Türkiye–Armenia Border Talks Advance as Yerevan Signals Readiness and Technical Steps Deepen
By Bosphorus News Staff
Contacts between Türkiye and Armenia on the normalization track have entered a technically advanced phase, with officials on both sides confirming preparations at the long-closed land border.
Speaking in Yerevan, Armenia’s Special Envoy for normalization and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan said the understanding reached in 2022 to open the Alican–Margara crossing to third-country nationals and diplomatic passport holders remains valid.
“When the time comes, I will inform in an appropriate manner,” Rubinyan said, indicating that announcements would follow once operational steps are finalized.
Rubinyan reiterated that Armenia seeks full diplomatic relations with Türkiye. “We are ready to establish full diplomatic relations,” he said, underlining that Yerevan views normalization as both a political and economic priority.
On the technical side, Armenia confirmed that the Margara checkpoint is operationally ready. Eduard Hakobyan, head of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee, stated that the infrastructure is complete and awaiting formal activation. “The checkpoint is ready. Once operative instructions are transmitted from Ankara, we will provide full service,” he said.
Türkiye, for its part, has been restoring the Alican checkpoint, signaling parallel preparations on its side of the frontier.
As Bosphorus News previously reported, Türkiye and Armenia began on-site technical inspections at the Alican crossing in December 2025, launching expert-level assessments focused on infrastructure, customs facilities and security requirements. Officials described the move as a procedural step rather than a political reopening, aimed at ensuring readiness should formal approval be granted.
In a separate political signal from Yerevan, Armenia’s National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan welcomed remarks by Türkiye’s foreign minister on normalization, stating that “the page of enmity is closed.” The comment was interpreted domestically as supportive of sustaining the normalization process. ***
Another practical step came in the aviation sector. as Turkish Airlines will launch direct daily Istanbul–Yerevan flights starting in March 2026, expanding civilian mobility and regional connectivity between the two countries.
The normalization process began in 2021 with the appointment of special envoys Serdar Kılıç for Türkiye and Ruben Rubinyan for Armenia. Since then, both sides have advanced through incremental confidence-building measures, including direct flights, diplomatic contacts and visa facilitation for diplomatic, service and special passport holders.
Despite technical readiness and expanding civilian links, the land border remains formally closed. It has been shut since 1993, and any operational opening would mark a structural shift in bilateral ties and regional connectivity.
For now, Ankara and Yerevan appear focused on sequencing. Limited operational openings, aviation expansion and procedural alignment are being prioritized before any broader political breakthrough, while Türkiye continues to closely monitor developments in Azerbaijan–Armenia relations and the wider South Caucasus balance.