Having introduced visa-free regime with EU, Armenia expects EU's reciprocal steps, experts assert

In Armenia, political scientists and economists believe that the decision of the country's Government to unilaterally introduce the visa-free regime with the EU was encouraged by the Armenia's expectation of reciprocal steps from the EU on facilitation of the visa regime and its future cancellation.

On October 4, the Government of Armenia decided, starting from January 10, 2013, to cancel unilaterally the visa regime for citizens of the member states of the European Union and the states of the Schengen area. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the press service of the Government that by the decision, the Government intends to activate international contacts, including the development of tourism.

The meeting of the interdepartmental commission on coordination of relations of the Armenian public institutions with the European institutions, which was held on October 6, discussed the issues of signing of the agreement on associate membership of Armenia in the EU, creating a comprehensive free trade area, and promoting further actions to sign the agreement on facilitation of visa regime between the EU and Armenia. Arthur Bagdasaryan, Secretary of the Armenian Security Council, has stated that the negotiations are at the stage of completion and assured that all requirements presented to Armenia in connection with the documents to be signed, are carefully fulfill by the Armenian side.

David Petrosyan, a political observer of the information and analytical centre "Noyan Tapan", believes that the desire to increase the flow of tourists to Armenia is one of the reasons for such a decision.

Meanwhile, according to the expert, cancellation of visa regime will hardly play a significant role in increasing the number of tourists, given not very great tourist potential of Armenia and the fact that the majority of foreign tourists prefer to visit at once two small countries Armenia and Georgia.

"Of course, this step will have a definite impact on the tourism industry. However, the decision is mostly connected with the fact that the Armenian side would like to see a reciprocal step from the EU in terms of facilitating the visa regime for Armenian citizens, travelling to the EU," David Petrosyan stated.

The expert has found it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the step of the Armenian Government, since, according to him, even with the fairly strict visa regime with Armenia, the number of people, who go to the EU and remain there illegally, is sufficiently large. "With the current state of affairs, it is difficult to say that the EU is going to reciprocate immediately. On the other hand, Armenia really needs the facilitation of the visa regime with the EU for business, for students, and for scientific community."

Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of the "Caucasus" Institute, has stated that at present, there are negotiations on signing the agreement on the associate membership of Armenia in the EU. According to the expert, the signing of the document will facilitate for Armenian citizens the crossing of border with the EU countries. According to Alexander Iskandaryan, Armenia expects decrease in cost of visas to the member states of the EU, the simplification of procedures for their issuance, including reduction in the number of documents that are required to obtain visas. The final stage of all those negotiations might be the final cancellation of the visa regime.

Ovanes Karakhanyan, a staff member of the travel company "Europe", has reported that at present, citizens of the member states of the EU do not have any problems with obtaining Armenian visas: visas to Armenia are issued on arrival in the country at the "Zvartnots" International Yerevan Airport, and it costs only 3000 drams or 8 US dollars.