Azernews.Az

Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov has said adequate action will be taken against embassies posing hurdles for the issuance of visas to citizens.
"Work in this area is under way at the Foreign Ministry," he told the last sitting of the legislature`s summer session on Friday.
Azerbaijan`s beach football team has recently been unable to participate in the European Cup in France due to the French embassy`s denial of entry visas to the players.
MP Ganira Pashayeva expressed her indignation over the embassy`s actions.
"An end should be put to the French embassy`s arbitrariness. This is disrespect for the Azerbaijani people and state.
"After numerous attempts the embassy issued visas only when it was too late, and our football players were unable to join the championship participants. An impression emerges as though the French embassy considers our athletes terrorists who should not be allowed into Europe."
Pashayeva said due assessment should be urgently given to the move. "The ambassador should be called to the parliamentary commission on international and inter-parliamentary relations and demanded to provide an explanation."
The lawmaker said the majority of Azerbaijani citizens invited to official functions in France also face the problem with obtaining visas.
Incoming reports suggest that the French diplomatic mission has yielded to relevant media reports and pressure, granting visas to the football team members. However, the players refused to go to France this time, saying the step was belated and the team would therefore be no longer able to get properly prepared for the tournament.