Armenian PM says “big opportunity” to normalize relations with Türkiye

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that he sees a big chance to establish normal relations with Türkiye, reported from Armenpress.

Pashinyan said the opportunity for doing so increased after Armenia humanely responded to the earthquake in Türkiye.

"There is a big opportunity to establish normal relations between our countries,” Pashinyan said when speaking about the relations with Türkiye in parliament during debates of the 2022 report of the government action plan.

"And this opportunity increased when we decided to respond, with the logic based on humane, good-neighborly values to the devastating earthquake that hit Türkiye in the beginning of this year. And the government and public of Türkiye perceived and accepted our actions as such.”

Pashinyan said they wouldn’t have made the decision to send a SAR team and humanitarian aid if not for the changed perspective of perceiving history and related issues. And Türkiye wouldn’t have opened the Margara Bridge for the rescue squad and aid if it were not to believe in Armenia’s sincerity.

"And the dozens of Armenian flags flying in front of the Turkish foreign ministry during Foreign Minister Mirzoyan’s Ankara visit weren’t simply a protocol attribute, but rather a surprising [realization] that hope can [be found in despair]. The flags of Armenia and Türkiye were hoisted on the ruins of our relations and the devastating earthquake. And I hope that the Armenian-Turkish border will soon really be opened and will create the foundation for the development of good-neighborly, normal relations,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan attached importance that soon the agreement on opening the border for third country citizens and diplomatic passport holders will take effect. He warned that the opening could not take place if the new perceptions and impressions gained through humanitarian and neighborly values were to get frozen, fade or lose impact on political and diplomatic decisions.

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