Azerbaijan, Iran simplify entry-exit along borders
By Sara Rajabova
Entry and exit of the Azerbaijani citizens to Iran will be further facilitated following the opening of a new passenger terminal along the borders.
Iranian Embassy told Trend Agency on October 31 that Bilasuvar border checkpoint (Iran) has opened a new passenger terminal.
Dawood Keshavarzian, Deputy Minister of Urban Development and Road Maintenance of Iran, said at the opening ceremony of the terminal that some $4.5 million has been invested in the construction of the terminal, the IRNA Iranian news agency reported.
He said that there are 24 border checkpoints in Iran, noting an average of 13 million metric tons of cargo is transported via them and more than 15 million passengers cross through them.
Keshavarzian also said Iran is interested in developing relations with all countries, in particular with neighboring countries.
He added that Iran has joint borders with 7 countries, and therefore it has favorable conditions for transit.
Keshavarzian noted that every year, some 135,000 vehicles run between Iran and Azerbaijan, 50,000 of them via Bilasuvar border checkpoint. One million passengers cross it each year, according to statistics.
Keshavarzian further said Iran is interested in developing relations with Azerbaijan, noting that the opening of the new terminal will facilitate the entry and exit of Azerbaijani citizens," he said.
He added that Bilasuvar border checkpoint will start working around the clock soon and the preparatory work is being carried out for it.
The terminal opening ceremony was also attended by Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsin Pakayin, representatives of the Bilasuvar city executive power, and officials of Ardabil province.
There are four border checkpoints on the Iranian-Azerbaijani border - Bilasuvar, Shakhtakhti-Poldesht, Astara and Julfa. Currently, Azerbaijan and Iran also agreed to open the fifth checkpoint in Aslanduz-Horadiz.
Since February 2010, Iran unilaterally abolished the visa regime for citizens of Azerbaijan, with the exception of journalists.
The Azerbaijani and Iranian governments also agreed within an intergovernmental commission to simplify the visa regime and the introduction of disposable (30-day) visa for entering of the Iranian citizens into the territory of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The visa fee is ten euros.
Nakhchivan is one of Azerbaijan's regions which has been under a blockade over the last 20 years due to the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories.
The governments of the two countries decided earlier to adopt new measures to simplify visa regime for the citizens of the two states.
Azerbaijan and Iran have had diplomatic relations since 1918. Iran recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992.
The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran stood at $144.045 million in January-September 2014, according to the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Azerbaijan.
In the first nine months of 2014, goods worth $115.6 million were imported to Azerbaijan. Exported goods amounted $28.45 million.