Pashinyan highlights positive impact of potential Türkiye border opening
Armenpress
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that he has no information about reports suggesting that Türkiye may open the land border with Armenia in the coming days, but emphasized that he would welcome such a development if it occurs.
Pashinyan was asked at a press briefing to comment on Turkish media reports suggesting that the land border could be opened in the coming days.
“I don’t have any direct information, but if it turns out that such a thing is happening, I would be very happy. I also noticed that some opposition circles are spreading an atmosphere of fear regarding the opening of borders. From what they are saying, it sounds as if Türkiye and Azerbaijan have done us a favor by keeping the border closed. Meanwhile, for 30 years Armenia has been protesting in international forums that Türkiye and Azerbaijan have blockaded it.
Honestly, I do not have any information about the border opening. We want it to happen, and it would be very good if it happens in a logical way. When it happens, I will welcome it,” the Prime Minister said, emphasizing that it would only have a positive impact on Armenia.
Türkiye unilaterally closed its land border with Armenia in 1993.
The Pashinyan administration launched intensified normalization efforts with Türkiye in 2022. Several rounds of talks have resulted in agreements, most recently an announcement on trade facilitation involving procedural changes. The sides are also exploring the relaunch of the railway. Another agreement concerned the partial opening of the land border for diplomatic passport holders and third-country nationals as a first phase. This agreement has yet to be implemented.
On May 4, on the margins of the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia and Türkiye signed a memorandum of understanding on the restoration of the historic Ani Bridge.
