Benin and Italy agree to scrap visas for diplomatic passport holders

Benin and Italy have agreed to the mutual abolition of visa for holders of diplomatic and service passports.

According to the Benin’s public broadcaster, the diplomatic agreement between the two countries was signed in New York during the 71th session of the General Meeting of the United Nations.

The Beninese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Aurélien Agbénonci signed for the west African nation with his counterpart Paolo Gentiloni signing for Italy.

“I am very happy to have signed with my Beninese counterpart, an agreement that will facilitate diplomatic relations between our two countries. 

I believe that the political and diplomatic relations of this agreement will make easier relations between our two countries and to help us also to improve together economically and culturally,” Gentiloni said.

For his part, Agbénonci noted that the agreement, will help facilitate fluidity of movement between people who are working in favor of cooperation activities between Benin and Italy.

“It is not normal for us to be obstacles to one another. We agreed to have such an agreement to allow the two parties to meet more easily,” he said.

Benin recently announced that it had scrapped visa requirements for Africans entering into the country in line with the African Unions dream of a visa free continent to facilitate trade.

The president Patrice Talon disclosed the decision during a 3-day official visit to Rwanda in August. ‘‘Learning from Rwanda, I have decided that Benin will no longer require visas for other Africans,’‘ Talon said bemoaning the extent to which Africans visited the rest of the world but not each other.