Unilateral cancelation of visa-free travel with Iran is temporary: Georgia

TEHRAN,July 6(MNA) – Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said on Wednesday that her country’s unilateral cancellation of the visa-free travel deal with Iran is temporary, Xinhua reported. The decision was made by the country’s special commission charged with immigration issues, the foreign minister explained, adding, “We are facing new challenges, and we have to formulate a new policy.” “Visa policies with various countries should be revised and regulated. A part of the policy is unilateral cancellation of visa processes with Iran.” The Georgian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday confirmed that Georgia had revoked a 45-day visa-free travel scheme with Iran, which was signed in November 2010 and had been in effect since January 26, 2011. The number of Iranians visiting Georgia increased from 21,300 in 2010 to 89,600 in 2012 thanks to the scheme. Starting from July 1 of this year, Iranians traveling to Georgia have to obtain a visa while the Georgians traveling to Iran still enjoy the visa-free scheme. Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili told the press on Wednesday that Tbilisi was keeping a good neighborly relationship with Tehran in parallel with observation of the UN sanctions against the country. “We continue our good neighborly relations with Iran. At the same time we follow UN (sanctions) in order not to allow any black money or embargoed products to be delivered into Georgia,” said the prime minister. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, in recent months, two delegations from the U.S. Treasury have visited Georgia to warn it that Iran may be using its growing business links with Georgia to skip international sanctions. Georgian Justice Minister Tea Tsulukani responded at the time by saying that Iranian businesses operating in Georgia are under “strict control,” promising to investigate the claims.