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Afshar Suleymani: â€œWhile working as ambassador, I had interesting proposals on Azerbaijan-Iran relations, but none of them was realizedâ€

18 February 2010 11:57 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev â€“ APA. â€œBefore getting down to business, it needs to learn it in details and create necessary ground. While working as ambassador I advocated for visa-free travels. We should do it sooner or later. I crossed the borders for many times and saw that there were problems in the border check-points for both Iranian and Azerbaijani citizensâ€, former Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan Afshar Suleymani told APA. The diplomat said no necessary infrastructure was created at the check-points.

Suleymani said he had interesting proposals while working as ambassador, but none of them was realized. â€œMost of the people are traveling to Azerbaijan or Iran for commercial affairs and certain part of the people is traveling for pilgrimage. I propose to build large markets on both sides of the borders to give an opportunity to the people to do their business. It will better provide border security and prevent drug trafficking. A free economic zone was created near Enzeli port of Iran, but it is not used so far. I would like free trade relations to be established there. Even passenger ships can take off there. There are very good opportunities and they should be used logically, successively and accountablyâ€.