Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev called the Karabakh conflict the main reason for Baku’s refusal to lift visa regime with Iran during his meeting with the Governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province Ahmad Ali Reza Beygi.

The Minister noted that 350 000 tourists out of 2 m visiting Azerbaijan were Iranian citizens, IRNA reported. The countries have good relations, but they should reach higher level, he added. Azerbaijan is at war with Armenia, this is the reason for Baku’s hesitation to lift visa regime, Garayev stressed. “I hope that after the Karabakh conflict is resolved, we will first lift visa requirements for Iranian citizens,” the minister stated.

Garayev’s absurd response to a remark by the Iranian governor regarding visa regime will hardly facilitate further strengthening of the bilateral relations. Interestingly, forgetting about the ceasefire regime constantly violated by the Azeri militaries, Garayev recalled the war that country continues with Armenia.