Azerbaijan Hindering Armenia-Turkey Normalization Process, Says Alen Simonyan

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, presented the circumstances hindering the reopening of the Armenia-Turkey land border in Istanbul. During a meeting with Armenian media in Istanbul, the parliament speaker addressed the issue of the border remaining closed.

He noted that he cannot make any precise forecasts, as the resolution of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh was previously cited as a condition, but after its resolution, the focus shifted to the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty. According to Simonyan, despite prolonged and complex negotiations, an agreement was reached on 17 points, and a handshake was made for signing, but the process has not yet been concluded.

The Speaker also emphasized Azerbaijan's influence in the current situation. He stated that Azerbaijan is hindering the process through its lobbying efforts, negotiating with Armenia on one hand while simultaneously preventing Turkey from conducting negotiations with the Armenian side. Simonyan considered this to be a strange situation, adding that Turkey seems to have become a hostage in these relationships.