State Department: US welcomes meeting of Turkish and Armenian special representatives

ArmInfo. The United States welcomes the meeting of special representatives of Turkey and Armenia at their long-closed border, considering the normalization talks "a positive step in bringing peace and stability in the South Caucasus".  "We welcome this meeting. The United States will consider the Turkiye-Armenia normalization a positive step relations between Turkey and Armenia a positive step in bringing peace and stability in the South Caucasus," a State Department spokesman told Anadolu Agency. 

"Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to make significant progress toward finalizing a peace agreement, and we are committed to supporting that process. The time for peace is now," the spokesperson added.

"Special representatives from Turkiye and Armenia -- Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic and Armenian parliament Deputy Speaker Ruben Rubinyan -- met Tuesday at their countries' shared border for the fifth round of talks to normalize their long-strained relations. The two sides "reemphasized their agreement to continue the normalization process without any preconditions towards achieving the ultimate goal of full normalization between their respective countries," the Armenian and Turkish foreign ministries said in identical statements.  They also agreed to "assess the technical requirements to enable the functioning of the Akhurik/Akyaka railroad border gate in line with regional developments as well as to simplify their mutual visa procedures for diplomatic/official passport holders," the statement said.