EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER: SOUTH CAUCASUS COUNTRIES INTERESTED IN VISA FACILITATION WITH EUROPE

ArmInfo
2010-05-03 16:21:00

ArmInfo. "The area of visas and facilitating the mobility of persons
is a field where the partners in the South Caucasus are calling for
more from the EU, feeling the pressure from citizens experiencing
complicated and lengthy procedures", European Commissioner for
Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule said when speaking
at the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), European Parliament,
after his visit to the South Caucasus and Ukraine.

"The visa facilitation and readmission agreements for Georgia have
already successfully been negotiated. Georgians can soon benefit from
lower fees and easier visa rules. Following the example of Georgia,
Armenians and Azerbaijanis would similarly like to start discussions
with the EU that will facilitate travelling for citizens. It is clear
that the demands are high from our partners in the South Caucasus. But
so are also the EU’s requirements on these partner countries to make
sure that their legislation is in place and their administrative
capacities strong enough to turn political ambitions into actual
delivery of results. My message to the leaders in Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Georgia has been and will always be that the responsibility for
the internal reform processes and the strengthening of democracy and
rule of law lie firmly in the hands of the governments and politicians
of those countries", Fule said.