Turkish Foreign Minister says Armenia needs to take “sincere steps” for peace

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey continues its talks with Armenia through special representatives, but expects from the Armenian government to take some “sincere steps” to go forward with normalization with Turkey.

"We have taken some steps regarding opening our airspace in a coordinated manner, regarding air cargo, for confidence-building steps. Armenia should also take sincere steps." he said.

Cavusoglu made these remarks while responding to questions in a press briefing with Azeri and Turkmen TV reporters.

Last week, a Turkish official said that Turkey and Armenia passed into the second phase in the normalization process and expected to start cargo flights and to open Alican Border Crossing before the new year.

When Armenia gained its independence in 1991, Turkey was one of the first to recognize the country. However, Turkey closed its land borders with Armenia in 1993 due to the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, where the majority of the population is Armenian. The borders have remained closed and the countries stopped diplomatic ties ever since.

The normalization process aims to allow the establishment of diplomatic ties, the opening of sealed borders, and starting of economic, trade and transportation projects between the two nations.