Rubinyan: The entire process of normalizing relations between Armenia  and Turkey is about opening the closed border

ArmInfo.  In the coming days, a meeting between the special representatives for the  normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, Ruben Rubinyan  and Serdar Kilic, will take place in Armenia. Ruben Rubinyan the  Armenian special representative and Vice Speaker of the Armenian  Parliament, made this statement during a conversation with  journalists on September 8.  "The meeting will take place in Armenia  in the upcoming days. Additional information about the date and  location will be announced in due time," Rubinyan said.

According to him, the meeting's agenda  will cover  a wide range of  topics concerning Armenian-Turkish normalization.  When asked if the  agreement initialed between Armenia and Azerbaijan could encourage  progress in Armenian-Turkish normalization, Rubinyan said that the  declaration signed in Washington is very important and will  definitely have a positive impact on both regional and extra-regional  developments.  When asked whether the issue of opening the  Armenian-Turkish border would be discussed, the parliamentarian noted  that the entire process revolves around opening the border.  "The  entire process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey is  about opening the closed border and establishing diplomatic relations  between Yerevan and Ankara. And, naturally, all discussions are  centered on this," he said.

Rubinyan also acknowledged that the agreement to open the  Armenian-Turkish border for citizens of third countries has not been  implemented yet, but added that this is not Armenia's fault.  According to him, there is no reason to delay this issue. 

The launch of the normalization process was announced on December 13,  2021 by then Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. He emphasized  that Ankara would  coordinate with Azerbaijan regarding steps to  normalize relations with Armenia. The parties appointed special  representatives for the normalization process - Serdar Kilic for  Turkey and Ruben Rubinyan for Armenia, who have already held several  rounds of talks, but have not yet reached any breakthrough decisions.