The Armenian-Turkish border could open before new special envoys are appointed. Mirzoyan

The border between Armenia and Turkey could open before the two sides manage to appoint new special envoys. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan made this statement after a meeting with Ignazio Cassis, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and head of Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, in response to a question about appointing a new special envoy in the process of normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations.

Mirzoyan stressed that the ultimate goal of the Armenian-Turkish normalization process is the full normalization of relations and the complete opening of the border.

“To be honest, the question is whether there is a need for a new special envoy at all, because it may happen that the border opens before the candidates for the new special envoys are agreed upon. The process of normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations has matured to such an extent that a final and comprehensive settlement could be achieved at any time. Armenia and Turkey are in contact almost daily, and negotiations are ongoing,” he noted.

“As a rule, negotiations are not fully disclosed to the public until a final agreement and concrete results have been achieved. The Armenia-Turkey negotiations are no exception,” Mirzoyan said.

“Now there is a need to continue the process, and an Armenia-Turkey business forum will be held, perhaps on a larger scale than the previous one, this time in Armenia. I hope that this time, too, the closed border will open and Armenian businesspeople will be able to cross it. Although certain agreements have already been reached and practical results achieved in the Armenian-Turkish normalization process, comprehensive normalization has not yet been completed,” he said.