Mirzoyan: Yerevan has never been so close to peace with Baku and  Ankara

ArmInfo. We have a very active Armenian- Turkish dialogue, as evidenced by contacts between the  parties at various levels. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated this in an interview with Turkish  NTV, touching upon the Armenian-Turkish normalization.

According to him, this dialogue is not limited to the two Ministers  or two special representatives for the normalization of relations.  "Some other respective agencies also gradually joined this  conversation.  Meetings are taking place between several agencies. I  can also add  the joint study of the infrastructure on Margara-Alijan  ground passage. The joint study of infrastructure on  Gyumri-Kars  railway passage. Now, just several days ago, our representatives met  from different agencies and discussed the joint project of  reconstruction of the Ani Bridge. Several other projects.  So the  things are moving, the things are happening on the ground," the head  of the Armenian Foreign Ministry said. 

He also drew attention to the fact that the Armenian side has already  completed the reconstruction of the Margara checkpoint  infrastructure, moreover, a stable and intensive dialogue is  maintained with Turkish partners. " On the other hand, we also see  that the final normalization, final establishment of diplomatic  relations and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkiye is  not still happening. And this is, of course, connected with the  Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization. Our approach is that if we have  success on the Armenian-Turkish track and open the borders, this will  have a very positive impact on Armenian- Azerbaijani normalization,"  the chief diplomat of Armenia added. 

He once again emphasized that today there is a real opportunity to  establish lasting peace in the region, and the whole question is only  in political leadership. "We have a real, tangible window of  opportunity. Will we be able to take advantage of it? That is the  question. We believe that Armenia is taking the most constructive  steps in this process," the head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry  noted. When asked whether now is the right time to establish peace,  sign an agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as  normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia, Mirzoyan said that he  cannot say that now is the "right" time.

" I will answer, if you don't mind, in a little bit another way. I'm  not sure whether the time is suitable or not.  Probably, time is  never suitable. But I'm confident, and you know, I will have the  courage to say that I think that this consideration could be shared  by my Turkish and Azerbaijani colleagues as well. So I'm confident  that we have never gone this far towards each other. So I don't know  whether the time is suitable or not.  Moreover, I think that it can  never be suitable. But if we evaluate where we are now, we can say  that we have never been here, we have never been closer to final  stability and peace," he concluded.