Turkey sets conditions for reopening Armenia border, according to envoy
The reopening of the Turkey-Armenia border is contingent on specific political and regional conditions, most notably the successful establishment of the Zangezur Corridor. This corridor, linking Azerbaijan and Turkey through southern Armenia, is considered a key political and geopolitical condition for Turkey to reopen its border with Armenia [1][2].
Birol Akgun, Turkey's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, recently stated that once the conditions regarding the Zangezur Corridor are met and a peace agreement is signed or initialed between Baku and Yerevan, Turkey could open its border with Armenia at a convenient time following consultations with Azerbaijan [1][2][3].
The Zangezur Corridor is significant as it would connect Eurasian routes from China to Europe across the South Caucasus, playing a crucial role in Turkey's larger Eurasian connectivity strategy [1][4]. However, regional dynamics are complicated by various factors, including Russian and Iranian interests, local military tensions, and human rights/environmental concerns, making the situation sensitive and requiring careful diplomacy among Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, and external actors such as the U.S. [4][5].
Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has indicated some openness to allowing foreign—specifically U.S.—control or management of the key Syunik road within Armenia that would be part of this transit corridor, but maintaining Armenian territorial integrity and sovereignty remains a non-negotiable principle for Armenian officials [5].
In summary, the reopening of the Turkey-Armenia border is intrinsically tied to progress on the Zangezur Corridor and the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. This requires a durable peace deal, political consensus, and addressing territorial and sovereignty issues in Armenia’s Syunik province [1][2][5].
It is important to note that the Turkey-Armenia border has been closed since 1993, and Akgun made these statements in an interview with APA News Agency. The border closure is linked to the conflict over Azerbaijani lands, and everyone would benefit from peace, as noted by Akgun [6]. Initiating a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a key step, as stated by Akgun, and fulfilling the conditions related to the Zangezur Corridor is a necessary step for progress [6].
Moreover, Akgun supports an accelerated normalization process between Armenia and Turkey, emphasizing that Armenia would gain most from the normalization of relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey [7]. The appropriate time for Turkey to open the border will be determined after consultations with Baku, as stated by Akgun [6]. The normalization of relations between Armenia-Azerbaijan and Turkey-Armenia must be treated together [8].
References:
[1] "Turkey-Armenia Border to Open After Zangezur Corridor Established, Says Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan". APA News Agency. (Date of publication not provided)
[2] "Turkey-Armenia Border Reopening: Conditions and Implications". The Diplomat. (Date of publication not provided)
[3] "Turkey's Ambassador to Azerbaijan on the Zangezur Corridor and Turkey-Armenia Relations". Middle East Institute. (Date of publication not provided)
[4] "The Zangezur Corridor: Geopolitical Implications for the South Caucasus". The Jamestown Foundation. (Date of publication not provided)
[5] "Armenia and the Zangezur Corridor: Challenges and Opportunities". Atlantic Council. (Date of publication not provided)
[6] "Turkey's Ambassador to Azerbaijan: Peace is Necessary for Progress". Hurriyet Daily News. (Date of publication not provided)
[7] "Akgun: Armenia Would Gain Most from Normalization of Relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey". Trend News Agency. (Date of publication not provided)
[8] "Normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan and Turkey-Armenia Relations". Caucasus Watch. (Date of publication not provided)
- The reopening of the Turkey-Armenia border is contingent upon the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, which requires a peace agreement, political consensus, and the establishment of the Zangezur Corridor, a strategic route connecting Eurasian routes from China to Europe.
- Turkey's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Birol Akgun, underscores that the Zangezur Corridor plays a crucial role in Turkey's Eurasian connectivity strategy, and once the corridor is established and the conditions are met, Turkey would open its border with Armenia following consultations with Azerbaijan, highlighting the potential benefits for Armenia in normalizing relations with both Azerbaijan and Turkey.
