Armenia is ready to open the state border with Turkey at any time – even today. This was announced at the Antalian diplomatic forum by the vice speaker of the Armenian parliament, special representative of Yerevan on the normalization of relations with Ankara Ruben Rubinyan, Russian media reports.
“It is no secret to anyone that there is a deep historical context in the relationship between Armenia and Turkey, but Armenia is ready to complete normalization of relations with Turkey and the opening of borders at this moment, today and tomorrow,” he said.
In 1993, in response to the occupation of the Kyalbadzharsky district of Azerbaijan, Turkey closed the border with Armenia, stopping road, rail and air communication.
In subsequent years, there were initiatives to renew the dialogue of the parties.
Finally, on October 10, 2009, the Turkish-Armenian protocols on the normalization of relations took place in Zurich. However, in view of the position of the Armenian side, these documents remained on paper.
Serge Sargsyan on March 1, 2018 announced the protocols invalid.
The clearance in the relationship of Ankara and Yerevan was formed after the Second Karabakh War, ended with the victory of Azerbaijan.
Soon after the liberation of the historical lands of Azerbaijan from the Armenian occupation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara does not exclude the likelihood of opening a new page in relations with Yerevan.
The statements of President Erdogan received a positive response in Yerevan.
The Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Chavushoglu on December 13, 2021 made it clear that a new page was opened in the relationship between Ankara and Yerevan.
Chavushoglu said that Turkey and Armenia on a mutual basis will be appointed special representatives to normalize relations.
He also announced his intention to resume charter flights between Yerevan and Istanbul.
The first meeting of the special representatives of Turkey and Armenia to normalize relations is scheduled for January 14 in Moscow.
from January 1, 2022, Armenia was banned for the import of Turkish goods, operating since December 2020.