Turkiye and Armenia Move Forward to Normalize Relations at Border Meeting

Special envoys from Turkiye and Armenia met at their shared border to discuss steps toward normalizing relations. This meeting included agreements on visa procedures and railway gate operations. It marks the fifth such meeting since the reconciliation process began in late 2021, aiming to open the long-closed border.

Special envoys from Turkiye and Armenia convened at their mutual border on Tuesday to continue discussions aimed at normalizing relations between the two countries, historically fraught with tension.

Since the closure of their border in the 1990s, Turkiye and Armenia have lacked formal diplomatic relations. In an effort to reconcile, both nations appointed special envoys in late 2021 to explore pathways for rapprochement, including the potential reopening of the border.

During this latest meeting, which took place at the Alican-Margara crossing, Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic and Armenian Deputy Speaker Ruben Rubinyan agreed to simplify visa procedures for diplomatic passport holders and to assess the logistical requirements for a railway crossing. This is their fifth meeting since reconciliation talks commenced.

(With inputs from agencies.)