Media: Türkiye speeds up preps to open land border with Armenia

As part of the ongoing normalisation process between Ankara and Yerevan, Türkiye has intensified work to prepare for the opening of its land border with Armenia.

According to local media, large-scale technical surveys and preparatory measures have begun at the Alican border checkpoint, which adjoins Armenia’s Margara crossing.

The initiative follows the signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the commencement of practical economic cooperation in the region, including the recent delivery of the first batch of fuel from Baku to Yerevan.

Türkiye plans a phased opening of the border. Initially, the Margara Bridge will be used exclusively for cargo transport, with passenger traffic expected to follow in the future. The project also includes expanding the road network, with new routes connecting Alican to the Karakoyunlu junction and the planned Zangezur Corridor, significantly enhancing regional logistics and strengthening connections with Iğdır.

A high-level delegation visited Alican to assess the infrastructure and determine the scope of work. The team included Iğdır Governor Ercan Turan, Migration Service Chief Huseyin Kökr, and Acting Director of Logistics at the Turkish Ministry of Defence, Major General Ahmet Hamdi Ataç.

Officials discussed upgrading technical equipment and bringing border control standards in line with modern requirements to ensure uninterrupted trade flows.

By Khagan Isayev