Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:612 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Path: world!daemon From: Wally Doerge <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Subject: ALL: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Azerbaijan Message-ID: <941024170600_76702.1202_CHN77-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: daemon@world.std.com (daemons) Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Mon, 24 Oct 1994 17:06:01 GMT Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 97 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Azerbaijan ============================================================ Azerbaijan - Consular Information Sheet October 24, 1994 Country Description: Azerbaijan is a nation undergoing profound political and economic change. 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. Although visas can be obtained in Baku after arrival, passports without visas are retained by immigration authorities at the airport and sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the following workday. Travelers are strongly advised to obtain a visa prior to entry, as registry at hotels without a passport and visa is prohibited. To obtain a visa, travelers must submit an invitation issued by a sponsor in Azerbaijan. Georgian visas are valid for transit through Azerbaijan up to five days. For current information on visa requirements, contact the Azerbaijani Embassy, 927 15th Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20005; telephone: (202) 842-0001; fax: (202) 842-0004. Visas may also be obtained through the Azerbaijani Embassies and Consulates in Ankara or Istanbul, Turkey and Bonn, Germany. Areas of Instability: The situation in the capital, Baku, remains unsettled. Government tanks and armed troops continue to patrol certain areas of the city, in particular around the parliament and presidency buildings. Armed conflict is taking place in and around the Armenian-populated area of Nagorno-Karabakh located inside Azerbaijan and along the borders with Armenia and Iran. Travelers may be stopped at roadblocks while vehicles and travel documents are inspected. Internal travel to several regions is restricted; travelers must obtain special permission from the Ministry of the Interior to visit these areas. Travel Information: Train travel in the Caucasus region is not secure. Travelers on airlines between the countries of the former Soviet Union may experience prolonged delays and sudden cancellations of flights. Air travel to Azerbaijan on international carriers via Turkey is generally more reliable. Medical Facilities: Medical care in Azerbaijan is 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's international travelers hotline, tel.: (404) 332-4559. Crime Information: Although Azerbaijan has a low rate of violent crime, incidents of street crime, such as petty theft, have been reported. 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 and is available >from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. 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. Registration: Americans may register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Baku and obtain updated information on travel and security within Azerbaijan. Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan, is located at Prospect Azadlig 83. The telephone numbers are (7) (8922) 96-36-21 or (7) (8922) 96-00-19. No. 94-247 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet for Azerbaijan dated December 15, 1993, showing changes in the areas of instability to include Baku and entry requirements to include transit visas and adding information on air and train travel. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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