FM: Armenia–Türkiye dialogue ‘excellent,’ matured for positive outcomes

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan believes that dialogue between Armenia and Türkiye has matured sufficiently to produce positive results. He described the dialogue between the two countries as “excellent.”

“We have excellent dialogue with Türkiye,” Mirzoyan said at a panel discussion during the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 forum.

“There have been many opportunities for cooperation. Just yesterday, our representatives [for normalization] signed a memorandum to jointly restore the historic Ani Bridge, which is on the Armenia–Türkiye border. A week ago, the third meeting of the working group took place, which is trying to restore the railway connection between Armenia and Türkiye via the Gyumri–Kars route. So, we have many cases of cooperation, but the [land] border remains generally closed. We have expressed mutual readiness to establish diplomatic relations, and we have expressed our mutual interest and willingness to fully open the border. There was an agreement in the first stage to open the border for third-country nationals and diplomats, but to this day the border remains closed. Some agreements are being implemented, some are still being developed, but I can say with confidence that this will happen, because Armenia–Türkiye dialogue has reached a sufficient level for positive results,” Mirzoyan said.

Türkiye unilaterally closed its land border with Armenia in 1993. The two countries have intensified normalization efforts in recent years and reached an agreement that the first phase would envisage opening the border to citizens of third countries as well as diplomats. The parties are also exploring the relaunch of the Gyumri–Kars railway.

On May 4, on the margins of the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia and Türkiye signed a memorandum of understanding on the restoration of the historic Ani Bridge.