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Azerbaijan is far from being free-visa regime country out of the six member countries of the "Eastern Partnership" of the European Union. Besides Azerbaijan other countries like Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova participate in the program, the Azerbaijani Radio Liberty says.

The Radio Liberty said that in order to find out how each country meets the criteria for a visa-free regime, one can check the table of index on visa regime liberalization, prepared by the Coalition "Europe without visas" and the Stefan Batory Foundation.

According to a report, the Index assesses the work done in four areas: it is the information contained in the documents of the citizens, including the availability of biometric cards, immigration and readmission, that is, return, public safety and fundamental rights.

"Among the six countries of the Eastern Partnership Azerbaijan has implemented the least work on all four aforementioned areas," Radio Liberty writes.

Thus, in the block "Documents" is noted that Armenia was awarded 7.5 points, Georgia 7.5, Moldova 9, Ukraine 4.5, Belarus and Azerbaijan shared the last place with 4 points. In the block of "uncontrolled immigration" Moldova received 8. points7, Ukraine 7, Georgia 6.3, Belarus 5, Armenia received 6.2 points. Azerbaijan was again on the last place with 3.7 points.

Armenia is ahead of Azerbaijan in all criteria.

The reportage notes that the volume of the work implemented in the field of free-visa regime, Azerbaijan remained at the same level as it was in December 2011.

The Head of the Centre for Migration Alovsat Aliyev said that Azerbaijan does not sign an agreement on readmission. "Other countries, including Armenia, acceded to the Agreement on readmission. This agreement, to which EU gives importance, means that the country has made a commitment to the EU for the return of its citizens to their homeland. Azerbaijan does not take such an obligation,” he said.

According to him, Russian citizens pay 30 euros for a Schengen visa, Armenian citizens pay 30 euros too, and the citizens of Azerbaijan pay 60 euro.