Just as the normalization process in relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia accelerated after the August 8 Washington summit, certain steps towards softening relations between Turkey and Armenia have also begun to accelerate in parallel. Representatives of Turkey and Armenia have met.
One of the interesting nuances is whether there is a friendship group with Armenia in the Turkish parliament.
Our research revealed that there is no Turkey-Armenia friendship group in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
One of the notable points is whether cooperation in the parliamentary sphere, as in other areas, can become a subject of discussion and whether a Turkey-Armenia Friendship Group can be established.
In a statement to Modern.az, Yıldırım Tuğrul, a deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, stated that even if there were a friendship group with Armenia, it would not carry much significance:
“There are friendship groups with over 100 countries in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Regardless of special circumstances, there are inter-parliamentary friendship groups with every country. There can also be an inter-parliamentary friendship group with Armenia. However, this would not signify much. There are also friendship groups with Chile and Venezuela. In other words, this is part of the parliament's daily work. The existence of a friendship group does not make a special contribution to the normalization of relations.”
The Turkish deputy also touched upon the issue of opening land borders with Armenia:
“At the August 8 Washington summit, Mr. President Ilham Aliyev and the Armenian Prime Minister reached an agreement. If relations with Azerbaijan are at a good level, Turkey can regulate all issues with Armenia in connection with Azerbaijan. However, currently, the Armenian constitution contains articles that include hostility towards us. They must remove these. Along with Mr. Ilham Aliyev's statement "there is no problem," Turkey can open its borders with Armenia.”
