site.btaTurkiye Signals Readiness to Normalize Relations with Armenia after Baku-Yerevan Peace

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told MPs from the Planning and Budget Committee in Turkiye's Grand National Assembly that the nation is ready to normalize its relations with Armenia once Yerevan and Baku sign the final peace agreement between the two countries, the state broadcaster TRT Haber said.

Fidan made the statement while presenting the budget of the Foreign Ministry for 2026. By tradition in Turkiye, each minister justifies the funds that his ministry is requesting from the state budget, setting out its priorities and what has been achieved by him and his team so far.

According to Fidan, it is important for Yerevan to normalize its relations with Ankara, for the borders to be opened, and for the economy to be revived.

The Foreign Minister stressed that two issues are missing from the agreement that was signed in Washington by Armenia and Azerbaijan: the proposed Zangezur Corridor (which will link Central Asia, the Caucasus region and Turkiye and is expected to play a key role in transporting goods to and from Europe), and matters related to Armenia's Constitution. Fidan stated that once these questions are clarified and Azerbaijan signs, the border between Turkiye and Armenia will be opened.

The land in Armenia intended for the Zangezur Corridor is the object of claims by Azerbaijan, the Turkish Foreign Minister said. "The land to be connected lies between Nakhchivan and Azerbaijan. We are mediators between the sides, and we need this section, which is the largest land segment on the transit route from Europe. Because there is still no Zangezur Corridor, we conduct our trade with Central Asia through Georgia and Iran. With the Caucasus and Russia we already conduct it by land. We also use sea transport to the ports of Russia and other places on the Black Sea. Before the war between Russia and Ukraine we used it more. The Zangezur Corridor is still the subject of an ongoing dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia," Fidan said.

The visa regime with the European Union, Turkiye's membership prospects, career development and funding for the various structures of the Foreign Ministry were also among the topics discussed during the Budget Committee session.

Fidan again commented on Turkiye's prospects for membership of the European Union, saying that Ankara is ready to meet the criteria in the negotiation process.

"When the European Union opens the negotiating chapters, there is nothing more normal than assessing us according to their criteria. If they open the chapters, they could say: here you have mistakes, fix this, or let us discuss that. But dear MPs, there is no such political will. The will was frozen in 2007. Please understand this," Fidan said.