Azerbaijan OKs deal on visa free regime with Iraq
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijani Parliament approved an agreement between the governments of Azerbaijan and Iraq on the abolition of the visa regime between Azerbaijan and Iraq for holders of diplomatic, special, and service passports.
The parliament made the decision at the meeting held on April 4.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Relations Samad Seyidov noted at the meeting the importance of the approval of this agreement.
The relevant agreement was signed during Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov's visit to Baghdad in February 2014.
Iraq recognized Azerbaijan's independence on January 2, 1992. The diplomatic relations between the two countries was established on March 30, 1992. The same year, Iraq opened its embassy in Azerbaijan.
Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iraq started more than 40 years ago, and Iraq was one of the first countries that opened an embassy in Azerbaijan.
Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iraq amounted to $354.19 million in 2013, the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee reported.
A significant part of this volume accounts for $353.64 million worth of goods exported to Iraq. Azerbaijan imported Iraqi products worth $0.55 million.