Turkish Foreign Ministry denies Armenia border opening report

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey has denied reports suggesting the border gate with Armenia will be opened, Anadolu Agency reported.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said in a written statement: "The claims that the Alican Border Gate located between Turkey and Armenia will be opened do not reflect the truth."

Bilgic said the opening of the gate would be considered by Turkey only in case of a normalization process in South Caucasus.

Earlier, Taraf opposition paper suggested that Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is readying another move to normalize ties with Armenia.

The presidential candidate, who earlier extended condolences to the descendants of the Armenian Genocide victims ahead of the April 24 commemoration day, allegedly instructed to open the border with Armenia.

The official was said to have ordered preparatory works to launch Alijan checkpoint scheduled to start services in September. The step is expected to promote rapprochement with Armenia and help normalize relations with the U.S., the paper said.