May 4 2026
Ani Bridge deal marks historic step in Türkiye-Armenia normalization: VP Yilmaz
By Yagiz Efe Parmaksiz
May 04, 2026 05:32 PM GMT+03:00
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz stated Monday that the eighth European Political Community summit in Yerevan marked a historic moment for Türkiye-Armenia relations.
He described the signing of the Ani Bridge restoration memorandum as a “symbolic” but concrete step in a normalization process that has been building since 2022 and called on the South Caucasus peace track to serve as a model for a conflict-ridden world.
“This is the first high-level visit in 18 years,” Yilmaz told reporters.
He noted that President Erdogan, the parliamentary speaker, and other officials had previously held contacts but that the Yerevan attendance represented a new level of direct engagement.
“We see a positive direction, toward peace, toward normalization,” he added.
‘A symbolic bridge toward future’
Yilmaz said the Ani Bridge memorandum, signed by special representatives of both countries with Yilmaz as a witness, would see Türkiye’s General Directorate of Highways and Armenia’s Ministry of Culture jointly restore the historic structure.
He described the bridge as straddling the two countries, one side in Türkiye and the other in Armenia, and said it had been damaged in past conflicts with Russia.
“Just as this bridge once connected us, we expect our relations to develop on very solid foundations in the future,” he said.
“Technical preparations are already complete. There are no longer any obstacles. We expect the work to begin as soon as possible,” Yilmaz noted.
‘Not just roads’
The Turkish vice president stated that the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor was a central theme of the summit and received strong EU backing.
He stressed that the corridor should be understood as a comprehensive connectivity framework, covering telecommunications, energy and digital infrastructure alongside physical transport routes.
“When you look at today’s circumstances, the war in Ukraine; the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting Europe more than almost any other region; and competition from the Far East, Europe and Türkiye have inseparable ties and objective common interests,” he said.
He confirmed that progress had been made on the Zangezur Corridor, the route connecting Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory, saying that agreements had been reached to establish the route.
“The strengthening of the Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan connection will also lay very important groundwork for broader regional cooperation,” Yilmaz said, reaffirming Ankara’s strong support.
‘Historic progress, more to come’
Yilmaz praised both Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for their leadership in the peace process, noting that Aliyev joined the summit via live link.
He said the framework agreement signed in Washington last August represented significant progress and that positive steps were continuing on a daily basis.
“As the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace becomes permanent and Türkiye-Armenia normalization advances, a new atmosphere is being created across the South Caucasus,” he said.
“Everyone in this region will benefit, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Türkiye and all countries in this geography,” the Turkish vice president noted.
Türkiye’s diplomatic role from Gaza to Iran to Balkans
Yilmaz said President Erdogan’s peace diplomacy extended far beyond the South Caucasus, citing active Turkish engagement on the Iran-Israel-U.S. war, Gaza, Syria, Africa, the Balkans and the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
“Wherever there is conflict or dispute, President Erdogan’s serious contributions through leaders’ diplomacy are well known,” he said.
On Türkiye-EU relations, Yilmaz said Türkiye is “a natural part of Europe” and a candidate country, adding that the two sides share objective common interests across security, economic competitiveness and connectivity.
“Our positive relations with Europe in general, and with the EU in particular, will continue in the coming period,” he said.
He closed by thanking Armenian authorities for their warm hospitality, saying, “From the moment we arrived, Armenian officials, led by Prime Minister Pashinyan, showed us close attention and warm hospitality. I thank all Armenian officials and everyone who prepared this beautiful environment.”
—
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Ekmekjian Janet. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2026/05/04/turkish-press-ani-bridge-deal-marks-historic-step-in-turkiye-armenia-normaliz/