Armenia, Iran to Plan Visa-Free Regime

YEREVAN (ArmRadio)—Armenia and Iran plan to sign an agreement on abolishing visas. The Government is expected to approve the conclusion of a corresponding agreement during its upcoming session on June 2.
The agreement is aimed to further development relations between the two countries, strengthening of mutually beneficial economic, trade and other relations and regulation of the regime of visits of both countries’ citizens.
According to the document, Armenian and Iranian citizens will not need entry visas for a stay of up to 90 days in a period of 180 days. Corresponding authorities in both countries will reserve the right to extend the period of stay.
The signing of the agreement will promote the development of tourism in both countries and will create favorable conditions for the reciprocal visits of the citizens.
Regarding the Karabakh issue, Iran’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Seyyed Kazem Sajjad said that it should be solved through negotiations within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always lived peacefully with its neighbors and has always tried to prevent military actions between the Armenian and Azerbaijani parties,” the Ambassador said, adding that Iran has “always called on both parties to show restraint. The issue of peacekeepers depends on the decisions of the leaderships in the two countries.”
Regarding Armenian-Iranian relations after the lifting of sanctions against Iran, Sajjad said “considerable growth has been registered in the field of tourism, which, in turn, contributes to the organization of reciprocal business visits, cultural exchange and development of economic ties.”
The Armenia-Iran railway project is also on the agenda for building relations with the two countries. “Iranian specialists have already been invited to visit Armenia to hold discussions on the issue.”
On May 26, the Ambassador participated in an international conference dedicated to poet Saadi Shirazi organized at the initiative of the Yerevan State University. The event has brought together more than 80 participants from Armenia, Georgia and Iran.