RA FM: Turkey dialogue could aid Armenia-Azerbaijan peace

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan told Turkey’s NTV that if there is success in Armenia-Turkey relations and the border opens, it could positively impact the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.

Speaking about the Armenia-Turkey normalization track, Mirzoyan recalled the meeting of special envoys—Serdar Kılıç for Turkey and Ruben Rubinyan for Armenia. He noted that the foreign ministries are also involved and that he was scheduled to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan later that evening.

“This won’t be our first meeting, which shows that there is quite an active dialogue between Armenia and Turkey. And it goes beyond just the ministers or special envoys—other relevant agencies are gradually getting involved as well. Meetings are already taking place between various institutions,” he said.

Mirzoyan added that both sides have jointly reviewed the infrastructure of the Margara–Alican land crossing and have also studied the Gyumri–Kars railway route. A few days earlier, officials discussed a joint project to restore the Ani Bridge. Several other initiatives are also underway.

“All this indicates that the process, while slow, is moving forward,” he stated.

He emphasized that Armenia has already completed reconstruction work on its side of the Margara crossing.

“I highlight this to underscore that the process is advancing, and we’re maintaining a stable and intensive dialogue with our Turkish partners. At the same time, it’s important to note that the end goals—full normalization of relations, establishment of diplomatic ties, and border opening—have not yet been achieved. And this, of course, is somewhat linked to the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization. We firmly believe that success on the Turkish track, including border opening, could be a positive signal for Armenian-Azerbaijani reconciliation as well,” he said.

Asked whether now is the right time for peace, Mirzoyan replied that perfect moments may never come, but the current environment is more favorable than ever.

“I can say with confidence—and I think my Turkish and Azerbaijani counterparts would agree—we’ve never been this close to one another. Maybe the time isn’t ideal, maybe it never will be. But if we sincerely assess where we are now, we can say we’ve never been this close to peace and stability,” he concluded.

Since 2021, when Armenia and Turkey appointed special envoys for normalization, the two sides have pursued several steps. Initial agreements focused on cargo transportation. The next expected step was opening borders to third-country citizens, though major progress on that front remains pending.