Turkey’s Special Representative: “I Feel Like I Am at Home” in Yerevan as Border Opening Remains Pending

Turkey’s Special Representative for normalization with Armenia, Serdar Kılıç, said he feels comfortable in Yerevan as discussions over reopening the Armenia–Turkey border continue, but made clear that no timeline has been set yet.

“I feel like I am at home.” Turkey’s special representative Serdar Kılıç said this in response to a question from a Sputnik Armenia journalist.

Kılıç is a senior Turkish diplomat who previously served as Turkey’s ambassador to the United States and Japan. He was appointed as Ankara’s special envoy for talks with Armenia as part of a broader effort to normalize relations between the two countries after decades of closed borders and limited diplomatic ties.

When asked about the opening of the border, the Turkish official, who is currently in Yerevan, said he does not have information about specific timelines, but confirmed that discussions are still ongoing. “We are preparing to open it, the infrastructure is ready, but there are some issues that still need to be resolved, both technical and bureaucratic.”

The Armenia–Turkey land border has been closed since 1993. In recent years, both sides have taken steps to improve relations, including appointing special representatives and holding several rounds of talks. The process has focused on confidence-building measures, such as restoring direct flights and exploring the reopening of border crossings for third-country nationals.

In response to a question about whether Turkey has the political will to open the border, Kılıç stated that Ankara has maintained that position for several years. “We are preparing to open it, the infrastructure is ready, but there are some issues that still need to be resolved, both technical and bureaucratic.”

“Turkey has had that will since 2022.”

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