Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 10
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
The Russian state Duma will discuss the visa waiver plan between Tehran and Moscow, Assadollah Asgaroladi, head of Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce said.
Iran and Russia have agreed to issue one-year multiple-entry visas for the businessmen of the two sides, Asgaroladi said, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported Feb. 10.
He further said that the Duma is scheduled to discuss the elimination of visas for ordinary citizens for one-month trips as well.
Earlier Iran's Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanai said Iran and Russia are working toward removing visa requirements for their citizens at a time of a changing geopolitical landscape which has made closer tourism cooperation more viable.
The two countries have just begun implementing an agreement to simplify visa procedures, Sanai remarked.
The two countries have stepped up their tourism cooperation in recent months. Iran seeks to take advantage of a diplomatic spat between Russia and Turkey to attract Russian tourists.
Head of Russia's State Agency for Tourism Oleg Safonov has said Iran was one of the safest places for his country's citizens.