PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's Foreign Ministry announced on May 13 that preparatory work required for the launch of direct trade with Armenia had been completed, Armenpress reported.

Armenia's Foreign Ministry welcomed Turkey's decision to remove restrictions on bilateral trade with Armenia.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan wrote on Facebook: "We welcome Turkey's decision to remove restrictions on bilateral trade with Armenia, which is another result of the Armenia-Turkey normalization process.

This decision is significant in terms of expanding trade and business ties between the two countries, promoting regional economic connectivity, and ensuring peace and prosperity.

We emphasize that this is an important step toward developing full and normal relations between the two countries, which may logically continue through the opening of the Armenia-Turkey border and the establishment of diplomatic relations."

Ruben Rubinyan, Armenia's representative in the Armenia-Turkey normalization process and deputy speaker of parliament, also addressed the issue on Facebook, saying there was "good news for businesspeople."

"Thanks to a new regulation introduced in Turkey within the framework of the Armenia-Turkey normalization process, it will now be possible for goods sent from Armenia to a third country and then to Turkey, or goods traveling the same route from Turkey to Armenia, to indicate 'Armenia/Turkey' as the final destination or country of origin.

In other words, direct trade between Armenia and Turkey in customs terms has become possible without re-registration procedures. We continue working toward opening the border, including the Gyumri-Kars railway," he wrote.

According to Turkey's Foreign Ministry, all necessary bureaucratic procedures had been completed as of May 11, 2026.

However, technical and bureaucratic work related to opening the shared border between the two countries is still ongoing. Under the new regulations, goods transported between Turkey and Armenia through third countries may now list Armenia or Turkey as the final destination or country of origin. Ankara stressed that Turkey would continue promoting economic ties and cooperation in the South Caucasus for the benefit of all countries and peoples in the region.

Earlier, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan approached Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a campaign event and whispered, "The Turks are opening today, let's make a 'Welcome' text." Since Pashinyan was speaking through a loudspeaker, the minister's words were also heard during the live broadcast. Later, Mirzoyan told journalists: "They will open it, and we'll understand," while clarifying that he was not referring to the opening of the Armenia-Turkey border.

Source: PanArmenian.Net