SRC chief: Armenia ready to operate Margara checkpoint

PanARMENIAN.Net - Chairman of the State Revenue Committee (SRC) Eduard Hakobyan addressed recent reports of increased activity on the Turkish side at the Alican border checkpoint, stating that Armenia is technically prepared for the full operation of the Margara crossing.

“We are aware of Turkey’s activity to the extent that the public is, and we follow the same open sources. There is clearly movement and work on their side. Once our foreign policy colleagues give the green light and issue formal instructions, we are fully ready to provide customs services at the border,” Hakobyan said, as reported by Sputnik Armenia.

He explained that the SRC regularly visits the Margara checkpoint to monitor infrastructure readiness. Renovation work was completed last year, and a trained team is already in place, ready to operate the site as soon as a political decision is made.

“Looking ahead, it will be important to understand over time what kind of flows and volume of service will pass through the checkpoint. Based on that, we’ll assess whether we need to expand or further upgrade it,” he added.

Armenia and Turkey have had no diplomatic relations since 1991, and the border has remained closed since 1993 at Turkey’s initiative. However, in recent years, efforts to normalize relations have gained momentum.

Since December 2021, both countries have appointed special envoys, and in March 2022, their foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to normalization without preconditions. In September 2024, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in New York, expressing readiness to accelerate the process. One year later, representatives Serdar Kılıç and Ruben Rubinyan met at the Margara crossing to discuss arrangements for crossing and implementing prior agreements.