Erdoğan urges Armenia to take ‘bolder steps’ towards normalised ties

Erdoğan urges Armenia to take ‘bolder steps’ towards normalised ties
Election officials count ballots after voting concluded in the parliamentary elections in Yerevan, Armenia, on 7 June, 2026, AA
Anadolu Agency

Türkiye welcomed Armenia's parliamentary election result on Monday, urging Yerevan to take "bolder steps" towards regional peace and diplomatic normalisation.

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry welcomed the peaceful conduct of the 7 June poll, which, according to preliminary results, was won by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party.

"We welcome that the parliamentary elections … were concluded in a calm and peaceful atmosphere," the ministry said.

It also expressed Ankara's hope that Armenia would take "bolder steps" towards achieving regional peace and normalised relations with its neighbours in the post-election period.

According to Armenia's Central Election Commission, Pashinyan's party secured 49.82 per cent of the vote, while the opposition Strong Armenia party received 23.28 per cent.

In a related development, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Monday that he believed full diplomatic normalisation between Armenia and Türkiye could be achieved in the near future.

"I believe we will achieve full normalisation with Türkiye in the near future," Mirzoyan said, expressing optimism about the current trajectory of bilateral relations.

His remarks reflected growing expectations that Pashinyan's electoral victory will provide fresh momentum for the ongoing Türkiye-Armenia normalisation process after decades of strained relations.

Mending fences

Türkiye and Armenia have never established formal diplomatic relations.

Their shared border has remained closed since 1993, when Ankara shut it in solidarity with Azerbaijan during the first Nagorno-Garabagh War.

Efforts to establish official ties gained momentum in late 2021, when the two sides appointed special envoys and launched direct negotiations.

Since then, the countries have restored commercial charter flights and agreed in principle to open the border to third-country nationals and holders of diplomatic passports.

Progress in the Türkiye-Armenia normalisation process, however, remains closely linked to relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Ankara has repeatedly stated that broader normalisation would be facilitated by a comprehensive peace agreement between Yerevan and Baku.

Pashinyan, for his part, has made regional normalisation a central pillar of his foreign policy agenda, arguing that improved relations with neighbouring countries are vital for Armenia's security and long-term economic development.

According to analysts, this week's election result is likely to strengthen his mandate to pursue those objectives and advance efforts towards a more stable South Caucasus.

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