Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan engaged in a rare phone conversation on Tuesday, discussing bilateral and regional issues, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

This marks the first official contact between high-ranking officials of Armenia and Türkiye since a phone call between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan last week. Both leaders expressed determination to normalize relations without any preconditions during their conversation.

Türkiye and Armenia have had no diplomatic or commercial ties for three decades. The current talks are the first significant attempt to restore links since a 2009 peace accord, which was never ratified. Tensions have persisted due to historical sensitivities, particularly regarding the events of 1915.

Türkiye acknowledges the deaths of Armenians in eastern Anatolia during World War I, stating that some Armenians sided with invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces, leading to a subsequent relocation and numerous casualties. Türkiye disputes the characterization of these events as "genocide," describing them as a tragedy where both sides suffered casualties.

In recent years, Ankara has taken steps to mend ties with several regional countries, including Armenia, especially following the Karabakh war between Baku and Yerevan. Diplomatic contacts were restored in 2021, and special envoys began discussions in January 2022 to fully restore ties without preconditions

Both Russia and Azerbaijan have supported closer ties between Türkiye and Armenia, viewing it as part of regional normalization efforts. Despite this support, the talks have largely been at a standstill.

The recent phone call between the foreign ministers of Türkiye and Armenia represents a significant step towards potential normalization of relations between the two nations. Continued dialogue and cooperation could pave the way for resolving longstanding issues and fostering regional stability. (ILKHA)