Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.12
By Temkin Jafarov - Trend:
The operating hours of Iran's Astara border checkpoint on the border with Azerbaijan have been extended, head of Astara Custom Administration, Hamid Reza Mohammadi told Trend on Jan.12.
From now on, the border checkpoint will operate 12 hours per day - from 08:30 till 20:30 (UTC/GMT +4 hours). It previously operated from 08:30 till 18:30.
Mohammadi said the corresponding agreement was reached with Astara Customs Office of Azerbaijan.
Under the protocol earlier signed between Azerbaijan and Iran, this operation mode of the border checkpoint will be in effect till Novruz holiday which is celebrated on March 20.
"Hopefully, there will be created grounds for the round the clock operation of the checkpoint," Mohammadi added.
He said that Iran and Azerbaijan have good neighborhood relations. "We intend to use the whole potential to develop our relations."
"Iranian exporters deliver goods to Russia through the Astara border checkpoint," he said.
The volume of exports from Iran to Russia has increased as a result of imposition of sanctions against the latter, according to Mohammadi. "The increase in the export volume will benefit both Azerbaijan and Iran."
Edited by SI
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