Türkiye, Armenia Vow to Pursue Normalization Without Preconditions

Türkiye and Armenia reaffirmed their commitment to normalizing relations without preconditions, pledging to accelerate efforts to open border crossings and expand cooperation across multiple sectors.

Special envoys Serdar Kılıç of Türkiye and Ruben Rubinyan of Armenia met Friday in Yerevan for the sixth round of normalization talks. Both sides confirmed their previous commitments and agreed to speed up technical preparations for reopening key border crossings.

Border and Infrastructure Steps

The envoys reviewed the 2022 agreement on border openings and decided that relevant authorities would carry out technical work to rehabilitate the Kars–Gyumri railway and restore the electricity interconnector. These steps are seen as crucial in laying the groundwork for broader economic and trade integration.

Expanding Cultural and Academic Ties

Türkiye and Armenia also agreed to boost cooperation in culture and academia. Plans include scholarship opportunities for university students and the joint restoration of the historic Silk Road (Ani) Bridge, a symbolic landmark straddling the frontier.

Increasing Air Travel

Another area of agreement was civil aviation. The sides pledged to create conditions enabling more airlines to launch flights to various destinations beginning next summer, aiming to expand air links and people-to-people contact.

Complex History, Fragile Progress

The normalization process remains delicate given the countries’ long-standing disputes. Armenia continues to press claims of “genocide” during World War I, which Türkiye firmly rejects while acknowledging large-scale wartime losses.

Diplomatic ties were severed and borders closed in 1993 after Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territory in Karabakh. The 2020 Karabakh war and subsequent peace process, however, opened space for cautious dialogue. Limited agreements since then have allowed diplomats and third-country nationals to cross, though a full reopening remains pending.

Tentative Steps of Cooperation

Despite obstacles, humanitarian coordination has offered glimpses of progress. The Margara border crossing was used in February 2023 to deliver Armenian earthquake aid to Türkiye and again in March 2024 for humanitarian shipments to Syria. Armenia has since upgraded the crossing in anticipation of broader use.

The latest round of talks signals that both governments remain intent on pursuing normalization, even as political and historical challenges linger.

Keywords: Türkiye, Armenia, normalization talks, border crossings, Kars-Gyumri railway, Ani Bridge, diplomacy
Meta: Türkiye and Armenia reaffirmed their pledge to normalize relations without preconditions, agreeing on steps to reopen border crossings, rehabilitate rail and power links, and expand cooperation in culture, academia, and aviation.