YEREVAN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Armenia welcomes Türkiye's decision to lift restrictions on bilateral trade, calling it an important step to normalize ties between the two countries, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.
Ankara's move would help boost economic connectivity, reopen the border and establish diplomatic relations between the two sides, contributing to regional peace and prosperity, said Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ani Badalyan.
Earlier Wednesday, Türkiye's foreign ministry said it had lifted some customs restrictions on Armenia, enabling direct trade links between the two countries after over 30 years of strained relations.
Armenia and Türkiye have no formal diplomatic relations, and their joint border has been closed since the 1990s.
In recent years, the two sides have held talks on normalizing ties and reopening transport and trade routes. On May 4, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly restore the historic Ani Bridge, a Silk Road landmark on their border. ■
