An official event marking the anniversary of Armenia’s independence was held in Istanbul on October 14 after a prolonged hiatus. Turkey was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Berris Ekinci.
The participation of a Turkish representative at such a high level in an event of this kind was unprecedented, Radar.am reported.
Armenia was represented by Nairi Petrosyan, the country’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.
Following the official speeches, the national anthems of Armenia and Turkey were played during the event.
In her remarks, Ekinci addressed ongoing efforts to normalize relations between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of recently intensified high-level contacts and opportunities to develop cooperation in various sectors.
“We continue the normalization process bilaterally with the utmost sincerity and determination, with the ultimate goal of achieving full normalization. In this context, we are very pleased to see that the recent increase in high-level visits between our countries has significantly contributed to strengthening our bilateral dialogue and advancing mutual understanding.
“We have also taken numerous concrete steps in transportation, energy, culture and the restoration of direct trade. All these steps give us compelling reasons to look toward the future of our region with great hope and optimism. Turkey has always supported peace, stability and the momentum toward normalization in the South Caucasus.
“This evening, I would like to emphasize that we will continue to provide our sincere and unwavering support for these processes in the period ahead,” Ekinci said, according to the Istanbul-based Armenian weekly Agos.
During the reception, representatives of Armenia and Turkey reaffirmed their readiness to continue the process of normalizing bilateral relations.
The two sides also stressed the importance of developing transportation links, energy connections and trade and economic cooperation, identifying these as key areas for further progress in Armenian-Turkish relations.
Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan stated at the Warsaw Security Forum that the border with Turkey remains closed, but the process of normalizing relations has already reached a fairly advanced stage.
