Turkey-Armenia border nearly ready to open, officials say

An Armenian lawmaker has said that significant progress has been made in the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia, including the opening of the border between the two countries.

“I think both sides are ready for full normalization, meaning the opening of the border for all citizens and everyone, because of the very well-progressing political engagement and dialogue between Armenia and Turkey,” Sargis Khandanyan, who also chairs of the Armenian Standing Committee on External Relations, told Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) during the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 Forum.

Khandanyan highlighted key steps taken in recent years, including the start of direct flights and the recent signing of a protocol to restore the historic Ani Bridge.

“We expect the Turkish government to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia and open the Armenian border,” he said. “Stability, peace, and regional cooperation are what we are looking for. And when I say ‘we,’ I also mean the people of Armenia.”

The lawmaker added that he does not expect major changes regarding the normalization of relations with Turkey following the elections in Armenia, which will take place next month.

Progress in normalization

Serdar Kılıç, Turkey’s special envoy for the normalization process, also attended the forum and indicated that the sides have reached the point of opening the borders.

“The border is almost at the point of being ready to open,” Kılıç said. “However, there are some bureaucratic and technical tasks that need to be completed. You cannot simply say ‘I opened the border tomorrow morning’ and let people through.

“Fiber optic cables need to be laid. Security and customs officials all need to be deployed. You don’t open it just to say it’s open without these measures. That would be like holding a meeting just for the sake of meeting.”

Kılıç noted that high-level contacts are increasing, mentioning several visits to Turkey by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and a recent trip to Ankara by National Assembly President Alen Simonyan.

The envoy also pointed to the recent visit of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz to Armenia for bilateral meetings as a significant milestone.

“Even that is very interesting in terms of showing the point Turkey-Armenia relations have reached,” Kılıç said. “A Vice President came to Yerevan for a meeting held in Armenia and was welcomed very well. It was an important visit and a turning point. I hope that Turkey-Armenia relations continue to develop from now on.”

Kılıç expressed hope that relations conducted on the basis of mutual understanding would accelerate the process toward full normalization. (TY/VK)