Armenia is completing reconstruction of checkpoint on border with Turkey and hopes Ankara will fulfill its obligations too
03.07.2023,
08:55
In a last week interview with Armenia’s Public Television, Ruben Rubinyan, the vice speaker of Armenia's National Assembly and the country's special representative for the normalization of relations with Turkey, stated that the renovation and re-equipment of the Margara crossing on the country's border with Turkey was almost finished.
YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. In a last week interview with Armenia’s Public Television, Ruben Rubinyan, the vice speaker of Armenia's National Assembly and the country's special representative for the normalization of relations with Turkey, stated that the renovation and re-equipment of the Margara crossing on the country's border with Turkey was almost finished.
Rubinyan said, "We hope that the Turkish side will also uphold the agreement on the opening of the border for third country citizens and those with diplomatic passports."
He said that adhering to the agreements is crucial because, in cases where there is a lack of trust, doing so will strengthen that trust. Conversely, if the agreements are broken, the little trust that does exist will vanish. ‘And that's not good," added Rubinyan.
According to earlier reports, the Margara checkpoint was anticipated to be operational by early summer. Rubinyan said that the delay was due to technical issues.
"There is a specific agreement with Turkey, which was reached between me and Turkey’s special envoy Serdar Kılıç on July 1, 2022, whereby the parties agreed to open the land border for citizens of third countries and holders of diplomatic passports," Rubinyan said.
On April 21 this year, the Armenian government allocated 28.3 million drams (about $73 thousand) for the reconstruction of the Margara checkpoint on the Armenian-Turkish border.
In December 2021, Armenia and Turkey appointed special envoys for normalization of relations.
On March 12, 2022, Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministers met on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum where they confirmed their governments’ readiness to advance the normalization process without preconditions, which is to be followed by the establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of borders between the two countries.--0--
Rubinyan said, "We hope that the Turkish side will also uphold the agreement on the opening of the border for third country citizens and those with diplomatic passports."
He said that adhering to the agreements is crucial because, in cases where there is a lack of trust, doing so will strengthen that trust. Conversely, if the agreements are broken, the little trust that does exist will vanish. ‘And that's not good," added Rubinyan.
According to earlier reports, the Margara checkpoint was anticipated to be operational by early summer. Rubinyan said that the delay was due to technical issues.
"There is a specific agreement with Turkey, which was reached between me and Turkey’s special envoy Serdar Kılıç on July 1, 2022, whereby the parties agreed to open the land border for citizens of third countries and holders of diplomatic passports," Rubinyan said.
On April 21 this year, the Armenian government allocated 28.3 million drams (about $73 thousand) for the reconstruction of the Margara checkpoint on the Armenian-Turkish border.
In December 2021, Armenia and Turkey appointed special envoys for normalization of relations.
On March 12, 2022, Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministers met on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum where they confirmed their governments’ readiness to advance the normalization process without preconditions, which is to be followed by the establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of borders between the two countries.--0--
