Turkey begins restoring Akyaka-Gyumri railway

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey has begun restoration work on the Akyaka-Gyumri railway section, Akyaka Mayor Erguder Toptaş announced, Armenpress reported.

According to Toptaş, the work is expected to be completed within two to three months.

He said that once relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are normalized, he expects there will be no obstacles to reopening the Armenia-Turkey border.

Toptaş also said that, under the instructions of the Turkish president and coordinated by the Ministry of Transport, work has already begun to prepare border checkpoints and railway infrastructure for the reopening of the border.

"So, construction has already started, and the work is underway," the Akyaka mayor said.

He added that a tender has also been announced for the construction of the road connecting Akyaka and Gyumri.

"The tender for the road from Akyaka to Gyumri has already been announced, and we expect work there to begin as well. This is part of our governments' policy to promote good-neighborly and friendly relations," Toptaş said.

The mayor said he believes both Armenia and Turkey would benefit economically from the reopening of the border. According to him, there are broad opportunities for cooperation in agriculture and industry.

In May, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the Armenian government would soon begin reconstruction of the Yerask railway and the Gyumri-Akyaka railway section.

Turkey has kept its border with Armenia closed since 1993.