Norway, Switzerland to facilitate visa regime with Azerbaijan
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan has completed negotiations with Norway and Switzerland on visa facilitation and readmission agreements.
At the request of the EU, separate agreements were prepared with these countries as Norway and Switzerland belong to the Schengen area, Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev said on August 5.
Azerbaijan and the EU signed the visa facilitation agreement during the EU summit in Vilnius in November 2013. Azerbaijan also signed the readmission agreement with the EU earlier this year.
These agreements required two sides to sign some bilateral deals with the countries that are part of the Schengen area but are not members of the EU, including Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Mammadguliyev said similar agreements were signed with the EU in Vilnius at the third summit of Eastern Partnership.
"We do not intend to tighten the timing of signing agreements with Norway and Switzerland for a long time. Although this procedure will take a long time as translation of the agreements into the official languages of these countries - German, French and Italian - takes time," he said.
Agreements with these two states and the EU will come into force from September.
According to him, in Norway, the visa-free regime will only apply to holders of diplomatic passports, with Switzerland - diplomatic and biometric service passports.
"Norway followed the path of the European Union, which doesn't exempt holders of official passports from visa. Further expansion of the list will depend on how we will implement these agreements. If a political decision is made, we can raise the question of a gradual transition to the visa-free regime," Mammadguliyev said.
He noted, the EU forms a transition plan, but implementation of these agreements goes to the cornerstone.
"This is the first time that Azerbaijan signs agreements on visa facilitation and readmission. That is why it is a serious challenge for us. Anyway, a political decision is needed for further steps," Mammadguliyev said.
Under the new rule, a decision on issuing a visa will be made within 10 days, and two days or less in case of emergency.
Meanwhile, the cost of the application will decrease to €35 for Azerbaijani citizens, and a list of required documents will be reduced for certain categories of the population, including relatives and members of official delegations, students, teachers, businessmen, scientists, and journalists.
The agreements on visa facilitation and readmission between Azerbaijan and the EU will enter into force from September 1, Charge D'Affaires of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, Toralf Pilz said on August 5.
"We hope that these agreements will create conditions for further development of relations between EU and Azerbaijan and European citizens will benefit from ample opportunities for trips to the country," he stressed.