Wednesday, September 13 2017 17:49

ArmInfo.Director of the Institute of the Caucasus Alexander Iskandaryan does not rule out the start of the second round of talks on visa liberalization between Armenia and the European Union after the Eastern Partnership Summit in November.

"The question of liberalizing the visa regime for Armenia in an  optimistic version is not lost. Perhaps the start of the second round  of talks will be announced at the Brussels Summit of the Eastern  Partnership in November, or immediately after it, let us say until  the new year or just after the new year. I believe that the  probability of this is great. But again, even if negotiations are  launched, it is a long process that will last for years. Another  thing we are not Ukraine or Georgia, we are more organized, and there  are technical possibilities for more rapid negotiations, but it will  take several years. Legislation will be harmonized, technical issues  will be resolved," Iskandaryan said at a news conference in Yerevan  on September 13, answering the ArmInfo question as to how likely it  is for the foreseeable future to start a dialogue on the second stage  of the liberalization of the visa regime between Armenia and the EU.

To note, on December 17, 2012 an agreement was signed on simplifying  the visa regime between Armenia and the EU, which came into force on  January 1, 2014. The agreement accelerated the procedure for issuing  visas in the consulates of the European Union countries located in  Yerevan. Now the decision on the visa is taken within ten days, and  in case of emergency - for two or less days. In addition, the  agreement also provides for a shortening of the list of documents  required for obtaining a visa. The price of the visa after the  signing of the agreement was reduced to thirty-five euros against the  sixty euros that were given to tourists prior to ratification of the  agreement. Another significant plus of the simplified visa regime is  a free visa issued to children under the age of twelve, as well as  persons with disabilities and persons accompanying them. This  document provides for the introduction of a simplified procedure for  obtaining visas for entry into the Schengen area for members of  official delegations, journalists, businessmen, scientists, athletes,  schoolchildren and students, close relatives of citizens of the  European Union, as well as for people who go to the countries of the  European Union for treatment. Participants in various international  conferences, exchange programs and other social events of  international character will also be able to receive visas under a  simplified regime. In general, the list of various categories of  population that will be able to visit the European Union through a  simplified scheme is quite extensive. The process of providing  multivisa, which was previously too complex and lengthy, is also  facilitated. Citizens of Armenia with diplomatic passports are  exempted at all from the need to obtain a visa. The simplification of  the visa issuance scheme also affected the length of stay of Armenian  citizens on the territory of the European Union. Now this period is  ninety days for each period of one hundred and eighty days. At the  same time, an agreement on readmission was also signed.