it also plans to cancel visa regulations with Azerbaijan. Turkey`s Sabah newspaper quoted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying at a meeting of the ruling AK Party that a preliminary agreement had been reached with Baku to that end. He noted that Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov is expected to pay a visit to Turkey during which an agreement on canceling the visa regime will be signed.
But the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry spokesman Polukhov said he was unaware of a planned visit by Mammadyarov. He emphasized, however, that visa regulations between the two countries were on the agenda. According to Polukhov, the consular offices of Azerbaijan and Turkey`s Foreign Ministries held consultations on the issue as early as this past summer and the matter is currently under consideration by Azerbaijani government agencies.
Under current bilateral regulations, Turkish diplomats are allowed to enter Azerbaijan without visas, while rank-and-file Turkish citizens receive visas free of charge. As for Azerbaijani citizens, they are entitled to visa-free stay in Turkey for a period up to 30 days.
The country`s cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal by the Foreign Ministry. Iranian Vice President Mohammad Rahimi has forwarded the decision to the ministry for enforcement.
Of note, Iranian officials have lately begun hinting in statements about the need to bilaterally cancel visa regulations. Numerous statements were made following a cool-down in Turkey-Azerbaijan relations prompted by the signing and discussion in the Turkish parliament of the October 10 agreement on reopening Turkey`s border with Armenia, Azerbaijan`s long-time foe.
Iranian diplomats immediately sensed the timing was right for a political rapprochement with Azerbaijan, with which Tehran`s relations have been far from warm. Baku has not reciprocated Iran`s overtures toward better ties, and there are quite a few reasons for that, according to observers. In its statements, Iran has always supported Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity, while in practice it has been doing just the opposite - by backing Armenia, which is responsible for occupying Azerbaijani territory. Moreover, Baku, which is developing relations with European institutions, has been rather cautious in expanding its friendship with Iran, a foe for the powerful West.
It appears that Azerbaijan`s caution has not subsided today, otherwise, Baku would have easily reciprocated Tehran`s move. Baku said it would consider canceling visa regulations with Iran in line with Azerbaijan`s interests.
``If the Iranian side offers Azerbaijan to consider the possibility of canceling visas on our end, we will review the proposal and a decision will be passed based on our national interests,`` according to Elkhan Polukhov, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.
Polukhov added that visa regulations with Iran have already been simplified and there are no problems with Iranian citizens` obtaining visas to Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani political analyst Rustam Mammadov told the Russian-speaking Zerkalo newspaper that Azerbaijan definitely should not cancel visa regulations with Iran, saying the measure would cause ``huge trouble.``
``We have already amply suffered from Iranians` coming to Azerbaijan and have seen nothing good from that. Smuggling of drugs, the advent of Iranian Mullahs - all this is adversely affecting our country. Just imagine what would happen if the borders were transparent based on the ``from one house to another`` notion. A big menace - that`s what will happen. So, I am opposed to canceling the visa regime, especially because our treasury may be hit hard by this.``
According to Mammadov, Iran is overpopulated and is ``trying to get rid of a part of its population by sending it to Azerbaijan.``
But another local analyst, Zardusht Alizada, countered that visa-free travel poses no threat to Azerbaijan.
``What threat comes from the Mullahs? Essentially, $50 [an approximate cost of an Azerbaijani visa] is not that much money for Iranian Mullahs, so, visa regulations are not a hurdle for them at all. And if they wanted to, they would have long come here anyway,`` said Alizada.
The pundit believes bilateral canceling of visas, actually, has some benefits for both sides.
``On the contrary, both us and them will have a good opportunity to visit each other`s countries, become acquainted closer with the culture and everyday life. For instance, Iran is a very `cheap` country, so Azerbaijanis would be able to afford taking recreational tours,`` Alizada said.
Iran had long been considered relatively sealed off to foreign nationals. A number of observers note that fees for Iranian entry visas in many countries have often been the main obstacle for tourists, turning Iran into one of the countries with high visa costs. However, the situation began to change in the late 1990s. In 1999 the Islamic republic cancelled visa regulations with six Arab Gulf states, paving the way for increased travel by citizens from neighboring states.
The inflow of Azerbaijani tourists is now anticipated as well. Iran attracts Azerbaijanis not only with its cultural and religious proximity, but also by the fact many relatives of Azerbaijanis live in the neighboring country. Also, it is quite possible that Azerbaijani entrepreneurs will seek to do business in Iran.
Meanwhile, the Turkish government said it also plans to cancel visa regulations with Azerbaijan. Turkey`s Sabah newspaper quoted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying at a meeting of the ruling AK Party that a preliminary agreement had been reached with Baku to that end. He noted that Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov is expected to pay a visit to Turkey during which an agreement on canceling the visa regime will be signed.
But the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry spokesman Polukhov said he was unaware of a planned visit by Mammadyarov. He emphasized, however, that visa regulations between the two countries were on the agenda. According to Polukhov, the consular offices of Azerbaijan and Turkey`s Foreign Ministries held consultations on the issue as early as this past summer and the matter is currently under consideration by Azerbaijani government agencies.
Under current bilateral regulations, Turkish diplomats are allowed to enter Azerbaijan without visas, while rank-and-file Turkish citizens receive visas free of charge. As for Azerbaijani citizens, they are entitled to visa-free stay in Turkey for a period up to 30 days.
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