Türkiye, Armenia discuss bilateral, regional issues in ministerial call

Türkiye's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, held a phone conversation with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan.

The two foreign ministers discussed bilateral and regional issues, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

Türkiye and Armenia have had limited relations historically, with ties severed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. This rift deepened when Armenia engaged in conflict with Azerbaijan, occupying the Karabakh region. As Türkiye is Azerbaijan’s closest ally, the two nations' relations remained tense.

Additionally, the countries have longstanding disputes over historical issues, with Armenia accusing Türkiye of committing genocide against Armenians during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, an accusation Türkiye rejects while acknowledging the mass deaths of Armenians amid their relocation during World War I.

In 1993, the two countries closed their borders after Armenia's illegal occupation of Karabakh, and hostility persisted for years. However, in February 2023, the borders were briefly opened to facilitate humanitarian aid following the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye's southeast. Although direct air travel has resumed, discussions about permanently reopening the land borders began in 2024.

In 2009, Türkiye and Armenia signed a peace agreement as a step toward normalization, but the deal faced strong domestic opposition in Armenia.

By Aghakazim Guliyev