Mirzoyan to Fidan: Normalization with Turkey Could Help Baku Process

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan responded to the statement by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan that the normalization of relations with Turkey is important for Armenia, and if Turkey does it now, it will take away Armenia's biggest motivation to sign a peace agreement with Azerbaijan. Ararat Mirzoyan addressed this statement by the Turkish Foreign Minister in response to a question from "Armenpress."

"First, the establishment of diplomatic relations with Turkey and the opening of the border are indeed important for Armenia. Likewise, the further institutionalization of the established peace with Azerbaijan is also important. Armenia is making sincere efforts in both directions. At the same time, however, neither of these two components is conditioned by the other, and if we necessarily try to see a cause-and-effect relationship between them, it may turn out that the full normalization of relations with Turkey could have not a negative, but quite the opposite, a positive impact on the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. As for the unblocking of transport infrastructure, the basic principles of that process were agreed upon at the peace summit in Washington on August 8: territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, sovereignty, jurisdiction, and reciprocity. Within the framework of these, the established TRIPP route will connect both Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan, and Armenia with other countries, and regions with a wider geography with each other, through Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia is actively making efforts with interest to bring it to life as soon as possible," replied Ararat Mirzoyan.

As a reminder, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had stated the day before that they are ready to normalize relations with Armenia when Armenia and Azerbaijan sign a final peace agreement.

"If we normalize relations now, we will eliminate the most important reason for which Armenia should sign a peace agreement with Azerbaijan. Therefore, there is a possibility that we will face a frozen war in the region. We do not want that," Fidan had said.