September 6, 2002 - 22:05 AMT
ARMENIA LAUNCHING ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO OFFER ENTRY VISAS
Armenia will launch a system to offer entry visas electronically beginning in October. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vardan Oskanian presented the proposal for discussion at Thursday's cabinet meeting. Thus, Armenia becomes the second country in the world (after Australia) to offer such services. Anyone around the world with access to a computer and Internet may apply for a visa online, submit a fee by credit card, and receive a response within 24 hours. The electronically received visa will be honored upon arrival at "Zvartnots" international airport in Yerevan. After a trial run there, the service will also be offered on Armenia's borders with Georgia and Iran as well. The service will be available at www.armeniaforeignministry.am, www.armeniadiaspora.com, as well as via the sites of Armenian embassies around the world. Let us note that the program is being realized with the assistance of the United Nations Development Program office in Yerevan.