OFFICIAL NEWS
PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV OFFICIALLY INAUGURATES SHAHTAKHTY-PODASHT BORDER CHECKPOINT
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended on Wednesday the opening ceremony of the Shahtakhty-Podasht checkpoint at the Azerbaijan-Iran border.
Chief of the State Frontier Service Elchin Guliyev informed the President that checkpoint was located on the bridge designed for pedestrians only. With a new bridge constructed, the checkpoint will be removed. The memorandum on construction of the Shahtakhty-Poldasht bridge was signed in 2003 by Iran and Azerbaijan. During Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Azerbaijan, the document awarding international status to the 160m-long bridge was signed on August 21. Iran intends to use the bridge for carrying cargo from the Persian Gulf to Europe.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Iranian Vice-President Parviz Davudi cut the red ribbon symbolizing the opening of the bridge.
“I congratulate you on this remarkable event. I was in Tehran yesterday, and witnessed rapid development there. Azerbaijan, Baku is developing as well. Many bridges are being built but they are designed for the traffic. However, this bridge is the one uniting two nations, two peoples, and facilitating traveling for people,” said Azerbaijani Leader.
Parviz Davudi noted that the bridge would help improve the welfare of both sides. He invited Azerbaijani Leader to Podasht.
Azerbaijan President crossed over the bridge to Iran. Here he gave an interview to the Iranian TV.
Afterwards, President Ilham Aliyev and Parviz Davudi returned to the Azerbaijan side to have a conversation.