Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend A.Mammadova / Interview with the Head of Trade Representation at the Embassy of Turkey in Azerbaijan, Osman Ozjan.
- Recently the citizens of Azerbaijan were given the opportunity to enter Turkey without a visa. Will the Turkish side put the question to Azerbaijan to simplify the visa regime for the citizens of Turkey?
- What are the intentions? Turkish citizens who receive visas at the airport spend no more than half hour getting it. However, Turkish drivers who are delivering cargo to Azerbaijan have relatively serious problems. They do not have the opportunity to get a visa in Astana (Azerbaijani-Iranian border - stated by Trend ) or in Krasni Most ( Red Bridge) (Azerbaijani-Georgian border - stated by Trend ). They must apply for a visa in Turkey and it presents additional technical difficulties. The Turkish side has been willing to resolve this issue for a long time. Turkey has resolved this issue and now has the right to expect a similar step from its Azerbaijani partners.
- When will this issue be discussed with your Azerbaijani colleagues?
- The current head of the Turkish diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan, Huseyn Anvi Karslioglu, took up his responsibilities at the beginning of the year. One of his promises was to regulate the issue of visas for Turkish citizens visiting Azerbaijan. For instance, Turkish business people who currently come to Azerbaijan receive a visa for one year only. I cannot say if they have problems in receiving visas. But, let's agree that this period is very short for Turkish entrepreneurs who are allocating huge amount of investments into the economy of Azerbaijan. A small delay in receiving a visa and time lost may present large obstacles for investors who are working in Azerbaijan.
- How much do Turkish business people pay for a visa?
- I do not know the exact figure, but in my opinion the figure is nearly $250. I repeat that currently there are no problems in receiving a visa. You pay money and you receive a visa. Firstly it is a psychological and moral factor. Let's touch upon the drivers who are delivering cargos. If they do not get a visa in Turkey, they will waste much time at the border and this will affect their work.
- Did the cancellation of visas for Azerbaijani citizens affect the development of commercial and economic relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan?
- Of course, it was positive. As more visits of Azerbaijani citizens to Turkey are made and visits of Turkish citizens to Azerbaijan more contacts are established.
- You have repeatedly highlighted the need to increase the amount of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkey and even stated the figure ($1bln) as a goal. Did you achieve this level?
- I currently have information on the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkey over the past five months. According to the data, the amount of the Turkish export to Azerbaijan increased by 60% and Azerbaijani export to Turkey - 75%. If in the last five months of last year the amount of Turkish export to Azerbaijan made up $122mln, in January to May 2007 the figure increased to $196mln, and Azerbaijani export to Turkey increased from $137-138mln to $241mln. Thus, we are observing an increase for both Azerbaijan and Turkey. After Russia and Italy, Turkey is second in the list of countries that have an active trade partnership with Azerbaijan. However, in the gross amount of trade turnover of foreign countries with Azerbaijan, Turkey is third. All these testify to the intensity of commercial and economic relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Speaking of the level of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkey, I agree with the data of Azerbaijan and according to Turkish indicators, we have already achieved the targeted figure - $1bln.There is certain differences between Turkish and Azerbaijani indicators.