Category: News

Deutsche Welle, Germany

Apr 3 2026

Hostility between the two neighbors isolated them from each other for decades. Now Turkey’s business community hopes the recent rapprochement will bring trade benefits. New logistics routes could boost the local economy.

When the Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, stepped out of a car and walked toward his host, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in June 2025, it was a truly historic moment. The two politicians shook hands, and turned to face the cameras together. It was the first time a representative of the Armenian government had visited Turkey, and he had been invited by the Turkish head of state.

Turkey and Armenia share a land border almost 330 kilometers long (200 miles), but the enmity between the two countries dates back over a century. Relations have always been overshadowed by the 1915 massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, which Germany and many other Western countries officially recognized as genocide in 2016.

Ankara’s stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has further deepened the rift. Turkey sided with Armenia’s adversary Azerbaijan, and closed the Turkish-Armenian border in 1993.

Peace agreement opens up new prospects

However, since 2022 a cautious rapprochement has been underway. Armenia no longer insists that Ankara recognize the events of 1915 as a genocide.

Also last year, Armenia signed a peace agreement with Azerbaijan that finally put an end to decades of war over Nagorno-Karabakh. Since then, Turkish companies have dared to hope for the normalization of relations in the region, and the opening of the border with Armenia, which has been closed for more than thirty years.

There are two border crossings from Turkey to Armenia: Alican, in Igdir Province, and Akyaka, in Kars Province. Both have been closed since the first Nagorno-Karabakh war, but according to observers, they could be reopened within months.

Armenian media report that their government has already made the necessary preparations. On the Turkish side, work is still in progress, but is already at an advanced stage.

If the crossings were to open before Armenia’s parliamentary elections in June, it would be a big win for Prime Minister Pashinyan. For years now, he has pursued reconciliation with Turkey, and sought to bring Armenia closer to the West.

Alternative trade route through Georgia

Kaan Soyak, the head of the Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council, says that, because of the sealed border, the two countries have had to conduct trade indirectly for years. He says that trade worth around 300–350 million US dollars (about 300 million euros) passes between them via Georgia. His statistics show that about 99% of this consists of goods transported from Turkey to Georgia, then on to Armenia.

According to Soyak, it’s predominantly clothing, chemical products, foodstuffs, and raw precious metals. He firmly believes that, with the border open, the volume of bilateral trade could quickly increase to one billion dollars. He also anticipates the swift construction of logistics corridors, including energy and telecommunications lines that will connect directly to the whole of the Caucasus.

But the Iran war has delayed the countdown. According to Soyak, the expansion of the war to affect the Gulf states, Iraq, and Lebanon, has raised fears of a fresh wave of migration. Consequently, progress on plans to open the land border between Armenia and Turkey has slowed.

Anatolia hopes to boost tourism

Turkey’s eastern provinces, including Kars, Igdir, Agri, Ardahan, and Van, are just a stone’s throw from the Armenian border. They’re also among the poorest regions of Anatolia. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, they occupy the lowest places in the city rankings with a GDP of just €3,250 to €4,350 per capita.

The people in this region therefore have high hopes for the movement of goods and people across the border – and for the arrival of visitors from Armenia and the Armenian diaspora worldwide. Many important historical and religious sites lie on the Turkish side of the border, so opening this up could provide many new opportunities for tourism.

Kadir Bozan, the head of the Kars Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also stresses the importance of the so-called Trump Corridor. The members of his organization see this route and its associated infrastructure as hugely significant.

Construction of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity was agreed last August as part of the peace plan between Armenia and Azerbaijan, brokered by US President Donald Trump. The plan envisages a 43-kilometer (26-mile) road and rail corridor through Armenia, connecting Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan before continuing to Turkey.

Transport corridor between China and Europe

The corridor is intended to strengthen the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and reduce transport times between China and Europe. Turkey sees it as an opportunity for it to become a key player in global trade. Last August, it started the construction of a 224-kilometer (139-mile) stretch of railway as part of the route, intended to carry millions of passengers and millions of tonnes of freight every year.

Bozan emphasizes that, for this reason, many in the region are hoping the Iran war will end soon, so the region can flourish as a center for business and tourism. Bozan points out that his city, Kars, already has a very good, popular train connection to Baku via Tbilisi.

People in the neighboring province of Ardahan, which shares two border crossings with Georgia, also have high hopes for the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. Ardahan is located just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Armenian border, and Cetin Demirci, the head of the Ardahan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, believes it will soon be the site of new production facilities, factories, industrial areas, and warehouses.

Demirci says his city has been shrinking for years, with many young people leaving. He believes opening the border here would create much-needed jobs, and revive the economy.

Kamil Arslan, the head of the Igdir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is similarly optimistic about the future. “Trade knows no nationalism,” he says — people just want more than thirty years of enmity between Turkey and Armenia to end.

Arslan hopes he will soon see foodstuffs, construction materials, textiles, and services flowing across the border to Armenia. Especially Igdir’s famous, sweet apricots — just like in the old days.

This article has been translated from German.

https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-and-armenia-when-will-the-border-crossings-open/a-76648630

AJOT

Apr 2 2026

posted by AJOT | Apr 02 2026 at 12:06 PM | International Trade  

FAS is issuing this award as part of a portfolio of projects called ‘Coordinating Agricultural Development & Innovation’ (CADI). This project unlocks Armenia to U.S. exports by increasing Armenia’s capacity to buy U.S. wheat, reducing food safety regulatory barriers, and connect Armenian buyers with U.S. exporters. Today’s award will help lead to an additional $4.6 million in exports of U.S. agricultural commodities to Armenia’s 3 million consumers.

CADI projects work to advance American agricultural interests in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. These “America First” projects reduce the agricultural trade deficit and make America safer, stronger and more prosperous, ensuring a return on investment for American farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. The CADI portfolio is working to create over $67 million in U.S. economic growth and 198 U.S. jobs.

https://www.ajot.com/news/agreement-awarded-to-increase-exports-to-armenia 

United 24 Media

Apr 3 2026

Authors

Cyril Barabaltchouk

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, delivering a blunt assessment of Russia’s failure to uphold its security obligations, The Insider reported, citing Russian state media on April 2.

The meeting served as a public airing of grievances, with Pashinyan explaining the total “freeze” of Armenia’s participation in the CSTO

Pashinyan directly linked the decision to the 2022 events in Nagorno-Karabakh, where Azerbaijan seized control of the region while Russian peacekeepers and the CSTO remained sidelined.

“I am unable to explain to our people why the CSTO did not react despite the obligations,” Pashinyan stated. Putin countered by arguing that Armenia’s 2022 recognition of Karabakh as Azerbaijani territory in Prague made any intervention “incorrect,” a justification that Yerevan has long rejected as an excuse for inaction, The Insider wrote.

The conversation shifted to Armenia’s accelerating rapprochement with the European Union. Putin warned that simultaneous membership in the EU and the Russian-led EAEU is “impossible,” pointing to a sharp increase in energy costs if Armenia departs. Putin claimed that Russia currently supplies gas to Armenia at a subsidized rate of $177.5 per thousand cubic meters, whereas European spot prices exceed $600.

While Pashinyan acknowledged the technical incompatibility of the two customs unions, he maintained that Armenia would utilize both options for as long as possible before putting the final decision to a national vote, according to The Insider.

Regional Logistics and 2026 Elections Discussions also touched upon the restoration of railway links through Azerbaijan and the construction of a new nuclear power plant. Pashinyan clarified that Armenia is negotiating with multiple international partners to find the most advantageous deal for its energy future, signaling a move away from total dependence on Russian nuclear conglomerate Rosatom.

As the meeting concluded, Putin expressed concern over the upcoming Armenian parliamentary elections on June 7, 2026. He urged that all political forces, including those with pro-Russian stances, be allowed to participate.

This request comes as Armenia prepares for a final peace treaty with Azerbaijan in 2027, following a US-mediated joint declaration in August 2025 that effectively ended decades of military confrontation.

The diplomatic fracture between Aramenia and Russia intensified in June 2024, when Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan officially announced the suspension of Armenia’s participation in the CSTO, citing the alliance’s failure to defend the country against Azerbaijani incursions during the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh.

This decisive break was followed by a historic parliamentary vote on March 26, 2025, where Armenia approved a law to formally begin the process of joining the European Union. By August 2025, the United States successfully mediated a joint declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan, signaling a shift toward Western security guarantees and away from Russian regional dominance.

The current April 2026 meeting in the Kremlin highlights the final economic hurdles of this transition, as Armenia weighs the immediate loss of subsidized Russian gas against its long-term aspirations for European integration.

Your Central Valley

Apr 3 2026

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – An art exhibit in Downtown Fresno’s Art Hop is sharing a story of survival through drawings that outlived a genocide. 

“This is a very unique exhibition in the sense that it comes from 120-year-old art that was created in Armenia prior to coming to Fresno. That’s the beauty of it,” Armenian Heritage Museum Curator Varoujan Der Simonian said.

The artwork belongs to Victoria Khatcherian, a young woman from the Armenian highlands who fled violence and persecution in the early 1900’s, now known as the Armenian Genocide. But before she ever knew what was coming, she was creating.

“I looked at it. I was amazed by the quality of the work that Victoria has done,” Der Simonian said.

And even today, 120 years later, her work doesn’t feel distant – it feels familiar.

“It’s very, very unique and you can relate to it because it’s so contemporary,” Der Simonian said.

And here in Fresno, where generations of Armenian families have built their lives, that history isn’t just remembered – it’s lived.

“It’s the link between the past and the present,” Der Simonian said.

And while this art is rooted in Armenian history, its message reaches far beyond it.

“It’s significant because we are all immigrant communities throughout the valley… and having this kind of art in our community, I think it’s value to Fresno,” Der Simonian said.

The free exhibit will be available for the public from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fresno ArtHop.

La Cañada Flintridge, CA

Apr 3 2026

Burbank residents are invited to experience a unique and elevated wine tasting at GINI Wine Shop, a boutique destination dedicated exclusively to Armenian wines—home to one of the world’s oldest winemaking traditions dating back over 6,200 years.

Join us tomorrow evening for a curated tasting experience featuring premium selections sourced from Armenia’s most renowned regions, including the volcanic vineyards of Vayots Dzor and the high-altitude terroirs of Artsakh.

Guests will enjoy:
• Complimentary wine tastings
• A curated selection of rare and boutique Armenian wines
• A welcoming, high-end atmosphere designed for discovery and connection

Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or simply looking for something new, this is a rare opportunity to explore a rich cultural tradition that is largely undiscovered in Southern California.

Eurasia Daily

Apr 3 2026

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Moscow has become a fork in the road for Armenia’s political choice. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Yerevan’s drift towards the EU will lead to a break with Eurasian integration, says columnist Lyubov Stepushova.

On April 1, Pashinyan arrived in Moscow, the visit was aimed at showing voters that he has good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although the country has headed for the Euro Union, and therefore NATO.

The Putin—Pashinyan meeting was broadcast by the media and on social networks. Putin’s accents, pauses and direct formulations make it clear that he put Pashinyan in front of the fact: there have been no good relations for a long time, and they can get much worse because Yerevan stubbornly implements the anti-Russia project.

Putin clearly said that Armenia’s course towards the European Union is incompatible with its presence in the Eurasian integration, due to which Armenia maintains a stable standard of living for its citizens. Putin clarified that gas is currently being traded for $ 600 per thousand cubic meters, and Russia is selling it to Armenia for $ 177.

At the meeting, Pashinyan devoted many words to the bright present and even brighter future in relations with Azerbaijan. If it is so bright, then what are the complaints about the CSTO, which allegedly did not stand up for Karabakh? Putin noted that Pashinyan’s recognition of Artsakh as Azerbaijani in Prague in 2022 closes the topic of claims against the CSTO.

The affairs of the Armenian leadership speak for themselves. Yerevan insists on selling the railway concession owned by Russian Railways to “some other country” because the Russian presence allegedly creates obstacles to the development of Armenia — no one will go along the road because of Russian control. At the same time, Yerevan invites Russian Railways specialists to repair part of the “Trump Road” or the Zangezur corridor (Mengri section) connecting Nakhichevan with Azerbaijan. It is clear to anyone that this is, at least, ugly, because it is selfish, and the arrival of Americans in the South Caucasus region violates the existing security balance there with huge risks for Russia.

In addition, the war in the Middle East demonstrates how quickly all countries in the region are drawn into it, and drone strikes on the territory of Nakhichevan immediately affected transportation along the North-South international transport corridor and did not add confidence to Western investors who want to invest in the Trump Road.

And not everything is so good in relations with Russia, as Pashinyan says, if the trade turnover has halved in a year, the Armenian authorities have beaten off in Russia wants to invest and trade in the illegal nationalization of the “Electric Networks of Armenia” with Russian capital. Cooperation with Rosatom on the Metsamor NPP is also hanging in the balance, as in Yerevan decided to partially involve Americans in the construction of new modular reactors.

If the Armenian leadership raises the issue of the undesirability of the Russian business presence, then the question of reciprocity also arises, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said in an interview with TASS.

The results of the last summit meeting will be known about the real affairs of Yerevan. But one thing is obvious — Armenia is at a political crossroads. One of the options suggests the path of Ukraine — severing ties with Russia, integration into Europe (which will not be) with a decrease in the standard of living of the population, and so on. The second way is a principled course towards cooperation with Russia and the EAEU, but, of course, Pashinyan is not able to return to it — they will not let him.

Perhaps the elections in June will change something, but the pro-Russian forces are now carefully getting out of the electoral process.

Read more: https://eadaily.com/en/news/2026/04/03/of-course-its-up-to-you-to-decide-putin-explained-to-pashinyan-what-awaits-armenia-with-pashinyan

Panorama, Armenia

Apr 2 2026