Turkish MP: New chapter opening in relations between Armenia, Turkey,  and Azerbaijan

ArmInfo. A new chapter and new opportunities for development are opening in  relations between neighboring Armenia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. Fatma  Aksal, member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and  the Turkish  Grand National Assembly, made this statement in a conversation with  journalists on September 22. Aksal has arrived in Yerevan to  participate in the 108th Rose-Roth Seminar of the NATO Parliamentary  Assembly in Yerevan.

According to her, Turkey welcomes the process of normalizing  relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as peace will benefit  everyone in the South Caucasus. Aksal also expressed hope that the  Armenian-Turkish border, closed by Turkey in the early 1990s, would  reopen. In this vein, the Turkish diplomat recalled the opening of  direct flights between Armenia and Turkey as part of the  normalization process.

When asked when the border would reopen, she noted that negotiations  were still ongoing and urged patience. Aksal also assured that the  Armenian-Turkish normalization talks were proceeding without  preconditions.

When asked to assess the agreements reached in Washington between  Yerevan and Baku and the "Trump Route" project, she noted that this  is an important initiative aimed at peace. "Transport routes are very  important. I support this initiative to unblock communications, which  will contribute to the rapprochement between the countries," the  parliamentarian said. According to her, the Turkish side is also  going to use this route; otherwise, it would not have supported this  unblocking. Aksal is confident that this route will allow Turkey to  become a bridge between East and West and will facilitate Armenia's  rapprochement with Europe.

The Turkish legislator also declined to comment on the issue of  Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku, stating that she does not  have sufficient information on the matter and adding that if Turkey  has the opportunity, it will facilitate the release of Armenian  prisoners of war.