Normalization of Armenia's relations with Turkey is most important factor of peaceful development of the region, says Armenian PM

YEREVAN, November 18. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan described the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations as the most important factor in the peaceful development of the South Caucasus.

"Armenia is in an active dialog with Turkey. Previously, there was no such active dialog, although there are no successes so far in terms of establishing diplomatic relations. However, the normalization of Armenia's relations with Turkey is the most important factor in terms of strategic vision for creating an atmosphere of peaceful development of our region - the South Caucasus," Pashinyan said, speaking at the OSCE PA autumn session in Yerevan on Saturday.

He expressed hope that the border will open soon for third-country nationals and those with diplomatic passports.

"And this will be a very symbolic step. We hope to turn the South Caucasus into a region that supplies the world with good news, and the Republic of Armenia - I personally - are ready to bear our share of responsibility for this," Pashinyan emphasized.

Earlier this week the chairman of Armenia's State Revenue Committee Rustam Badasyan said that the construction of the Margara checkpoint on the Armenian-Turkish border is to be completed next week.

In December 2021, Armenia and Turkey appointed special envoys for normalization of their relations. On March 12, 2022, Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministers met on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum to discuss normalization of relations, and both sides reaffirmed their readiness to advance the process without preconditions, so that it would lead to the establishment of relations and opening of borders between the two countries.

On July 1, 2022, the envoys agreed to open the border for the citizens of the third countries visiting Armenia and Turkey respectively. An agreement was also reached to start the direct air transportation of goods between Armenia and Turkey as soon as possible.

In February 2023 Armenia sent two convoys of trucks with food, medicine and other relief supplies to Turkey's quake-stricken regions, which crossed into Turkey through the border gate that was opened for the first time since 1993.

Turkey shut down their common border in 1993, in a show of solidarity with Azerbaijan, which was locked in a conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.-0-