Albania, Bosnia introduce visa-free travel

TIRANA, Nov 1 – Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina agreement scrapping bilateral visa requirements entered into force on Sunday.
The agreement will allow Albanians and Bosnians to visit each others countries for up to 90 days without having to apply for visas, Albania’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Spokesman Ralf Gjoni said the country also is trying to reach a deal with Serbia on scrapping the visa requirements.
Tirana and Sarajevo signed the deal last March trying to open lines of communication with the countries of the region and provide facilities for the nationals’ free travel through these spaces.
The transition through the border checkpoints open for international or inter-state travel will be free from taxes or other obligations.
That brings the practice of travel between the two countries closer to the practice of the movement of citizens in the EU.
Neither country was included last year in the EU decision to lift the visa barrier like they did for FYROM, Montenegro and Serbia. They are expecting to have that decision next year.
“This Agreement will have a positive impact on the facilitation of boosting of contacts between the nationals of both countries and will serve the strengthening of relations at all areas,” said Gjoni. “Likewise, the entry into force of this Agreement will assist in achieving the goal of Albania and Bosnia – Herzegovina on establishing a free regime for the movement of their citizens in the European space.”