Türkiye-Armenia Relations Reach 'Turning Point'

(MENAFN) Türkiye's special envoy for normalization with Armenia, retired Ambassador Serdar Kilic, has declared that a landmark visit by Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz to Yerevan represents a watershed moment in bilateral relations, as the two nations edge closer to fully reopening their shared border.

Kilic made the remarks to Turkish journalists on the sidelines of the "Yerevan Dialogue 2026" conference, held under the theme "Riding Through the Storms," pointing to the Yilmaz trip as the most senior-level engagement between the two countries in years.

During the visit, Yilmaz met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and co-signed a protocol to restore the centuries-old Ani Bridge — a historic crossing along the ancient Silk Road straddling both nations' territory — with both leaders present at the signing ceremony.

"Even that alone shows how far Türkiye-Armenia relations have come," Kilic said. "A vice president of Türkiye came to Yerevan for a conference, was warmly received, and held important meetings. It was a significant visit and a turning point."

The diplomatic momentum has been building steadily. Pashinyan has made multiple visits to Türkiye, and Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan recently traveled to Ankara. Kilic said he is working closely with his counterpart, National Assembly Vice President Ruben Rubinyan, whom he described as a partner he works with "like brothers," to sustain that trajectory.

"If someone had told us in January 2022 that we would reach this point today, no one would have believed it," Kilic said. "Frankly, we might not have believed it ourselves. In a very short time, we have taken significant steps."

Ani Bridge and the Symbolism of Shared Heritage
The Ani Bridge, dating to the 11th and 12th centuries, has become a potent symbol of the reconciliation effort. Its central span has collapsed, and both governments are committed to a joint restoration — a project Kilic said would cultivate a lasting culture of cross-border cooperation among experts from both sides.

Expanding People-to-People Ties
On the connectivity front, Kilic confirmed that Turkish Airlines launched flights to Yerevan on March 11, currently running one daily service, with a planned expansion to two daily flights beginning May 15. Pegasus Airlines is also active on the route. Both carriers, he stressed, serve a purpose far beyond commerce — bringing Turkish and Armenian citizens into direct contact.

Additional confidence-building measures include reciprocal university scholarships — five students from each country — and visa facilitation for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

"We have now reached the point of opening the borders, and we are working on that," Kilic said.

Progress on infrastructure has also accelerated, with a working group convening in Kars to discuss restoring the Kars-Gyumri railway line and the foundation of the Dilucu railway already laid.

Border Opening Close, But Not Immediate
Despite the optimism, Kilic tempered expectations on timing, warning that critical technical and administrative groundwork must be completed before any crossing can be declared open.

"The border can be considered ready to open, but there are still some bureaucratic and technical steps that need to be finalized," he said.

"You cannot simply say 'we opened the border tomorrow' and allow people to cross immediately. Fiber optic cables need to be laid. Security personnel and customs officers must be in place. Without completing all of this, opening the border just for the sake of saying it's open would be meaningless."

Reflecting on a noticeable shift in public sentiment since his last Yerevan visit in September 2025, Kilic struck a note of cautious confidence.

"People have started to embrace this process much more," he said. "At the beginning, there was likely some hesitation and unease between Ruben (Rubinyan) and me, but that is no longer the case. As I said during the meeting, all my proposals are shaped by how we can contribute to this process and to improving the quality of life of the Armenian people."

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