Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Syria imposes Iraqi visa requirement
Region
(Voices of Iraq) - The decision to impose a visa requirement on Iraqis seeking entering Syria put into force on Monday morning, an official source in al-Rabeeayia border checkpoint with Syria, noting that truck and cab drivers are giving a one-year visa for USD 200. "Iraqis have to resort to the Syrian embassy in Baghdad to obtain the visa," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) on condition of anonymity.
"The decision excludes Iraqi diplomats who seek to enter Syria," he also said. "The crossing point became empty from travelers," the source noted. For their part, a number of owners of transport and travel companies in Zakho said that the visa decision affected negatively on their work, because it decreased the number of Iraqis who travel to Syria and vice versa.
Syria Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem had informed his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zibari about his country's decision to require visas from Iraqi nationals as of September 10. Moallem asked the Iraqi government to cooperate in this regard.
"The decision excludes Iraqi diplomats who seek to enter Syria," he also said. "The crossing point became empty from travelers," the source noted. For their part, a number of owners of transport and travel companies in Zakho said that the visa decision affected negatively on their work, because it decreased the number of Iraqis who travel to Syria and vice versa.
Syria Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem had informed his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zibari about his country's decision to require visas from Iraqi nationals as of September 10. Moallem asked the Iraqi government to cooperate in this regard.
Labels: al-Rabeeayia, Iraq, Syria, visas
