Fidan States New Precondition: Peace Deal With Baku First

Turkey is ready to normalize relations and open the border with Armenia only after a final peace treaty is signed between Yerevan and Baku. This was stated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, clarifying Ankara's official precondition. This is despite previous statements that the Armenia-Turkey normalization process is proceeding without preconditions.

"When Azerbaijan and Armenia sign a peace treaty, we will be ready for the normalization of relations with Yerevan," Fidan said in an interview with Haber Global.

The Turkish Foreign Minister also highlighted two other issues: the amendment of Armenia's Constitution and the issue of communication routes through southern Armenia. He noted that these issues "did not find a place in the pre-signed text of the peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku in Washington on August 8," ignoring the clarifications of his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan that the Armenian side has not undertaken an obligation to change the Constitution.

Fidan also explained why Turkey links the two processes together. According to him, Ankara is not in a hurry to normalize relations with Armenia right now because it would deprive Yerevan of its main motive for concluding a final peace treaty with Baku.