ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — In a symbolic move toward better diplomatic relations, Turkey has lifted trade restrictions with Armenia on Wednesday, marking progress between the two nations that have been at odds for decades.
The neighboring countries have maintained no official diplomatic ties, with their shared border remaining sealed since the 1990s. Tensions have persisted due to historical disputes and Turkey’s close partnership with Azerbaijan.
Both nations committed in late 2021 to working toward better relations, naming special representatives to explore reconciliation options and border reopening possibilities. These diplomatic efforts have already led to restored direct air travel and relaxed visa requirements.
Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oncu Keceli announced on social media platform X Wednesday that technical and administrative efforts to reopen the shared border continue moving forward.
The new policy allows goods shipped between Turkey and Armenia through third-party countries to properly identify their actual origin or destination, removing previous labeling restrictions, according to Keceli.
“In the light of the historic opportunity seized to strengthen lasting peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus, Türkiye will continue to contribute to the development of economic relations in the region and to further advancing cooperation for the benefit of all countries and peoples of the region,” Keceli stated, using Turkey’s official spelling.
Armenian officials praised the development.
“We would like to emphasize that this is an important step toward the establishment of full and normalized relations between the two countries, which could logically continue through the opening of the Armenia-Turkey border and the establishment of diplomatic relations,” Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ani Badalyan responded on X.
Turkey closed its Armenian border in 1993 to support Azerbaijan during its territorial dispute with Armenia over the Karabakh region, also called Nagorno-Karabakh internationally.
During 2020, Turkey provided substantial military support to Azerbaijan in a six-week war against ethnic Armenian forces supported by Armenia over Karabakh territory. Azerbaijan reclaimed significant portions of the region and surrounding areas, utilizing Turkish military equipment including combat drones.
The two countries also share a painful historical legacy concerning the estimated 1.5 million Armenian deaths during massacres, deportations and forced relocations beginning in 1915 under Ottoman rule.
Most historians classify these events as genocide. Turkey strongly disputes this characterization, acknowledging casualties occurred during that period while arguing death counts are exaggerated and resulted from civil conflict.
