Armenia, Turkey Resume Normalization Talks

On July 30, special representatives from Turkey and Armenia, Serdar Kilic and Ruben Rubinyan, will hold their fifth meeting aimed at normalizing relations between the two countries, following a two-year hiatus in negotiations. The meeting will take place along the Armenia-Turkey border, with discussions focusing on confidence-building measures and reviewing previous developments. Turkey's efforts to revive ties with Armenia are contingent on progress in peace talks with Azerbaijan, stemming from historical tensions related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The last formal meeting occurred in July 2022, although there was a brief interaction at a diplomacy forum earlier this year. The normalization talks are also complicated by historical grievances, particularly Armenia's claims of genocide against the Ottoman Empire. Both sides are hopeful that renewed dialogue may lead to improved bilateral relations.