Erdoğan and Pashinyan meet to smooth relations between Turkey and Armenia

ISTANBUL — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met in Istanbul on Friday evening. The visit follows an official invitation from Erdogan and is intended to smooth relations between Turkey and Armenia. Erdoğan officially welcomed Pashinyan at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Palace. The official ceremony was attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. 

Following what many describe as a historic meeting, the Turkish presidency released a statement noting that the two sides discussed the peace process in the South Caucasus, current regional developments, as well as possible steps toward normalization between the two countries. 

Erdoğan emphasized the importance of the peace agreement reached between Azerbaijan and Armenia, stressing that Turkey would continue supporting efforts to develop the Caucasus based on mutual benefit. He added that Turkey is using all diplomatic means to promote stability not only in the Caucasus but across the wider region, maintaining communications with leaders to counter risks posed by escalating violence, referring to recent tensions between Israel and Iran. 

Pashinyan, on his second visit to Turkey since assuming office, reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to peace and stability in the region, as well as its policy of normalizing relations with neighboring countries. 

The two leaders also discussed Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” project, which aims to strengthen cooperation between countries in the Caucasus. 

Earlier, Pashinyan met with Istanbul’s Armenian community (what’s left of it) and Armenian journalists, delivering key messages.