Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mohsen Pak Ayeen has said the Iranian and Azerbaijani border guards will soon begin talks on the use of the new bridge over the Araz River at the Julfa border checkpoint.

Pak Ayeen told Trend news agency on November 19 that a new bridge was constructed at this border crossing point and it is ready for operation.

"An agreement should be reached between Iran and Azerbaijan on the terms of using this bridge. Hopefully in the near future, such an agreement will be reached," Pak Ayeen said.

He also said that there are no restrictions for the passage of trucks at the Bilasuvar border checkpoint.

He said the restrictions have been applied only to trucks heading for the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic via the Julfa border checkpoint.

"If trucks weighing over 30 tons are allowed to pass through the Bilasuvar border checkpoint, then there will be problems during the passage of these trucks over the old bridge at the Araz River in Julfa," Pak Ayeen said.

He also said there are no obstacles in allowing the 30 ton trucks which crossed the Bilasuvar border checkpoint and are waiting at the Julfa border crossing point to enter the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

He said earlier, the Iranian side informed the relevant authorities of the two countries that the trucks with a tonnage of over 30 will not be allowed to travel due to the unsuitability of the old bridge on the River Araz at the Julfa border crossing point.

Iran recently imposed restrictions on the border-crossing point in Julfa and Bilasuvar for the closing of the Shahtakhti-Poldesht border-crossing point by Azerbaijani border guards.

Previously Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic's representative office in Baku said a tractor which was carrying out shore protection work at the Araz River in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan was fired at on November 5 from Iran by two persons dressed in military uniforms.

Border guards arrived at the scene after hearing the shots.

During the preliminary investigation, it was found that two 7.62 mm caliber bullets hit the radiator, and a bullet struck the side of the tractor's cab.

The tractor's location and direction of the shots prove that the fire came from Iran.

According to the Iranian Embassy, Azerbaijan closed the Poldesht checkpoint on November 6 because of the shooting of the tractor, at a place near to it.

Iran has closed border-crossing points on the border with Azerbaijan in Julfa (the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic) and Bilasuvar.

There are seven border crossings on the Azerbaijani-Iranian border.