Armenian FM advocates for reviving Gyumri-Kars railway connection

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the importance of initiating the Gyumri-Kars railway line during the 3+3 ministerial meeting in Istanbul.

Mirzoyan highlighted that following a joint assessment of the bridge's condition between Armenia and Türkiye, the Armenian side has successfully completed the construction and technical setup of the Margara border checkpoint on the Armenian-Turkish border, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

He pointed out that Yerevan and Ankara have already agreed to assess the technical requirements for border crossings via the Gyumri-Kars railway.

“This complements the decisions already made regarding the establishment of direct flights between Armenia and Türkiye and the mutual lifting of bans on air transportation,” the Armenian minister stated.

He expressed that the launch of the Gyumri-Kars railway, alongside the railroad connection between Armenia and Azerbaijan, would facilitate efficient communication between the Persian Gulf and the Black, Caspian, and Mediterranean Seas.

“Armenia is genuinely interested in this initiative and has consistently demonstrated its commitment to developing regional communications and enhancing neighbourly interconnections based on the principles of the UN Charter, particularly regarding sovereignty, territorial integrity, border inviolability, and political independence,” Mirzoyan concluded.

This marks the first time in recent years that Armenia and Türkiye have agreed to consider the possibility of resuming railway communication. The topic gained traction following the fifth round of talks between the Special Representatives of Armenia and Türkiye, Ruben Rubinian and Serdar Kılıç, focused on normalizing relations.

By Tamilla Hasanova