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Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan: â€œWe had to make limitation for the trucks over 30 tonsâ€

22 November 2013 09:55 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Shamil Alibeyli – APA. “Right now all borders are opened and there is no problem. Only there is the limitation for the bridge in Julfa which is not related to the events of the border closure. Even if we didn’t have this event we will also have this limitation for this bridge,” Ambassador of Iran to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pak Ayeen told APA.

The ambassador said that there are two bridges in Julfa: “Old bridge is going to be damaged and for the protection of that bridge and for the benefit of the people of Nakhchivan we had to make limitation for the trucks over 30 tons. If we allow them the bridge, maybe soon it will be damaged. We send the note to Azerbaijani side that we are going to make limitations on the old bridge.”

“New bridge is already finished and waiting for the opening. All we need an agreement between two countries on how can we use this bridge. Now we are consulting each other and we are going to fix the date for holding joint border commission of two countries to reach the conclusion and sign this agreement. Up to that time when the agreement is signed the limitations will not be lifted for the Julfa. After the signing of the agreement all the trucks can pass the border,” said Mohsen Pak Ayeen.

On November 8, the Embassy of Iran in Azerbaijan issued a statement on the closure of Bilasuvar and Julfa checkpoints. The statement said that this step has been taken due to the closure of Poldasht-Shahtakhti checkpoint by Azerbaijani frontier guards on November 6.

“As the checkpoint was not opened, Iran closed Bilasuvar and Julfa checkpoints after waiting for two days and informing the Azerbaijani side beforehand,” said the statement.

Though restriction was eliminated for pedestrians crossing the border checkpoints a few days ago, the vehicles were not allowed crossing the border.

Bilasuvar border checkpoint was opened on November 15. Following this, trucks with more than 30 tonnes of weight have not been allowed crossing Julfa checkpoint.