EU warmly welcomes today`s announcement by Turkiye on initiation of  bilateral trade with Armenia - statement 

ArmInfo. Below is a statement by Anitta Hipper, Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, EU:

"The EU warmly welcomes today's announcement by Turkiye on initiation  of bilateral trade with Armenia. 

"This is a remarkable development in their normalisation process,  also illustrated by the recent meeting of the bilateral working group  to advance the restoration of rail connections between the two  countries on 28 April 2026, which we welcomed. 

"This significant step has the potential to boost trade and economic  opportunities between both countries, with a positive impact for the  entire South Caucasus as well as the EU.  We encourage both countries  to continue working together, including towards the re- opening of  their bilateral border."

Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oncu Keceli stated on May 13 that,  as part of confidence-building measures being undertaken in the  normalization process with Armenia, which has been ongoing since  2022, bureaucratic preparations for the commencement of direct trade  between our country and Armenia had been completed as of May 11,  2026. He added that the necessary technical and bureaucratic work to  open the common border between the two countries is still ongoing.  Yerevan welcomed this step by the Turkish side.

The launch of the normalization process between Armenia and Turkey  was announced on December 13, 2021, by then-Turkish Foreign Minister  Mevlut Cavusoglu. He also emphasized that Ankara would coordinate  with Azerbaijan on steps to normalize relations with Armenia. The  parties appointed special representatives of Turkey and Armenia for  the normalization process - Serdar Kilic and Ruben Rubinyan - who  have already held several rounds of negotiations, but have so far  failed to achieve any breakthrough decisions, other than the launch  of air cargo and passenger transportation.