An Armenian-Turkish business forum will be held in Armenia. Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan on Thursday announced during a joint press conference with OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Swiss Vice President, and Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, in Yerevan.
Responding to a question about the grounds for optimism regarding the possible reopening of Armenia’s border with Turkey and Armenia’s new negotiator with Turkey, the Armenian foreign minister noted that negotiations between countries are permanent, and, as a rule, they are not reported until they are completed and there is no result. Negotiations with Turkey are no exception, but the two parties are in virtually daily dialogue, Mirzoyan added.
Speaking about recent achievements, he recalled the lifting of the ban on direct trade with Armenia in Turkey, the joint restoration of the historic Ani Bridge between the two countries, as well as the project to restart the Gyumri-Kars railway. In this context, he suggested visiting Armenia’s Akhurik village and personally seeing the extent of the work being carried out.
Moreover, the Armenian-Turkish border was “partially opened” for an Armenian business delegation participating in a forum in Turkey. The forum was so successful that the parties wanted to continue it in Armenia.
As Mirzoyan emphasized, the ultimate goal is the official establishment of diplomatic relations—although contacts and dialogue are ongoing—and the full reopening of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. According to him, this process has matured enough.
And when asked whether the name of Armenia’s new negotiator with Turkey is known, Mirzoyan stated that there may not be a need for a new negotiator, since the Armenian-Turkish border may be reopened before that.