Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan , 30 January / corr . Trend E. Mammadov / The number of the people trying to obtain identity card in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (AR) of Azerbaijan has increased by 50% in the first month of 2008. The Passport Registration Department of the Interior Ministry of Nakhchivan AR said to Trend.
The Azerbaijan began to change soviet passports in the early 2001. All the passports in the country are nationalized.
Some 500 citizens were issued passports in January in Nakhchivan . The same figure totaled to 204 in December 2007.
Nakhchivan AR has been in blockade since 1988 when conflict appeared between Azerbaijan and Armenia. There is only air communication between Nakhchivan and Azerbaijan.
The increase in the number of the people trying to obtain identity card is attributed to the fact that the new bus trips through Iran requires them to get identity cards.