Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15
By Temkin Jafarov - Trend:
Iran will absolutely lift the restrictions on the movement of vehicles and passengers at checkpoints in Bilasuvar and Julfa on the border with Azerbaijan starting tomorrow, Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsun Pakayin told Trend on Nov.15.
"I held negotiations with border guards of both of the countries in the past three days and an agreement envisaging the absolute resumption of activities of both border checkpoints starting tomorrow and the allowance of movement for persons crossing the border, as well as for cars and trucks was reached," Pakayin said.
The movement of cars at the border checkpoint in Bilasuvar was allowed today, the ambassador said.
"Today is a non-working day in Iran, therefore both of the border checkpoints will normally function from tomorrow," the Iranian ambassador said.
Recall that Iran restricted the movement of cars and trucks through Julfa and Bilasuvar border checkpoints since Nov.7. Two days ago the pedestrian crossings through these checkpoints was resumed.
Iran took this step as a response to the closure of Shahtakhti - Poldesht border checkpoint by Azerbaijan.
Two individuals from Iran dressed in military uniform shot at a tractor which was conducting bank protection operations at the River Araz on November 5 at 18:15.
The border guards heard the shooting and arrived at the scene. It was revealed during the preliminary investigation that two 7.62 mm bullets were in the radiator, one lodged in the lateral side of the tractor.
The location of the tractor and direction of the shots prove that fire opened up from Iran.
Iranian officials said that after the incident, Azerbaijan closed the Shahtakhti - Poldesht border checkpoint. In response whilst Iran closed the border checkpoints at Julfa and Bilasuvar on November 7.