Erdoğan and Pashinyan discuss Turkey-Armenia normalization at UN

During the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to discuss the normalization of relations between the two nations. The discussions focused on developing cooperation in trade and transport sectors, as well as the potential joint restoration of the historic Ani Bridge.

Turkish officials expressed interest in maintaining positive dynamics in the normalization process. Additionally, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noted that Turkey and the United States both support the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, positioning Turkey as a key coordinator in the South Caucasus.

In a separate context at the UN, Prime Minister Pashinyan addressed the issue of missing persons as a necessary step for relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This rhetoric has drawn criticism from Azerbaijani officials, such as MP Hikmet Babaoğlu, who characterized Pashinyan’s shifting political stances as inconsistent and suggested they may be influenced by upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia.