Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, made a well-prepared and carefully orchestrated visit to Türkiye on Friday evening (20 June), during which he held talks with the Turkish President, Recip Tayip Erdogan.
I had a detailed exchange of views with Turkish President Erdogan in Istanbul, Pashinyan said on social media later. "We discussed the process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Türkiye, regional developments and the importance of continuous dialogue. Armenia is committed to building peace and stability in our region," he noted.
According to a statement by the Turkish Presidential Administration's Communications Directorate, cited by Anadolu, during the meeting, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Nikol Pashinyan discussed the level of relations between Turkey and Armenia, the peace and dialogue process in the South Caucasus, and current events concerning the region.
President Erdogan drew attention to the importance of the agreement reached in the peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, stressing that Türkiye will continue to support efforts to develop the region, guided by the principle of “for the benefit of all.”
During the talks, possible steps to be taken within the framework of the normalization process between Türkiye and Armenia were also discussed. Erdogan stressed that Türkiye will use all diplomatic means to establish stability not only in the Caucasus but also in the entire region. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at his office in Dolmabahce Palace.
Earlier, Pashinyan visited the Church of the Holy Mother of God, the main Armenian Church in Istanbul, as well as the historic Blue Mosque. He also met with members of the Armenian Community in Türkiye.
commonspace.eu political editor in a comment said that Pashinyan‘s visit to Türkiye was well prepared and carefully orchestrated by the two sides. Potentially the visit can be a game-changer in Armenia- Türkiye relations. leading to the restoration of full diplomatic relations and the opening of borders. In both Armenia and Türkiye there is increasing support for these steps. No major breakthrough was announced after the visit, but none was expected. The day before Pashinyan’s visit, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev also met Erdogan in Türkiye. Aliyev continues to push Türkiye not to take any steps with Armenia before Armenia and Azerbaijan settle the differences between them. But Türkiye may decide to make a move sooner than the Azerbaijan president wants.
In Istanbul, Pashinyan also invited Erdogan to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which will take place in Armenia in April 2016.
Source: commonspace.eu with agencies
Photo: Turkish President Recip Tayip Erdogan received Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, on Friday, 20 June 2025
