Although the concept is for all ASEAN member countries it is still based upon bilateral agreements."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said stakeholders in ASEAN member countries are starting to design a system for the implementation of an ASEAN visa system for the years to come.
He said after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a meeting with Myanmar` President Thein Sein here on Thursday he said the procedure was expected to be materialized in 2015 in concurrent with the establishment of ASEAN Community.
"It will however take special effort to be able to issue an ASEAN visa because visa regime in each country is different," he said.
ASEAN Visa is a system under which a third party namely a citizen from a country outside ASEAN could come to all ASEAN member countries with his visa to be processed only once.
"It is like in Europe," he said.
He said however that it would still take a long process before it could be realized as adjustment had to be made with visa making procedures in each ASEAN member country.
He said the process of discussion had been ongoing and more than a concept is a free-visa facility for all ASEAN member countries.
"It has become more than a concept for ASEAN member countries although it is not full. The foundation is still a bilateral agreement. Although the concept is for all ASEAN member countries it is still based upon bilateral agreements," he said.
(T.P008*D013/Uu.H-YH/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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