No Armenia deal without Baku consent, says Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kılıç has commented on recent reports in Azerbaijani media, stating that discussions around opening the border with Armenia are being exploited, and that Turkey will never take any step that contradicts Azerbaijan’s interests.

Azerbaijan has expressed concern over reports that Turkey and Armenia agreed to temporarily open the “Margara” border crossing for 10 days to allow humanitarian aid transit from Armenia to Syria.

Kılıç emphasized that misleading information about a possible border opening is intended to create confusion among the public and undermine the fraternal relationship between Turkey and Azerbaijan, Azertag reports.

He said claims that Ankara opened the border without informing Baku are part of a disinformation campaign aimed at damaging the Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance.

“Some media claims that Turkey unilaterally opened the border with Armenia are meant to harm the brotherhood between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Behind these false reports are circles disturbed by the unity and cooperation between our two countries. Turkish authorities coordinate and consult every step related to Yerevan with the Azerbaijani side,” Kılıç stated.

He added that normalization between Turkey and Armenia will only be possible after peace is achieved between Yerevan and Baku.

“The process of normalizing relations between Ankara and Yerevan can only succeed if peace is established between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Turkish authorities have reiterated this on numerous occasions,” Kılıç said.

On March 21, the Margara Bridge border crossing—closed for 32 years—was reopened for 10 days to send humanitarian aid to Syria. A similar action was taken in 2023, when Armenia used the Margara crossing, shut since 1993, to deliver 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Turkey.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan stated that all logistical matters regarding the land delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria were discussed and coordinated with Turkey through official diplomatic channels.