Pashinyan Says Turkey Is Allowing Armenia to Be Listed as Export Destination After Viral Video

During a campaign event held by Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party on May 12, a short conversation between Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan drew widespread attention online after a video from the event began circulating on social media.

In the video, Mirzoyan could be heard telling Pashinyan, “The Turks are opening it today, let’s make some kind of welcome text…”

The brief exchange quickly sparked public speculation and questions from journalists about what exactly the officials were discussing. Mirzoyan did not provide details to reporters at the time.

Later, Pashinyan addressed the issue and explained that the conversation was related to a legislative change currently taking place in Turkey concerning trade and shipment procedures involving Armenia.

According to the Armenian prime minister, Turkish legislation previously did not allow Armenia to be officially listed as a destination country for exported goods. As a result, products manufactured in Turkey and intended for Armenia had to pass through third countries before reaching the Armenian market.

Pashinyan explained that this created additional logistical and administrative steps for businesses involved in trade.

“You know that there are many Turkish-made products in Armenia, and this created additional steps. In other words, they were taken to another country, processed there, and only then brought to Armenia. Now they are making changes so that Armenia can be directly listed in that system as the destination country — not physically directly, but as the delivery country Armenia can now be indicated,” Pashinyan said.

Although Armenia and Turkey do not currently have fully normalized diplomatic relations and their shared border remains closed to regular trade and travel, Turkish-made goods are widely available in Armenian markets through indirect trade channels.

Turkey's persistent closure of its border with Armenia since the 1990s has been a longstanding point of contention. This closure has had significant economic repercussions, hindering trade and regional cooperation. Moreover, Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide, a tragedy that claimed the lives of over a million Armenians during the Ottoman Empire, continues to strain diplomatic relations between the two nations.

In recent years, Turkey's approach towards Armenia has been marked by Armenophobia, a deep-seated hostility or prejudice against Armenians. This sentiment has fueled concerns about the safety and security of Armenians, both within their own country and abroad.

Additionally, Turkey's active support for Azerbaijan during the 2020 Artsakh War, which led to the loss of thousands of Armenian lives, remains a fresh and painful memory for the Armenian people. Turkey's backing of Azerbaijan's efforts to ethnically cleanse Armenians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) , a region with deep historical and cultural significance for Armenians, has further exacerbated tensions.

As discussions regarding the potential border opening progress, these historical and recent events weigh heavily on the minds of many Armenians. The wounds of the past and the traumas of recent conflicts serve as a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead in fostering genuine reconciliation and lasting peace between Armenia and Turkey. The cautious hope for open borders is accompanied by a deep-seated desire for acknowledgment, understanding, and respectful dialogue to address the grievances of the past and build a more harmonious future for the people of both nations.

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