Armenia will be able to trade directly with Turkey and use the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway - Rubinyan
16.06.2026,
15:26
Armenia will now be able to trade directly with Turkey and use the Akhalkalaki (Georgia) – Kars (Turkey) railway, stated Ruben Rubinyan, Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament and Armenia's envoy for normalizing relations with Turkey.
YEREVAN, June 16. /ARKA/. Armenia will now be able to trade directly with Turkey and use the Akhalkalaki (Georgia) – Kars (Turkey) railway, stated Ruben Rubinyan, Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament and Armenia's envoy for normalizing relations with Turkey.
"Indeed, very important events have occurred that were not given due attention amid the domestic political turmoil. First of all, direct trade between Armenia and Turkey has become possible. Previously, such an opportunity was absent between the two countries in a customs sense," Rubinyan said at a briefing on Tuesday.
According to him, import procedures from Armenia to Turkey and from Turkey to Armenia will now be significantly simpler and faster.
"Armenia will also be able to use the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway." Business entities will be able to use it for both bilateral trade and transit. This creates conditions for the transportation of goods to Europe and Syria," Rubinyan noted.
Earlier, on May 13, 2026, Turkey announced the completion of preparations for the launch of direct trade with Armenia. Yerevan noted that trade between Armenia and Turkey, in a customs sense, has become possible directly, without the need for re-clearance through third countries.
On May 23, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the Akhalkalaki (Georgia)–Kars (Turkey) railway is open for exports from Armenia and imports to the country; rail service to the EU is also possible through Georgia and Turkey.
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 the initiative of Ankara. Key issues included recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
In December 2021, special representatives for the normalization of relations were appointed: Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan from Armenia and former Ambassador to the United States Serdar Kılıç from Turkey.
Starting January 1, 2023, direct cargo air travel was permitted between the countries. Further, in 2024–2026, the parties agreed to expedite the opening of the land border for third-country nationals and persons with diplomatic passports. They also discussed projects for a railway, the Gyumri–Kars power line, and increasing the number of flights.
Starting March 11, 2026, Turkish Airlines launched a direct flight on the Istanbul–Yerevan–Istanbul route.
On April 28, a meeting of the working group on the restoration of the Gyumri–Kars railway was held in Kars. On May 4, RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the signing of a protocol on the reconstruction of the medieval Ani border bridge, and on May 23, the opening of the Akhalkalaki (Georgia)–Kars (Turkey) railway for the supply of goods between Armenia and the EU.
"Indeed, very important events have occurred that were not given due attention amid the domestic political turmoil. First of all, direct trade between Armenia and Turkey has become possible. Previously, such an opportunity was absent between the two countries in a customs sense," Rubinyan said at a briefing on Tuesday.
According to him, import procedures from Armenia to Turkey and from Turkey to Armenia will now be significantly simpler and faster.
"Armenia will also be able to use the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway." Business entities will be able to use it for both bilateral trade and transit. This creates conditions for the transportation of goods to Europe and Syria," Rubinyan noted.
Earlier, on May 13, 2026, Turkey announced the completion of preparations for the launch of direct trade with Armenia. Yerevan noted that trade between Armenia and Turkey, in a customs sense, has become possible directly, without the need for re-clearance through third countries.
On May 23, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the Akhalkalaki (Georgia)–Kars (Turkey) railway is open for exports from Armenia and imports to the country; rail service to the EU is also possible through Georgia and Turkey.
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 the initiative of Ankara. Key issues included recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
In December 2021, special representatives for the normalization of relations were appointed: Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan from Armenia and former Ambassador to the United States Serdar Kılıç from Turkey.
Starting January 1, 2023, direct cargo air travel was permitted between the countries. Further, in 2024–2026, the parties agreed to expedite the opening of the land border for third-country nationals and persons with diplomatic passports. They also discussed projects for a railway, the Gyumri–Kars power line, and increasing the number of flights.
Starting March 11, 2026, Turkish Airlines launched a direct flight on the Istanbul–Yerevan–Istanbul route.
On April 28, a meeting of the working group on the restoration of the Gyumri–Kars railway was held in Kars. On May 4, RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the signing of a protocol on the reconstruction of the medieval Ani border bridge, and on May 23, the opening of the Akhalkalaki (Georgia)–Kars (Turkey) railway for the supply of goods between Armenia and the EU.
