Yerevan intends to resume normalisation talks with Ankara

The time has come after a pause to continue negotiations with Türkiye on the normalisation of relations, said Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan at a meeting with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna on July 18.

He recalled that representatives of the two countries already met, including in Vienna, before the negotiations have been put on hold.

“I think it was caused by the election campaign in Türkiye, but now it's time to continue negotiations on the normalisation of relations. Both sides can take concrete steps to show that we are on the path to final and complete normalisation,” Mirzoyan said, according to Sputnik Armenia.

Among such possible steps, the minister put forward the establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of the border, primarily for citizens of third countries, as well as citizens of Armenia and Türkiye with diplomatic passports.

A number of other projects are also being discussed, although there are no specific dates for continuing the dialogue yet, Mirzoyan noted.

In turn, Schallenberg confirmed that Vienna, if necessary, is ready to host new meetings initiated by Ankara and Yerevan.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation Europe (OSCE), of which headquarters is located in Vienna, can also take on an important role as a mediator, the Austrian minister said.