Visa-free travel between Azerbaijan, Turkey is natural: Azerbaijani political expert

Day.Az: What are your view regarding the current talks between Azerbaijan and Turkey to lift visa requirements between the two countries? Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently stated that the countries have almost agreed to establish visa-free travel.

Rasim Musabayov: Visa requirements for short-term travel have long been lifted. It suffices to show Azerbaijani passport in Turkish airports and border to be able to travel and stay in the country freely for a month.

Turkish nationals are required to obtain a visa which is not cheap at all. Apparently, they plan to extend term of visa-free stay for Azerbaijanis while expecting  Azerbaijan to respond by a similar step. I believe that the visa-free regime between Azerbaijan and Turkey would be natural and make life and business of large numbers of people easier.

Q: Do you mean one should not think Turkey’s move is somehow related to Iran’s recent step to unilaterally cancel visa requirements with Azerbaijan?

A: There were much talks long ago that it is appropriate to establish visa-free travel between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Practical steps in this respect have already been taken.

Iran has persistently proposed to introduce a visa-free regime and most likely unilaterally canceled visa regulations for Azerbaijan nationals to facilitate the process expecting a follow up actions by Azerbaijan.

But the question is not simple given the complex relationship of Tehran with the world and the availability of visa-free regime for CIS member states.

Q: How will Turkey-Iran rapprochement benefit Azerbaijan?

A: There is no need to exaggerate Turkish-Iranian rapprochement. These relationships do not go beyond what should be the norm for neighboring states. Thank God, they have no sharp contradictions and unresolved problems. Azerbaijan will only benefit from normal relations and cooperation between Turkey and Iran.

Q: How do you assess current state of Azerbaijan-Iran relations? What is the reason for  recently intensified visits by Iranian senior officials to Azerbaijan?  

A: I do not think visits by senior Iranian officials to Azerbaijan have become frequent. Such visits take place very often as Azerbaijan and Iran are neighboring states. So, there is nothing surprising about regular visits of Iranian officials.

Lack of such visits between neighboring states is not normal. As for general state of the Azerbaijani-Iranian relations, then I would describe them as reserved. For example, Iran has openly stated that it disapproves Azerbaijan’s building relations with NATO and Israel. In turn, Azerbaijan voices its concern over Iran's nuclear program and the response by major powers to this. Azerbaijan is not either satisfied with Iran's stance on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in particular, warm relations between Tehran and Yerevan.

Q: What are your views about Armenian media reports that an “Orange Revolution” led by former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan is planned in the country?

A: I see no signs of preparations for "Orange Revolution" in Armenia. On the contrary, the oposition forces grouped around former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan in the Armenian National Congress have behaved very discreetly. No demonstrations are held any more.

On one hand, LevonTer-Petrosyan is critics of Serzh Sargsyan and on the other hand claims that the current president actually followed the path in settlement of relations with Turkey and the Karabakh conflict that Levon Akopovic was trying to implement at the end of the 90's, but was overthrown by Kocharyan and radical military.

In his current statements Ter-Petrosyan hints that he is ready to support Serzh Sargsyan if he finally breaks away from Robert Kocharyan and Dashnaktsutun ARF.

Day.Az