EU welcomes announcement on initiation of Turkey-Armenia bilateral trade - statement

BRUSSELS. May 14 (Interfax) - The European Union welcomes the announcement on the initiation of bilateral trade relations between Turkey and Armenia.

"The EU warmly welcomes today's announcement by Turkey on initiation of bilateral trade with Armenia. This is a remarkable development in their normalization process, also illustrated by the recent meeting of the bilateral working group to advance the restoration of rail connections between the two countries on April 28, 2026," a spokesperson for the EU External Action Service said in statement on Wednesday.

This significant step will help boost trade and economic opportunities between both countries, with a positive impact for the entire South Caucasus as well as the EU, the statement said.

"We encourage both countries to continue working together, including towards the re-opening of their bilateral border," it said.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry said earlier in the day that Turkey had lifted restrictions on bilateral trade with Armenia.

"We welcome Turkey's decision to lift the bans on bilateral trade with Armenia, which is another outcome of the normalization process of relations between Armenia and Turkey," the Foreign Ministry press secretary said in a statement circulated by the ministry's press service.

This decision is important for expanding trade and business ties between the two countries, facilitating economic connectivity and contributing to peace and prosperity, the statement said.