BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. The first contacts regarding the situation with the restoration of the land and railway between the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and other territories of Azerbaijan have already begun with Iran, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev told reporters, Trend reports.
"Work in this direction has already begun and is being carried out by authorized ministers. Bridges are being constructed over the Araz river in Zangilan and Aghband for passage to Iranian territory, and from there, the construction of overland and railway lines to Nakhchivan is underway," he said.
"Unfortunately, over the past 3 years, Armenia has not taken significant steps toward the construction and advancement of this corridor. We cannot wait for Armenia to make a decision. As you can see, new opportunities are emerging in the Middle Corridor, and we need to build relationships, properly assessing these opportunities," added Hajiyev.
The new bridge to be built across the Araz River is of strategic importance and will make a great contribution to the expansion of economic ties and trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran. The Aghband Bridge will connect Iran and Azerbaijan not only by road but also by railroad. The railroad will run from Aghband, through Iran, to Julfa in Nakhchivan. Construction of the road will take one year. In accordance with the agreement between Azerbaijan and Iran, a customs checkpoint will be established on it and a terminal will be built. The new bridge will also create wide opportunities for the development of transit cargo transportation.