A critical step after 32 years: Is the Turkey-Armenia border opening?

According to a report by Selcan Hacaoğlu from Bloomberg, Turkey is considering reopening its land border with Armenia, which has been closed for 32 years, within the next six months. Sources close to the matter state that the border, which has remained closed since the Cold War era, could be opened very soon. It is stated that this step could create a significant opportunity for the revitalization of trade in the Caucasus.

Turkey closed the border in 1993 following the First Nagorno-Karabakh War to show solidarity with Azerbaijan. The reopening of the gate, which has been closed for many years, is seen as a critical development in terms of regional balances.

RAILWAY LINES ARE BEING REVITALIZED

Special representatives of Turkey and Armenia met last Saturday at the Akyaka-Akhurik border gate. The delegations later continued their contacts in the Armenian border city of Gyumri.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the meeting was held to advance efforts to reactivate the Kars-Gyumri railway line. Sources related to the matter state that the renewal process of the railway tracks could take up to five months. Local officials in the region report that Turkey is building new roads for border patrols.

IT COULD BE A GATEWAY TO REGIONAL PEACE

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump signed a joint peace declaration with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. However, an official peace agreement has not yet been reached following the declaration.

According to sources, assessments are being made that an official peace agreement could be signed with Aliyev if Pashinyan is re-elected. It is stated that the opening of the Turkey-Armenia border could contribute to Pashinyan finding support in domestic politics.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in a statement he made last month, emphasized that Turkey would not fully normalize relations with Armenia without a final peace agreement. Fidan had used the expression, "If we normalize now, we would eliminate the biggest reason for Armenia to sign for peace."

Following this process, Turkey appointing an ambassador to Armenia to normalize diplomatic relations is among the expected steps.

STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE FOR THE ZANGEZUR CORRIDOR

The establishment of an official peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is of great importance for the region, which contains routes that transport oil and natural gas from the Caspian and Central Asia to Europe, bypassing Russia.

Within the scope of the Trump-backed agreement, it is stated that the US has special rights to develop a new transportation line that will connect the Azerbaijani mainland with Turkey via Armenia.

It is stated that with the opening of this route, known as the Zangezur Corridor, Turkey's goal of becoming a regional transit hub could be strengthened. This line is also seen as part of the new east-west trade corridor planned between Beijing and London.

News Source: 12punto