ArmInfo.In order to achieve success in the normalization of Armenian- Turkish relations today, a political will and readiness to undertake concrete steps towards this process are necessary. The Armenian side has repeatedly demonstrated both and we expect the same from the Turkish side. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated this in an interview with the Greek "Kathimerini" newspaper. The press service of the RA MFA reports.
The Head of the RA MFA noted, that the leadership of Armenia stated many times and it is also mentioned in our Government program that Armenia is ready for the establishment of diplomatic relations with Turkey and opening of the border between our countries that Turkey unilaterally closed back in 1993.
The Minister also recalled that, the Special Representatives have been appointed for the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey and four meetings have already been held where the sides reiterated their commitment to continue the process without any preconditions with the goal of opening the borders and establishing diplomatic relations. "To give a positive dynamic to that process I accepted the invitation of the Foreign Minister of Turkey to participate in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum and met with my counterpart on the margins of the Forum. Today, a political will and readiness to undertake concrete steps towards normalizing relations are necessary for the success of the process. The Armenian side has repeatedly demonstrated both and we expect the same from the Turkish side," he noted.
It should be reminded that on July 1 the fourth meeting of Special Representatives for the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan and Ambassador Serdar Kilic took place in Vienna. The parties agreed to ensure, as soon as possible, the possibility of crossing the Armenian-Turkish land border for citizens of third countries visiting Armenia and Turkey, respectively, and decided to start the necessary processes in this direction. They also agreed to start as soon as possible the implementation of direct air transportation of goods between Armenia and Turkey and decided to start the necessary processes in this direction. Finally, the parties reiterated their agreement to continue the normalization process without preconditions. The start of the normalization process was announced on December 13, 2021 by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. At the same time, he stressed that Ankara will act in coordination with Azerbaijan regarding steps to normalize relations with Armenia.