From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Azerbaijan Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 15:00:02 GMT Organization: The World, Public Access Internet, Brookline, MA Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1602 Path: world!leao Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199801271003_MC2-30D2-9C7D@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 116 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Azerbaijan ============================================================ Azerbaijan - Consular Information Sheet January 26, 1998 Country Description: Azerbaijan is a nation undergoing profound political and economic change. The capital city is Baku. Tourist facilities are not highly developed, and hotel space in Baku is limited. Many goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not yet available. Public disturbances may occur without warning. Entry Requirements: A passport and visa are required to enter Azerbaijan. Travelers with valid Georgian visas are permitted to enter Azerbaijan for a stay up to five days. Thereafter, they must include a letter of invitation from an individual or organization in Azerbaijan when applying for a visa. For additional information on visa requirements, travelers can contact the Embassy of Azerbaijan, 927-15th Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20005; telephone (202) 842-0001. Areas of Instability: As a result of conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh area of Azerbaijan, twenty per cent of Azerbaijani territory (in the southwest along the borders with Iran and Armenia) is occupied by insurgent forces. A cease-fire has been in effect since 1994, although reports of armed clashes along the cease-fire line and along the border with Armenia continue. Anti-personnel mines are a danger in areas close to the front lines. It is not possible to enter the self-proclaimed "Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh" from Azerbaijan. Travelers contemplating entering Nagorno-Karabakh are advised that because of the existing state of hostilities, consular services are not predictably available to Americans in Nagorno-Karabakh. Travelers, therefore, are cautioned to avoid travel to Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding occupied areas. Travel Information: Train travel in the Caucasus region is not secure. Public transportation in general is overcrowded and poorly maintained. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages use of the Baku Metro. Travelers on airlines among the countries of the Caucasus may experience prolonged delays and sudden cancellations of flights. In addition to routine delays, flights are often overcrowded with passengers without seats standing in the aisle, along with excess unsecured cabin luggage. Even basic safety features such as seat belts are sometimes missing. Air travel to Azerbaijan on international carriers via the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and Turkey is generally more reliable. Road Conditions/Traffic Safety: Roads are extremely poor in Baku. Driving hazards such as open manholes, debris, and potholes are common. Drivers pay little heed to traffic regulations, signals, lanes, or other drivers. Drivers often travel at extremely high rates of speed and accidents are frequent. Driving within Baku should be considered extremely hazardous. Outside of the city, where roads are present, conditions are similar. They are often in poor repair, unlit, and lack lanemarking, traffic signs, and warnings. Many rural roads are unpaved and rarely traveled. Medical Facilities: Medical care in Azerbaijan is extremely limited. There is a severe shortage of basic medical supplies, including disposable needles, anesthetics, and vaccines against communicable diseases. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Further information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline, telephone (404) 332-4559 or visit the CDC home page on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov. Crime Information: Although Azerbaijan has a low rate of violent crime, incidents of street crime and assaults on foreigners are increasing. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" provides useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad. Additional information on the region can be found in the brochure "Tips for Travelers to Russia and the Newly Independent States." Both publications are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Baku can provide additional information on the crime situation, including safety tips and contact numbers for the local police. Currency Regulations: Azerbaijan is a cash only economy. Traveler's checks and credit cards are not accepted. The local currency is the manat. U.S. dollars are required in most hotels and preferred in many restaurants. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Embassy Location/Registration: Americans are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy and obtain updated information on travel and security within Azerbaijan. The U.S. Embassy in Baku is located at Prospect Azadlig 83. The telephone numbers are (9) (9412) 98-03-35, (9) (9412) 98-03-36, or (9) (9412) 98-03-37. No. 98-09 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet for Azerbaijan dated February 27, 1996, to update information on areas of instability and travel information and to add sections on road conditions/traffic safety and Internet information. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories