EDITOR'S NOTE: Three paragraphs added in article
Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 7 / Trend T.Jafarov /
Iran intends to launch a simplified visa system with Azerbaijan in 2010, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohammad Bagir Behrami told journalists today.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry hopes the government will approve a submitted draft project on unilaterally abolishing the visa regime with Azerbaijan, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said earlier.
Iran is taking steps to develop bilateral relations and relations between nations, Mottaki said, replying to a question asked by Trend . The draft project on unilaterally lifting the visa regime with neighboring Azerbaijan is among these measures, he said.
"The ministry presented the submitted draft to parliament, which will review suggestions in the legal framework," he said. "We hope this issue will be reviewed and approved soon."
"Any Azerbaijani citizen can travel to Iran without a visa and stay for one month. If he wishes to stay longer, he will need to return Azerbaijan and then travel again to Iran," Bahrami added.
If all goes according to plan, Iran may prolong the period to three months, he said.
About 35,000 people traveled to Iran in the past nine months.
"Despite the abolition of the visa regime, hepatitis and AIDS test will be taken from travelers. These procedures may also be simplified," Bahrami said.
The ambassador expressed hope that the visa-free regime will be applied in 2010 and the Azerbaijani side will take a similar step.
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