Azerbaijan, Iran facilitate visa regime
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijani and Iranian governments have agreed to introduce a single entry visa (15-day) for the Iranian citizens planning to visit the territory of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Iranian official in charge of consular affairs at the Iranian Embassy in Baku, Mohsen Molaei told Trend news agency that the agreement was reached during the 9th meeting of a commission on cooperation in economic, trade and humanitarian spheres between Azerbaijan and Iran, held on 6 August.
Molaei said based on the agreement, the visa will be issued on checkpoints Sadarak, Shakhtakhti and Julfa. He noted that the visa would be valid for the Iranian citizens only in the territory of Nakhchivan and it cannot be used in other regions of Azerbaijan. The visa fee is ten euros.
Nakhchivan is one of Azerbaijan's region which has been under a blockade over the last 20 years due to the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories.
Molaei expressed hope that the facilitation of the visa regime will help the development of tourism and trade relations in the border regions of Azerbaijan and Iran.
Earlier, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pak Ayeen said for a trip to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the Iranian tourists can get the visas in the territory of the Nakhchivan International Airport, the Sadarak, Shakhtakhti and Julfa border checkpoints.
Currently, the cost of an entry visa for Iranian citizens into the territory of Azerbaijan is 35 euros.
Since February 2010, Iran unilaterally abolished the visa regime for citizens of Azerbaijan, with the exception of journalists.
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.
Data from the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan shows that trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $281.03 million in 2013, which is 6.13 percent higher than 2012. The figure stood at $263.785 million in 2012.