Ankara, Turkey. Turkey lifted some customs restrictions on Armenia on Wednesday, allowing certain shipments to list Armenia or Turkey as their destination or origin and signalling further normalisation after decades of strained ties.
Customs change allows listing Armenia or Turkey as origin or destination
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said new regulations mean goods going from Turkey to a third country and then onto Armenia, or vice versa, can now have their final destination or country of origin listed as either “Armenia” or “Turkey”.
Relations shaped by border closure and historical disputes
Turkey was one of the first countries to recognise Armenia’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, but closed its border and halted direct trade with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia.
The two countries have had no formal diplomatic relations since then amid long-standing hostility linked to the World War One mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman forces, considered a genocide by Armenia and many other countries.
Armenia welcomes move as talks on border reopening continue
Armenia welcomed the customs change. Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said the decision was significant for expanding trade and business ties, promoting economic connectivity in the region, and ensuring peace and prosperity, according to the Armenpress state news agency.
Negotiations are ongoing between Yerevan and Ankara to reopen their 311 km (193-mile) border. Ankara has said it wants to reopen the eastern frontier, but only if Armenia signs a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. Armenia has also expressed interest in reopening the border.
Armenia and Azerbaijan reached a U.S.-brokered peace agreement last August aimed at ending their nearly four decades of conflict, but have yet to sign a formal peace deal.
Do you think these customs changes will lead to direct trade between Turkey and Armenia?
