Normalization between Turkey and Armenia picks up pace
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Ankara and Yerevan appoint representatives to discuss normalization of relations between the two countries.
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US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan with Armenia's National Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told Armenian National Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan that the Biden administration welcomes the announcement that Turkey and Armenia are to appoint representatives to discuss the normalization of relations between the two countries.
"Mr. Sullivan welcomed the announcement yesterday that Turkey and Armenia will appoint special envoys to discuss the normalization process," National Security Council Spokesperson Emily Horne said Wednesday.
Turkey
Turkey's Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, announced that Turkey's special representative for the normalization process with Armenia will be Turkey's former ambassador to the US Serdar Kilic.
"Serdar Kilic will become our special representative for the normalization of relations with Armenia," Cavusoglu told reporters during his UAE visit.
Cavusoglu also added that charter flights with Yerevan would also be opened.
Russia
Moscow has also announced its readiness to help in the normalization of relations between the two countries, according to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova.
"We proceed from the fact that the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations would contribute to the improvement of the general situation in the region, would help to form a healthy atmosphere of trust and good-neighborliness," Zakharova said at a briefing, announcing Russia's readiness to help in the process.
Ankara-Yerevan flights
Turkey is now considering the requests of Turkish and Armenian airlines on the launching of flights from Istanbul to Yerevan and vice versa, with the decision expected to be made in the coming days, according to Turkey's foreign minister.
"Airlines' applications are reviewed by the Ministry of Transport and the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of Turkey. In principle, the attitude of the Turkish side to the issue is positive. In the coming days, it will be determined which of the companies will be able to fly this route," Anadolu Agency quoted Cavusoglu as saying.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
