Armenia, Turkey agree to open ground border to citizens of third countries shortly - Armenian Foreign Ministry

YEREVAN. July 1 (Interfax) - Special representatives of Armenia and Turkey on the normalization of relations agreed to open the border to citizens of third countries at a meeting in Vienna on Friday, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

"The fourth meeting of special representatives on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey took place in Vienna today. The representatives were Ruben Rubinyan and Serdar Kilic, respectively. The sides agreed to open the ground border between Armenia and Turkey to citizens of third countries visiting these countries within the shortest period of time possible and decided to start the necessary procedures in this direction," the Armenian Foreign Ministry press service said.

The agency said Armenian National Assembly Vice President Ruben Rubinyan and former Turkish Ambassador to the United States Serdar Kilic agreed to start director air cargo transportation between Armenia and Turkey shortly.

"Additionally, they discussed possible specific steps that can be taken to achieve the final goal- the full-fledged settlement of relations between the two countries. The sides reaffirmed their agreement to continue the settlement process without any preconditions," the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

Armenia and Turkey have no diplomatic relations, and the border has been closed since 1993 on the initiative of Ankara over the Karabakh conflict. The first meeting between the special representatives of Armenia and Turkey on the normalization of relations, Rubinyan and former Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Kilic, took place in Moscow on January 14.