Armenia and Turkey can now trade directly
13.05.2026,
11:56
Direct customs trade between Armenia and Turkey has become possible, without the need for re-clearance.
YEREVAN, May 13. /ARKA/. Direct customs trade between Armenia and Turkey has become possible, without the need for re-clearance. This was announced by Ruben Rubinyan, Vice Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly and Special Representative for Negotiations with Turkey.
"As part of the normalization process between Armenia and Turkey, thanks to a new regulation launched in Turkey, it will now be possible to indicate the final destination or point of departure of goods traveling from Armenia to a third country and from there to Turkey, or arriving from Turkey to Armenia via the same route, as 'Armenia/Turkey,'" Rubinyan wrote on social media.
Reaction of the Armenian Foreign Ministry
The Armenian Foreign Ministry welcomed Turkey's decision to remove barriers to bilateral trade with Armenia, which is another result of the normalization process.
"This decision is of significant importance in terms of expanding trade between the two countries and business ties, stimulating economic connectivity in the region, and ensuring peace and prosperity," said a statement from Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan.
It is emphasized that this is an important step towards developing full and normal relations between the two countries, which can be logically continued through the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and the establishment of diplomatic relations. Relations.
Turkish Foreign Ministry Statement
"As part of the ongoing process of normalizing relations with Armenia since 2022 and the steps taken to strengthen trust, as of May 11, 2026, bureaucratic preparations for the launch of direct trade between our country and Armenia have been completed," reads a statement from Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli.
It is noted that the necessary technical and bureaucratic work aimed at opening the common border between the two countries is ongoing.
On the Armenian-Turkish Dialogue
Armenia and Turkey have not had diplomatic relations since 1991, and the border between the two countries has been closed since 1993 at Ankara's initiative. The process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remain key issues.
In December 2021, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan and former Turkish Ambassador to the United States Serdar were appointed special representatives for the normalization of relations. Kılıç.
Direct cargo air transport between the countries became possible on January 1, 2023.
On September 24, 2024, in New York, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed their readiness to continue normalization without preconditions.
On April 12, 2025, the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed the bilateral agenda on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum. On September 12, 2025, at a meeting in Yerevan, Rubinyan and Kılıç agreed to accelerate the implementation of agreements on opening the land border to third-country nationals and persons with diplomatic passports, as well as on the railway projects, the Gyumri-Kars power line, and increasing the number of flights.
"As part of the normalization process between Armenia and Turkey, thanks to a new regulation launched in Turkey, it will now be possible to indicate the final destination or point of departure of goods traveling from Armenia to a third country and from there to Turkey, or arriving from Turkey to Armenia via the same route, as 'Armenia/Turkey,'" Rubinyan wrote on social media.
Reaction of the Armenian Foreign Ministry
The Armenian Foreign Ministry welcomed Turkey's decision to remove barriers to bilateral trade with Armenia, which is another result of the normalization process.
"This decision is of significant importance in terms of expanding trade between the two countries and business ties, stimulating economic connectivity in the region, and ensuring peace and prosperity," said a statement from Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan.
It is emphasized that this is an important step towards developing full and normal relations between the two countries, which can be logically continued through the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and the establishment of diplomatic relations. Relations.
Turkish Foreign Ministry Statement
"As part of the ongoing process of normalizing relations with Armenia since 2022 and the steps taken to strengthen trust, as of May 11, 2026, bureaucratic preparations for the launch of direct trade between our country and Armenia have been completed," reads a statement from Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli.
It is noted that the necessary technical and bureaucratic work aimed at opening the common border between the two countries is ongoing.
On the Armenian-Turkish Dialogue
Armenia and Turkey have not had diplomatic relations since 1991, and the border between the two countries has been closed since 1993 at Ankara's initiative. The process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remain key issues.
In December 2021, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan and former Turkish Ambassador to the United States Serdar were appointed special representatives for the normalization of relations. Kılıç.
Direct cargo air transport between the countries became possible on January 1, 2023.
On September 24, 2024, in New York, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed their readiness to continue normalization without preconditions.
On April 12, 2025, the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed the bilateral agenda on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum. On September 12, 2025, at a meeting in Yerevan, Rubinyan and Kılıç agreed to accelerate the implementation of agreements on opening the land border to third-country nationals and persons with diplomatic passports, as well as on the railway projects, the Gyumri-Kars power line, and increasing the number of flights.
