Special diplomatic representatives met today at the common border between the two countries Armenia – Türkiye, where during contacts made for the 5th time an agreement was reached on the rail network, but also the easy issuance of visas.
After the end of the meeting, the Turkish Foreign Ministry made a statement in which it stressed the ongoing normalization talks between Turkey and Armenia.
The announcement
“The special representatives of Turkey and Armenia for the normalization process, Ambassador Serdar Kılıç and Deputy Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan, held their fifth meeting on July 30 at the Alican-Margara border crossing, on the common border of the two countries.
The special representatives confirmed the points agreed at the previous meeting.
They also agreed to assess the technical requirements for the operation of the Akyaka/Akhurik railway border crossing, in line with regional developments, and to facilitate mutual visa procedures for holders of diplomatic/official passports.
Finally, the Special Representatives reaffirmed their agreement to continue this process without conditions, with the ultimate goal of full normalization.”
Türkiye-Ermenistan Normalleşme Süreci Özel Temsilcilerinin Beşinci Topulinisı Hk. https://t.co/zYFmFqed6Z pic.twitter.com/IYItcuQQ4G
– TC Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@TC_Disisleri) July 30, 2024
Armenia forgot (?)
The main dispute between Turkey and Armenia is whether the killing of approximately 1.5 million Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire over 100 years ago constitutes genocide.
Turkey categorically rejects that the murders and killings that began on April 24, 1915, with the mass arrests of Armenian intellectuals in Istanbul, constitute genocide.
In recent years, some 35 countries – including Russia, France, Germany and the United States – have recognized the Armenian Genocide.
But Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan recently called on his compatriots to “overcome the trauma” of the massacre and stop pining for their “lost homeland”.
In particular, speaking on April 24 at an event commemorating the anniversary of the beginning of the 1915 events that led to the genocide, Pashinyan said that lingering trauma prevents many Armenians from objectively assessing international affairs and the challenges Armenia faces.