Turkey and Armenia's relations warm up, moving towards direct trade
Turkey lifted some customs restrictions on Armenia today, paving the way for direct trade links between the two countries. This is another sign of normalization after more than 30 years of tense relations. The Armenian Foreign Ministry welcomed this decision.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 19:34
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency Ankara/London 13th comprehensive foreign news report) Turkey today lifted some customs restrictions on Armenia, paving the way for the establishment of direct trade links between the two countries. This is another sign of normalization after more than 30 years of strained relations between the two sides.
According to Reuters, Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Armenia when it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
However, due to conflicts between Armenia and Turkey's close ally Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 and cut off direct trade to show its support for Azerbaijan.
Since then, the two countries have never established formal diplomatic relations. Moreover, the Ottoman Empire's large-scale massacre of Armenians during World War I has left deep-seated animosity. Armenia and many other countries recognize this event as "genocide."
Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated today that the new regulations mean that goods transported from Turkey to Armenia via a third country, or vice versa, can now be marked with "Armenia" or "Turkey" as the final destination or origin.
Armenia, which is highly dependent on Russia and Iran for energy supplies, welcomed the news.
Ani Badalyan, spokesperson for the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was quoted by the national news agency Armenpress as saying: "This decision is of great significance for expanding commercial relations between the two countries, promoting regional economic connectivity, and maintaining peace and prosperity."
Armenian and Turkish governments are currently negotiating to reopen the 311-kilometer-long border.
Turkey has stated its desire to reopen the eastern border on the condition that Armenia signs a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. Armenia also wishes for the border to reopen.
Last August, Armenia and Azerbaijan reached a peace agreement brokered by the United States, bringing an end to nearly 40 years of conflict between the two sides, but a formal peace treaty has not yet been signed.
Such a treaty has the potential to change the situation in the South Caucasus region. This energy-producing region, located near Russia, Europe, and Iran, is crisscrossed by oil and gas pipelines but has been fragmented by border closures and long-standing ethnic conflicts.
Oncu Keceli, spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said today that work on reopening the border crossings between Turkey and Armenia is ongoing.
Earlier this month, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly repair the Ani Bridge. This ancient bridge, spanning the border river between the two countries, dates back to the 10th century. (Compiled by Yang Chao-yen) 1150513
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(Central News Agency Ankara/London 13th comprehensive foreign news report) Turkey today lifted some customs restrictions on Armenia, paving the way for the establishment of direct trade links between the two countries. This is another sign of normalization after more than 30 years of strained relations between the two sides.
According to Reuters, Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Armenia when it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
However, due to conflicts between Armenia and Turkey's close ally Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 and cut off direct trade to show its support for Azerbaijan.
Since then, the two countries have never established formal diplomatic relations. Moreover, the Ottoman Empire's large-scale massacre of Armenians during World War I has left deep-seated animosity. Armenia and many other countries recognize this event as "genocide."
Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated today that the new regulations mean that goods transported from Turkey to Armenia via a third country, or vice versa, can now be marked with "Armenia" or "Turkey" as the final destination or origin.
Armenia, which is highly dependent on Russia and Iran for energy supplies, welcomed the news.
Ani Badalyan, spokesperson for the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was quoted by the national news agency Armenpress as saying: "This decision is of great significance for expanding commercial relations between the two countries, promoting regional economic connectivity, and maintaining peace and prosperity."
Armenian and Turkish governments are currently negotiating to reopen the 311-kilometer-long border.
Turkey has stated its desire to reopen the eastern border on the condition that Armenia signs a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. Armenia also wishes for the border to reopen.
Last August, Armenia and Azerbaijan reached a peace agreement brokered by the United States, bringing an end to nearly 40 years of conflict between the two sides, but a formal peace treaty has not yet been signed.
Such a treaty has the potential to change the situation in the South Caucasus region. This energy-producing region, located near Russia, Europe, and Iran, is crisscrossed by oil and gas pipelines but has been fragmented by border closures and long-standing ethnic conflicts.
Oncu Keceli, spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said today that work on reopening the border crossings between Turkey and Armenia is ongoing.
Earlier this month, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly repair the Ani Bridge. This ancient bridge, spanning the border river between the two countries, dates back to the 10th century. (Compiled by Yang Chao-yen) 1150513
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "Firsthand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, or transmitted publicly without authorization.