On March 26, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated in an interview with the Brazilian newspaper Correio Braziliense that Armenia and Turkey are maintaining a constructive dialogue without preconditions, with the primary goal of reopening their border, which Turkey closed 34 years ago.

Mirzoyan highlighted progress in Armenian-Turkish relations, including the lifting of the air cargo transportation ban, direct flights, and confidence-building measures. He noted that an agreement had been reached to initially open the border for third-country nationals and diplomatic passport holders, though its implementation remains pending. According to Mirzoyan, Turkey unofficially links the border opening to the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, despite the absence of formal preconditions. However, he argued that reopening the border could have a positive impact on Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. He also mentioned that Armenian and Turkish specialists are assessing the Gyumri-Kars railway as part of bilateral infrastructure projects.

Regarding the South Caucasus, Mirzoyan emphasized the importance of addressing humanitarian issues, including clarifying the fate of missing persons and securing the release of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan. He confirmed ongoing contact with the U.S. administration to explore ways to establish lasting peace in the region. He also referenced the recent signing of the Strategic Partnership Charter between Armenia and the U.S., which has elevated bilateral relations and fostered discussions with the new American administration on regional stability.

Mirzoyan acknowledged the risk of Azerbaijan disrupting the peace agreement process, stating that while a draft agreement—including a preamble and 17 articles—has been finalized, Azerbaijan has imposed additional preconditions. These include amendments to Armenia’s Constitution and restrictions on arms supplies to the country. He noted that Armenia had also proposed mutually beneficial projects, such as opening transportation links and establishing bilateral arms control and border verification mechanisms, but had not received a positive response from Azerbaijan. Additionally, he dismissed Azerbaijani accusations of ceasefire violations, citing the EU observer mission’s lack of recorded incidents. Mirzoyan stressed that while Armenia is committed to peace, a signed agreement alone would not be sufficient to ensure lasting stability in the South Caucasus.