There are currently no concrete dates for the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border, further steps will depend on the progress of the process of normalization of relations between the two countries, a Turkish government source told RIA Novosti.

Ankara and Yerevan completed preparations for the start of direct trade between the two countries in mid-May, Turkish Foreign Ministry official Onju Keçeli said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told journalists earlier that Turkey will start supplying its goods to Armenia without reformulating them in third countries. “At this stage, there are no specific dates for opening the border. The dynamics of the process will depend on the development of relations between Turkey and Armenia“, the interlocutor of the agency informed.

The source added: Ankara expects the continuation of constructive dialogue, which will contribute to the strengthening of stability in the South Caucasus and the development of neighborly ties.

There are no diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia, the border has been closed since 1993. In January 2022, the first meeting of the special representatives of the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, Ruben Rubinyan, the Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, and Serdar Kılıç, the former ambassador of Turkey to the USA, took place in Moscow.

During the meeting between Rubinyan and Kilic in Vienna on July 1, 2022, an agreement was reached to ensure the possibility of crossing the Armenian-Turkish land border by citizens of third countries and holders of diplomatic passports as soon as possible. However, this agreement has not yet been implemented.

Translation by Zhanna Avetisyan

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