Azerbaijan, Baku, 22 January /corr. Trend F.Rzayev / Trend interview with the Chief of the Consular Department of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry.
- Turkey simplified the visa regime with Turkic-speaking countries, including Azerbaijan, and it will provide an opportunity for Azerbaijanis to stay in Turkey's territory without a visa for a month. How are these changes beneficial to Azerbaijan's citizens and do they present any problems?
- Turkey simplifying the visa regime with Turkic-speaking countries, including Azerbaijan, is linked to the simplification of internal procedure regulations of the country's border service. Before this decision by the Turkish government, Azerbaijani citizens had the right to stay in Turkey for 90 days, after paying $10. After the recent simplification of the visa regime, Azerbaijani citizens can stay in turkey for 30 days, without a visa and paying duty. The issue of Azerbaijanis staying in Turkey for more than one month will be resolved according to the legislation of this country. The issue of returning application of the same regulations with regards to Turkish citizens who visit Azerbaijan is on the agenda and requires the improvement of the legislation of Azerbaijan and new procedures.
- In addition, there is the issue of liquidating the visa regime between Azerbaijan and Iran. Iran's senior officials have repeatedly highlighted their readiness to remove the visa regime for Azerbaijanis visiting Iran, but the non-settlement of the problem is being explained by the disagreement of the Azerbaijani side. Are any changes planned in regard to this?
- Azerbaijan supports simplifying the procedures of entry-exit with its neighboring countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, and accelerating trade turnover and turnover of services via Iran's Consulate in the Azerbaijani Nakchivan Autonomous Republic and Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Tebriz. The function of embassies and consulates in Baku is being directed towards developing these relations and resolving other problems. Bilateral relations, cooperation within international organizations and development of economic relations testify the high level of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Azerbaijan Republic.
- Azerbaijan is planning to open new consulates in several countries, including Georgia and Russia. What are the plans on this issue?
- In order to protect the rights and interests of Azerbaijani citizens who permanently and temporarily reside abroad, consulates are continuing to be opened in countries where Azerbaijanis densely reside. Considering the intensity of entry-exit of Azerbaijanis working in Russia, and the number of Azerbaijanis who permanently and temporarily reside in this country, the President of Azerbaijan issued an order to establish a consulate in Ekaterinburg. To protect the rights and interests of Azerbaijani citizens in other countries, necessary measures are continuing to be taken and consulate generals, consulates and consulate agencies are planned to be established in several countries.