Armenia and Turkey hold inaugural meeting of joint railway restoration group

Emil Lazarian
OC Media
April 29 2026

A joint Armenian–Turkish working group has held a meeting on the rehabilitation and operationalisation of the Gyumri–Kars railway. The US Embassy hailed the meeting as ‘historic progress toward a peaceful and prosperous South Caucasus’.

The working group held what appears to be their inaugural meeting in Kars, Turkey, on Tuesday.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry reported that the meeting took place in accordance with the agreements reached within the Armenia–Turkey normalisation process.

‘The parties emphasised the significance of the early operation of the Gyumri–Kars railway in the context of enhancing regional transport communications’, the statement read.

‘Restoring this critical link between Armenia and Türkiye is an important step in unlocking regional connectivity and solidifying regional stability’, the US Embassy noted in its swift response to the meeting.

The embassy also cited the Armenia–Azerbaijan–US summit in Washington in August 2025 in its statement, saying it had ‘set the stage for such momentous developments’.

Armenia asks Russia to urgently restore railway near Nakhchivan and Turkey

An agreement on assessing the technical requirements to enable the functioning of the Akhurik–Akyaka railroad border gate was reached in July 2024, during a meeting of Armenian and Turkish special envoys of the normalisation process, Ruben Rubinyan and Serdar Kılıç, on the Margara–Alican crossing on the border between the two countries.

At the time the sides also agreed ‘to simplify their mutual visa procedures for diplomatic/official passport holders’, which came into force starting from 1 January 2026.

Following the agreements on the railway, ‘representatives of the relevant institutions of the two countries’ convened a meeting at the Akhurik–Akyaka border crossing between Armenia and Turkey and in the city of Gyumri in Armenia in November 2025.

That marked the second round of technical discussions ‘aimed at the rehabilitation and reactivation of the Gyumri–Kars railway’.

The Armenian side previously announced that its border checkpoints with Turkey are ready for use.

Currently, Armenian National Security Service (NSS) Border Guards carry out service at the Akhurik checkpoint, unlike previously, when the duty was conducted together with the Russian border guards. However, Russian border guards still maintain presence along the border with Turkey and Iran.

Armenia and Turkey have been engaged in a renewed normalisation process since 2022, including meetings of special envoys on normalisation on their shared border and in their respective capitals. However, diplomatic relations have not yet been established, and the land border remains closed, despite positive messages of its re-opening being shared from the end of 2025.

Bloomberg: Turkey considering opening border with Armenia in ‘next six months’

In 2022, the sides agreed to allow third-country nationals and diplomats to cross the land border, but Turkey has since stated that progress in the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process is a precondition for further achievements in the normalisation process with Armenia. Turkey originally closed the border in 1993 during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Earlier in 2026, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Special Envoy Rubinyan sat out the Antalya Diplomacy Forum taking place 17–19 April, in which they have participated since 2022. Instead, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan attended the forum.

The Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the decision to send a lower-level delegation. Previously, in the scope of the forum, the normalisation process was discussed between Armenia and Turkey.

Separately, Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonyan said in Istanbul that the continued closure of the Armenia–Turkey land border has been influenced by Azerbaijan ‘through its lobbying and influence’ in Turkey.

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Cyprus and Armenia to strengthen ties ‘in all directions’

Hagop Kamalian
Cyprus Mail
April 29 2026

Cyprus fully supports the further deepening of the cooperation between the European Union and Armenia , European affairs deputy minister Marilena Raouna has said.

“[The cooperation is] based on our shared values and the vision for a stable, democratic and prosperous Armenia and a stable South Caucasus,” she said, speaking at the European parliament’s plenary on the strengthening of Armenia’s democratic resilience on Tuesday.

Raouna underlined that democratic resilience was a “core commitment” of the EU – both in regard to its member states and its neighbours.

She emphasised that the relations between the EU and Armenia have made “significant progress” in the last two years since the European Council’s call to strengthen relations “in all dimensions”, laying the foundation for new cooperation.

“Next week the first EU-Armenia summit will be held in Yerevan [the capital of Armenia],” Raouna said.

She said that the summit sent a “strong message” on the importance of Armenia as a regional partner of the EU, with President Nikos Christodoulides scheduled to meet with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to the bilateral cooperation.

Raouna went on to highlight the importance of the EU-Armenia strategic agenda, which she described as a “clear roadmap for cooperation”, as well as investments of approximately €270 million made via the resilience and development plan, which contributed to the strengthening of Armenia’s resilience in view of external pressures.

“[This] is not only about financial support but also about investing in the future of Armenia,” she said.

Warning of the undermining of trust in democratic institutions via disinformation campaigns, Raouna said that Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections on June 7 have the potential to be a “defining moment” for Armenia.

“In an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, strengthening partnerships with countries that share the same values remains a key priority,” Raouna said.

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Cyprus backs deeper EU-Armenia cooperation ahead of first summit in Yerevan

Greg Madatian
Cyprus Inform
April 29 2026

Cyprus backs deeper EU-Armenia cooperation ahead of first summit in Yerevan

Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus fully supports further deepening cooperation between the European Union and Armenia, European affairs deputy minister Marilena Raouna said. She spoke at the European Parliament’s plenary on strengthening Armenia’s democratic resilience on Tuesday.

Support for closer EU-Armenia ties

Raouna said the cooperation is based on shared values and a vision for a stable, democratic and prosperous Armenia and a stable South Caucasus. She described democratic resilience as a core commitment of the EU toward both member states and neighbouring countries.

Recent progress and upcoming summit

Raouna said EU-Armenia relations have made significant progress in the past two years since the European Council’s call to strengthen relations in all dimensions, laying the foundation for new cooperation. She said the first EU-Armenia summit will be held next week in Yerevan.

Meetings and strategic agenda

Raouna said the summit sends a strong message on Armenia’s importance as a regional partner of the EU, with President Nikos Christodoulides scheduled to meet Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to bilateral cooperation. She highlighted the EU-Armenia strategic agenda as a clear roadmap for cooperation and cited investments of approximately €270 million through the resilience and development plan to strengthen Armenia’s resilience amid external pressures.

Disinformation concerns and elections

Raouna warned that disinformation campaigns can undermine trust in democratic institutions and said Armenia’s parliamentary elections on June 7 have the potential to be a defining moment for the country. She said that in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, strengthening partnerships with countries that share the same values remains a key priority.



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Armenia, Turkey discussing reconstruction, commissioning of transborder railwa

Hambardsumian Paul
Interfax
April 28 2026

Armenia, Turkey discussing reconstruction, commissioning of transborder railway – Armenian Foreign Ministry

YEREVAN. April 28 (Interfax) – Armenian and Turkish representatives have held a meeting of the working group on the resumption of bilateral rail service, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Based on the agreements reached within the Armenia-Turkey normalization process, the meeting of the Armenia-Turkey joint working group on rehabilitation and operationalization of the Gyumri-Kars railway was held in Kars on April 28, 2026,” the statement said.

The sides stressed the importance of commissioning the Gyumri-Kars railway as soon as possible in the context of expanding transport infrastructure in the region, it said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy to Armenia has described the working group meeting as “historic progress toward a peaceful and prosperous South Caucasus.”

“Restoring this critical link between Armenia and Turkey is an important step in unlocking regional connectivity and solidifying regional stability. The August 8 Washington summit hosted by President Trump set the stage for such momentous developments. U.S. embassy in Yerevan welcomes these concrete steps toward reopening economic and people-to-people links between Armenia and Turkey,” the embassy said.

There are no diplomatic relations between Ankara and Yerevan, and the bilateral border has been closed since 1993 at Ankara’s initiative. Special representatives of Yerevan and Ankara have been holding negotiations since 2022 in order to reopen the border and to normalize relations. Flights between the two countries are available.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, U.S. President Donald Trump and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a declaration in August 2025, saying that Yerevan will be working together with Washington and certain third countries on the framework of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project on Armenian territory. The project envisages the construction of road, rail and oil-and-gas infrastructure. The TRIPP will connect the main part of Azerbaijan to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic via Armenia along a 42-kilometer road, and then farther on to Turkey.

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Armenian Student Association holds vigil for 111th anniversary of the Armenian

Ani Basmajian
Mustang News
April 28 2026
by Seth PintarApril 28, 2026

The Armenian Student Association (ASA) commemorated the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on Dexter lawn Friday evening.

Members of ASA gathered around a prototype of the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex and a map of old Armenia to honor the victims and express their love for ASA.

City Councilmember Mike Boswell, who is a professor and chair of the City and Regional Planning Department at Cal Poly, began the event with a proclamation declaring April 24 as “Armenian Remembrance Day.” 

Boswell called the memorial “beautiful” and said he was happy to attend as both a councilmember and a member of Cal Poly’s faculty. As a councilmember, he wanted to exemplify the city’s commitment to inclusion. As a faculty member, he wanted to be there for his fellow students.

“I love all my students,” Boswell said. “It’s important to listen to them.”

Marine Hunanyan, a business administration junior, is co-president of ASA. She believes the memorial was important to educate others on the genocide, which claimed the lives of as many as 1.5 million Armenians from 1915 to 1916, according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia.

“Something like this should never just be a page in a history book,” Hunanyan said.

Hunanyan also wanted the event to be a chance for members of ASA to express thanks for what the association means to them. For her, ASA helped her to find people of similar culture and heritage at a predominantly white institution.

“I didn’t really know what it meant to be Armenian until I got here, and it was around people of the same culture who looked like me and were around the same age as me. I never had that,” Hunanyan said.

After opening remarks by Councilmember Boswell and ASA’s second co-president, Thomas Sargsyan, an English junior, attendees took turns sharing what ASA meant to them. Many, like Hunanyan, were thankful for a space on campus to explore their identity as Armenians, but many non-Armenians were also grateful for the community they found.

Sargsyan was proud of how many non-Armenian members of the organization came and shared what they may not be able to elsewhere. He called it “fantastic.”

“For ASA, this means that we are doing a great job at reaching out to people outside the small community of Armenians at Cal Poly and spreading awareness about something that many people do not know much about,” wrote Sargsyan in an email to Mustang News.

Diego Calusdian, an Armenian electrical engineering sophomore, also appreciated the number of non-Armenians who came and shared their experiences. He thinks it “shows the love” of ASA.

“I think the point of non-Armenians is kind of even more important because it kind of shows the community solidarity and support for the Armenian community,” Calusdian said.

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EBRD and Inecobank to fund green building in Armenia

Ani Tigranian
European Bank
April 28 2026

EBRD and Inecobank to fund green building in Armenia

Author: Loretta Martikian

  • EBRD and Inecobank to support green residential project in Yerevan
  • Loan to support urban development and private-sector growth
  • Promoting green building standards and urban regeneration in Armenia

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Inecobank CJSC are supporting the development of a green mixed-use residential complex in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, with a senior secured loan of up to US$ 30 million (€26 million) under their risk-sharing facility.

The loan will be extended to Nuovo Velodromo LLC, a newly established special purpose vehicle co-owned by Renco Group S.P.A., a leading Italian construction company, and its local partner, the Adamium group of companies. The funds will go towards financing the construction of a mixed-use residential complex with a total area of approximately 47,000 square metres.

The total cost of the project is estimated at around US$ 92 million (€79 million), with the remaining financing to be covered by equity contributions from the sponsors and proceeds from apartment pre-sales.

The development will be the only mixed-use residential property in Armenia designed to achieve internationally recognised green building certification, distinguished by high construction quality and strong energy efficiency performance.

The project targets LEED “Gold” certification and, as a result, 100 per cent of the EBRD funding qualifies as Green Economy Transition (GET) financing.

The transaction is aligned with the EBRD’s country strategy for Armenia, in particular, its priority of enhancing private-sector competitiveness through capacity building, strengthened corporate transparency and a more conducive business environment.

The project is the fourth deal signed under the Bank’s risk-sharing facility with Inecobank. The facility is one of the core financing frameworks of the EBRD’s Small Business Initiative, a programme dedicated to supporting and developing the local private sector. A popular funding instrument, it is designed to allow the EBRD to share partner banks’ exposures to local enterprises through either funded or unfunded risk participation.

The EBRD is one of the leading institutional investors in Armenia. Since the beginning of its operations there, it has invested almost €3 billion in 243 projects, supporting private-sector development and the energy, infrastructure, telecommunications and financial sectors.

https://www.ebrd.com/home/news-and-events/news/2026/ebrd-and-inecobank-to-fund-green-building-in-armenia.html

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LINKS Europe Webinar: Armenia between a historic summit and a crucial election

Adrine Hakobian
Commonspace.eu
April 29 2026
29 April 2026

LINKS Europe Foundation is pleased to invite you to attend a Webinar titled: Armenia between a historic summit and a crucial election. Join us on 6 May at 15:00 (Amsterdam) / 17:00 (Yerevan) for a panel discussion on the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan and Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

Register your interest by clicking HERE.

The European Political Community Summit in Yerevan on 4 May

The 8th Summit of the European Political Community will take place on May 4, 2026 in Yerevan, Republic of Armenia, under the motto “Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe.” This session will reflect on the significance of hosting the EPC Summit in Yerevan, what it means for Armenia-EU relations, the regional peace process, and broader questions of stability and cooperation across the continent.

The Parliamentary Elections in Armenia on 7 June

The 2026 Parliamentary Elections, scheduled for 7 June, are a defining moment in the history of the Armenian state. Different countries are trying to influence the process through their proxies in Armenia and through disinformation. This session will discuss the different scenarios that can come out of the elections, current strategies to minimise external interference, and whether they are enough.

Panel:

Johnny Melikyan, Senior Fellow, ORBELI Research Analytical Center

Narek Minasyan, Associate Expert at the Armenian Council Research Center

Sargis Harutyunyan, Chairman, Yerevan Press Club

Amanda Paul, Deputy Head of the Europe in the World Programme and Senior Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre

The panel discussion will be moderated by Alexandra Dumitrescu, Project Manager and International Coordinator at the LINKS Europe Foundation.

Armenia Election Monitor 2026 | New Newsletter by commonspace.eu

From 1 May – 15 June 2026, this twice-weekly newsletter will track and analyse key developments ahead of Armenia’s parliamentary elections on 7 June, with concise, fact-based and non-partisan insights. We will share the newsletters on our website here, and the Subscribers to Caucasus Concise will be automatically registered.

Source: LINKS Europe Foundation


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Azerbaijan places Armenian prisoners in Umbaki high-security prison

Hambik Zargarian
OC Media
April 29 2026
by Aytan Farhadova and Arshaluys Barseghyan

Azerbaijan has reportedly placed all 19 Armenian detainees, including former Nagorno-Karabakh officials, in the high-security Umbaki prison.

RFE/RL reported on Tuesday that the prisoners were transferred to Umbaki from the State Security Service (DTX) detention centre. They additionally cited Siranush Sahakyan, a representative of the Armenian prisoners at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), as saying that three of the detainees have been serving their sentences at Umbaki since 2023.

‘Three individuals had already been kept in this facility since 2023, while 16 others were transferred there — these are the Armenians convicted in February’, Sahakyan said.

Sahakyan also said that after lengthy negotiations, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture carried out a short visit last year to prisons in Azerbaijan, including Umbaki. The report has been completed, but Azerbaijan, Sahakyan said, did not agree to its publication.

‘This leaves us to draw conclusions about what extremely serious and alarming issues regarding torture were raised, that the state refuses to give consent and refrains from making the findings public’, Sahakyan told RFE/RL.

The detainees include the former political and military leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh alongside other Armenians.

Javid Rzazada, a lawyer representing former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, told OC Media that he has not received any news about the transfers, but that he would try to verify it.

He added that Umbaki prison consists of two sides — one is a prison, while the other houses a detention centre. The detention centre has been in operation since 2023.

Agshin Mammadli, the lawyer representing former Nagorno-Karabakh Parliamentary Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, separately confirmed that the transfer had taken place, but was unable to pinpoint when it happened. He additionally clarified that the prisoners were placed in the Umbaki pre-trial detention centre.

‘It’s not a prison, but a pre-trial detention centre. The verdict also states that the prisoner will be held in a pre-trial detention centre until the verdict comes into force’, he explained.

‘In other words, there are no violations there, everything is legal. Sometimes you see that there are too many prisoners, and they are transferred from one pre-trial detention centre to another’.

Mammadli additionally said that the Armenian detainees would be held at Umbaki’s pre-trial detention centre for the duration of their appeal against their sentences.

‘They will remain there for this period, and then they will be sent to prison’.

Asked about the conditions in which they were being kept, Mammadli said that he ‘had no information’, but noted that the 19 Armenian prisoners were being kept in isolation from other prisoners.

‘They have no contact with other people. They interact with other Armenian prisoners only in their rooms’, he said, adding that they were most likely being held in ‘separate rooms created for them in this detention centre’.

‘I don’t know exactly how many of them are being held together. There are different cells. They are divided into two, four, eight, twelve, and so on’, Mammadli said, claiming that the Armenian detainees ‘have always been satisfied with the conditions of detention’.

Imprisoned OC Media contributor and researcher Bahruz Samadov is also serving his prison sentence on charges of state treason at Umbaki. Reports periodically emerge of the authorities’ mistreatment of Samadov, including through psychological abuse.

OC Media contributor Samadov faces increased pressure in prison

On 5 February, five former Nagorno-Karabakh officials were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Baku Military Court, while two former presidents received 20 years in prison due to their age. The remaining eight Armenians received sentences varying from 15 to 19 years.

Days later, the same court sentenced former Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison.

In January, Azerbaijan handed over four Armenian prisoners it had in its custody to Armenia. Following this, Azerbaijan rejected suggestions that more Armenian prisoners could be released.

For ease of reading, we choose not to use qualifiers such as ‘de facto’, ‘unrecognised’, or ‘partially recognised’ when discussing institutions or political positions within Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. This does not imply a position on their status.

https://oc-media.org/azerbaijan-places-armenian-prisoners-in-umbaki-high-security-prison/

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Yerevan to host European Political Community summit: expectations in Armenia

Emma Nadirian
JAM News
April 29 2026
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Next week, on 4 May, Yerevan will be at the centre of international attention. Armenia will host the eighth summit of the European Political Community under the slogan “Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe.”

Around 50 high-level delegations, including European heads of state and government, will attend. French President Emmanuel Macron will also travel to Armenia on a state visit. Armenia’s Foreign Ministry says the visit could mark “an important milestone”, as the two countries may finally formalise their strategic partnership.

International affairs expert Varduhi Harutyunyan says the summit offers a good opportunity to advance bilateral ties with different countries.

“It has already been officially announced that Armenia and France will sign a strategic partnership agreement. We can expect deeper cooperation in defence as well. We can also expect clearer outlines for strategic partnership with Germany, for example in the economy and infrastructure,” she said.

She also says the European Political Community summit will strengthen Armenia’s international standing. But, she adds, much will depend on whether the authorities can turn dialogue into durable partnerships.

The European Political Community was created in 2022 on the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron. It aims to provide a platform for political coordination and dialogue among European countries, including EU members and states outside the bloc, to strengthen security and cooperation. The community brings together the 27 members of the European Union, the United Kingdom and 19 non-EU states.

  • ‘Armenia as a bridge to Europe’ — deputy foreign minister speaks at forum in Turkey
  • ‘Battle for scandal-loving voters’: Armenia’s pre-election mood
  • Opinion: ‘Russia ‘blackmails’ Armenia with threat of gas price hikes’

What is already known about the Yerevan summit

So far, the official website of the European Political Community provides little detail about the upcoming event. The agenda and details of the planned discussions remain unpublished.

For now, organisers say talks in Yerevan will focus on democratic resilience, transport links, economic and energy security, and decisions in an evolving security environment.

“Participants will exchange ideas on how closer cooperation and coordinated action can help build a more resilient, secure and united European space.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says the summit will address “major issues”, from hybrid threats and democratic resilience to connectivity and energy challenges. He says Armenia is honoured to host the summit and to “play an active role in shaping Europe’s future”.

“For Armenia, this summit is not only an important milestone in cooperation with European partners, but also an opportunity to reaffirm our firm and unwavering commitment to democratic values and the rule of law.”

A first Armenia-EU summit will also take place in Yerevan

The first-ever Armenia-European Union summit will take place in Yerevan on 4 and 5 May. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will represent Armenia. António Costa, president of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, will represent the EU. Armenia’s Foreign Ministry says both will also take part in the eighth summit of the European Political Community.

The Armenia-EU summit will focus on closer cooperation in the economy, energy, transport and other areas.

“Leaders will also discuss progress on peace, security, connectivity and prosperity in the South Caucasus, as well as current global and regional challenges.”

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry says the summit reflects unprecedented momentum in ties in recent years. It says the EU is a key partner for Armenia in carrying out reforms, as well as in trade and investment.

Commentary

International affairs expert Varduhi Harutyunyan says the European Political Community has already played an important role in Armenia’s recent history. It was at the Prague summit on 6 October 2022, she notes, that Armenia and Azerbaijan made significant progress in their relations.

The two countries recognised each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty at the level of heads of state. She says that later became a basis for broader normalisation, including the historic Washington summit.

“Perhaps the most important outcome for Armenia at the Prague summit was agreement on deploying an EU civilian monitoring mission. It was stationed on the Armenian side of the border immediately after the summit and made a significant contribution to stability on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border,” she said.

Harutyunyan says hosting the event in Armenia carries special symbolic importance. She notes Armenia ranks among the countries in the community with the lowest level of integration with the European Union.

“The choice of Armenia as host underlines mutual interest in deepening ties, as well as Armenia’s importance for Europe.”

She says participating states do not choose summit venues through rotation, but by mutual agreement. Under an informal arrangement, one summit takes place in an EU member state and the next in a non-EU country.

Harutyunyan says Armenia, as host, could put forward proposals to strengthen the summit format and give it new impetus.

In her view, the Yerevan summit will give Armenia a chance to showcase progress in democratic reforms.

She does not rule out additional financial support to strengthen democratic institutions, particularly in light of upcoming elections and growing hybrid threats.

The summit will also give Armenia an opportunity, she says, to raise issues of public concern, including resilience, economic security, opening transport links and attracting investment in energy. It could also open space for discussing bilateral agreements in those and other areas.

“The future mandate and work of the EU civilian monitoring mission [whose mandate expires in 2027] could also be discussed,” she said, noting the EU recently announced plans to send a second civilian mission to Armenia.

Varduhi Harutyunyan stresses that the summit has previously helped non-EU states achieve concrete results. She points to Moldova, which hosted the community’s second summit in 2023, as an example. She says the Chisinau summit helped produce concrete steps to support Moldova’s European course.

It also accelerated Moldova’s synchronisation with the European power grid and helped reduce dependence on Russian gas, including through 200 million euros in energy support. The European Union and participating states also imposed sanctions on organisations accused of destabilising Moldova’s government.

The expert also says Moldova’s army received 7 million euros in non-lethal military support ahead of the summit through the European Peace Facility.

“Although the purpose of this format is to address urgent pan-European challenges and develop a common strategy, it is also very important as a platform for bilateral and multilateral negotiations and for achieving concrete results,” she said.

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Armenia–Turkey rail project tied to EU’s wider Eurasian trade ambitions

Ani Basmajian
Brussels Times, Belgium
april 29 2026

The EU has welcomed a meeting of the Armenia – Turkey bilateral working group in Kars on restoring rail connections between the two countries.

The meeting comes as Armenia and Turkey continue a normalisation process, which refers to steps to restore relations and reopen links between the neighbouring states, the European External Action Service (EEAS) said in a statement on Wednesday.

The EU encouraged full normalisation between Armenia and Turkey, it added.

Once operational, the Kars – Gyumri rail link would strengthen regional connectivity and bring gains for people across the South Caucasus.

EU links rail project to wider transport plans

The EU said it was committed to advancing connectivity in the South Caucasus in line with its Cross Regional Connectivity Agenda and the Global Gateway strategy.

It also linked its support to the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, a trade route connecting Europe and Asia via the Caspian Sea region, with Armenia and Turkey described as playing key roles in those efforts.


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