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Georgia, Iran sign agreement on visa-free regime

Politics Materials 3 November 2010 19:56 (UTC +04:00)
Georgia and Iran signed on Wednesday an agreement on visa-free regime between the two countries. The document was signed at the Georgian Foreign Ministry by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his Georgian counterpart Grigol Vashadze.
Georgia, Iran sign agreement on visa-free regime

Georgia, Tbilisi, Nov. 3 /Trend, N.Kirkhalia/

Georgia and Iran signed on Wednesday an agreement on visa-free regime between the two countries. The document was signed at the Georgian Foreign Ministry by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his Georgian counterpart Grigol Vashadze.

The ministers noted the significance of the signed document, which will facilitate visits of citizens of both countries to Georgia and Iran.

"This is a very important document that allows neighbors to communicate without boundaries and unites the peoples," said Mottaki. According to Vashadze, Georgia is committed to ensuring visa-free communication with all its neighbors, and earlier a similar agreement was signed with Turkey.

According to him, Iran, with which Georgia simplifies visa regime, is no exception. "The number of Iranian tourists in Georgia has doubled, and the Georgian side is interested in this, and simplifying the visa regime will more contribute to the increasing trade turnover with this country," he said.

Rumors that the United States will back out of Georgia if the country opts for a visa-free regime with Iran have no grounds, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said earlier.

"The weakening of the U.S. role is impossible, as they are our strategic partner," she said. "We greatly depend on their friendly and political support. We are building the relations with Iran in an open mode and in the format of a continuous dialogue with our allies. Thus, this will not irritate anyone," said Nino Kalandadze.

Georgia's interest in establishing a visa-free regime with Iran was also expressed by the President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili.
"The Georgian government is interested in deepening trade and economic relations with neighboring states, including Iran. During the visit of the Iranian foreign minister, the main issue at the talks will be visa-free regime between the two countries," said president's press secretary Manana Manjgaladze.

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