Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Istanbul on Friday for landmark talks focused on normalizing relations and promoting lasting peace across the South Caucasus, reads a Daily Sabah post.
President Erdoğan highlighted the importance of recent progress in peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, reaffirming Türkiye’s commitment to supporting regional development through a “win-win” diplomatic strategy.
The high-level meeting addressed the Türkiye-Armenia normalization process, regional cooperation, and ongoing geopolitical challenges, including tensions in the Middle East. Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye is prepared to use all diplomatic tools to support constructive initiatives aimed at lasting stability both in the Caucasus and more broadly.
The leaders also discussed the next steps in bilateral normalization, a historic effort to overcome decades of hostility. Türkiye and Armenia currently have no formal diplomatic ties, and their shared border has been closed since the 1990s.
Pashinyan described the discussions as “in-depth” and reiterated Armenia’s commitment to building peace. “We underlined the need for sustained dialogue and tangible outcomes,” he wrote on social media after the meeting.
The talks began shortly before 7:00 p.m. at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace. Ahead of the meeting, Pashinyan visited the Armenian Patriarchal Church, the Blue Mosque, and met with members of the Turkish Armenian community.
Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan described the visit as historic, noting it was the first official high-level trip by an Armenian head of government to Türkiye. “The risks of war with Azerbaijan are currently minimal, and we must work to eliminate them. Pashinyan’s visit is a step in that direction,” he said.
According to an Armenian foreign ministry official, the leaders also discussed a potential comprehensive peace treaty and the broader fallout from the Iran-Israel conflict.
Pashinyan’s trip follows a visit by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who met Erdoğan in Türkiye just one day earlier. Both leaders reaffirmed their strong bilateral alliance, with Erdoğan again voicing support for peace between Baku and Yerevan.
Although Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on a draft peace deal in March, Azerbaijan has since issued new demands, including constitutional amendments in Armenia, before finalizing the agreement.
Analysts see Pashinyan’s efforts as part of a broader strategy to reduce Armenia’s isolation. “A peace deal with Azerbaijan and normalized ties with Türkiye are the keys,” said Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe. He added that Türkiye faces a delicate balance between supporting Azerbaijan and expanding its regional influence by reopening its border with Armenia.
Past normalization efforts faltered, including a 2009 accord that was never ratified. However, diplomatic momentum has gradually returned since 2021, with both countries appointing special envoys and resuming direct flights.
Earlier this year, Pashinyan announced Armenia would suspend its international campaign for recognition of the 1915 mass killings of Armenians as genocide—a long-standing source of friction with Ankara.
Pashinyan last visited Türkiye in 2023 for Erdoğan’s presidential inauguration. Friday’s meeting marks a potentially transformative moment in a fraught bilateral relationship, offering cautious hope for a more stable and cooperative South Caucasus.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
