Yerevan: Trkiye's special envoy for normalization with Armenia, retired Ambassador Serdar Kilic, stated that a recent visit by Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz to Yerevan marked a 'turning point' in bilateral relations, underscoring growing high-level engagement and new areas of cooperation.
According to Anadolu Agency, Kilic emphasized the significance of Yilmaz's trip, which was the first at that level in many years, while speaking to Turkish journalists on the sidelines of the 'Yerevan Dialogue 2026' conference. The conference was held under the theme of 'Riding Through the Storms.'
Kilic highlighted that Yilmaz had a productive exchange with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and participated in the signing of a protocol to restore the historic Ani Bridge, located on the ancient Silk Road, witnessed by both Yilmaz and Pashinyan.
"Even that alone shows how far Trkiye-Armenia relations have come," Kilic remarked. "A vice president of Trkiye came to Yerevan for a conference, was warmly received, and held important meetings. It was a significant visit and a turning point."
He noted the increase in high-level contacts between the two countries, recalling that Pashinyan has visited Trkiye multiple times and that Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan recently traveled to Ankara.
Kilic expressed expectations of accelerated progress toward full normalization through ongoing efforts based on mutual understanding. He mentioned working closely with his counterpart, Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan, to advance the process.
Highlighting the symbolic importance of the Ani Bridge, Kilic mentioned that the structure dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries and spans both Turkish and Armenian territories. The central section has collapsed, and both sides are planning to restore it jointly.
He stated that the project would not only preserve a historic site but also help foster a culture of cooperation between experts from both countries.
Kilic noted that the normalization process formally began in January 2022 and described his working relationship with Rubinyan as 'like brothers.'
"If someone had told us in January 2022 that we would reach this point today, no one would have believed it," he said. "Frankly, we might not have believed it ourselves. In a very short time, we have taken significant steps."
Kilic also stressed the importance of increasing people-to-people contact as a cornerstone of the normalization process. He mentioned that Trkiye's national carrier, Turkish Airlines, began flights to Yerevan on March 11 and is currently operating one daily service, with plans to increase to two flights per day beginning May 15. Additionally, Pegasus Airlines is also operating flights between the two countries.
He emphasized that beyond economic benefits for companies, these connections are significant for fostering direct interaction between the Turkish and Armenian people.
Kilic pointed to reciprocal scholarships granted to five university students from each country, as well as visa facilitation measures introduced for holders of diplomatic and official passports, acknowledging that important steps remain to be taken.
"We have now reached the point of opening the borders, and we are working on that," he stated.
He recalled a working group meeting held in Kars regarding the restoration of the Kars-Gyumri railway line and the foundation laying of the Dilucu railway line, adding that such projects could further increase contact between the Turkish and Armenian people.
Reflecting on his previous visit to Yerevan in September 2025, Kilic mentioned that attitudes have shifted noticeably.
"People have started to embrace this process much more," he said. "At the beginning, there was likely some hesitation and unease between Ruben (Rubinyan) and me, but that is no longer the case. As I said during the meeting, all my proposals are shaped by how we can contribute to this process and to improving the quality of life of the Armenian people."
On the issue of reopening the border, Kilic mentioned that preparations have reached an advanced stage but cautioned that technical and bureaucratic work must be completed first.
"The border can be considered ready to open, but there are still some bureaucratic and technical steps that need to be finalized," he said.
"You cannot simply say 'we opened the border tomorrow' and allow people to cross immediately. Fiber optic cables need to be laid. Security personnel and customs officers must be in place. Without completing all of this, opening the border just for the sake of saying it's open would be meaningless."