Astara, safe for trade boosting between Iran, Azerbaijan
By Sara Rajabova
An Iranian MP called Astara region in Azerbaijani-Iranian border a safe border town for expansion of trade between the two countries.
“There is no border town in Iran as safe as Astara, making the spot an ideal place to start expanding trade between Iran and Azerbaijan,” said Asghar Naimi Raz, Astara representative to the Iranian parliament.
He told Trend on February 18 that as two wings for Iran and Azerbaijan, the two border towns of Astara will play a key role in improving the two countries’ cultural, political, and economic affairs.
NaimiRazsaid Iran is intent upon accomplishing the Rasht-Qazvin-Anzali-Astara railroad soon, in order to complete the North-South Corridor, which joins Russia to Azerbaijan, Iran, and then the Persian Gulf.
Earlier, Deputy Director of Iran’s Construction and Development of Transportation Infrastructure Company the Astara- Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni railway project would come on stream in the next Iranian calendar year (to start March 21).The Iranian side has completed about 80 percent of the construction of the railway. Currently, the remaining part is being constructed.
Naimi Raz further added that turning Astara into a special economic zone is finally coming into being after 30 years noting that the Astara quay is operational and the certificates of the maritime border have been issued.
Iran designated the 119-hectare area as a special economic zone last August. It also recognized the maritime border in late January.
The operating hours of Iran’s Astara border checkpoint on the border with Azerbaijan were extended on January 12. From that time, the checkpoint started operating 12 hours a day – from 08:30 till 20:30 (UTC/GMT +4 hours). It previously operated from 08:30 to 18:30.
There are six border checkpoints on the Iranian-Azerbaijani border including Julfa, Shakhtakhti, Astara, Bilasuvar and Imishli. Horadiz border checkpoint hasn't been operating for a long time.
Since February 2010, Iran unilaterally abolished the visa regime for citizens of Azerbaijan, with the exception of journalists.
Azerbaijan and Iran 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 charge of the visa fee stands at ten euros.
Iran and Azerbaijan have had diplomatic relations since 1918. Iran recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992.
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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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