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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan believes that there is no obstacle to establishing diplomatic relations and opening the borders between Armenia and Türkiye, and that its implementation is "merely a matter of time."
The Armenian Prime Minister made the remarks during the Leadership at the Crossroads: Navigating Power and Stability in a Fragmented World discussion at the Paris Peace Forum, when asked about the impact of the initialed peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the normalization process with Türkiye.
"I believe that the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Türkiye and the opening of the border between the two countries is merely a matter of time, as there are currently no major obstacles to either opening the border or establishing diplomatic relations. I think it will happen, but how quickly it will happen is another question and a different matter. We are reaching a point where we will have full diplomatic relations, open borders, economic and political cooperation, and will be normal neighbors," the Prime Minister of Armenia stated. Prime Minister Pashinyan stated that this moment is approaching very soon, but he cannot specify the exact timing of its implementation.
The initialing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal in Washington provided a much more positive momentum in Armenia’s relations with Türkiye, the Prime Minister said.
The Armenian and Turkish governments have been engaged in negotiations aimed at normalizing relations, establishing diplomatic ties, and reopening the land border, which has been closed by Türkiye since the early 1990s.
Special envoys from both sides have held multiple meetings, and several meetings between Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have also taken place.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan recently expressed optimism about the normalization process.