Representatives of the Friends of Armenia Network—a high-level group launched by former Danish Prime Minister and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen—have concluded that Armenia is ready for the opening of the land border with Türkiye.

The group visited the newly renovated Margara border crossing point on the Armenian side of the Armenia–Türkiye border.

Speaking to reporters after the tour, the group members also discussed the Crossroads of Peace project, describing it as a promising initiative.

Fredrik Wesslau, an expert on European foreign policy, said the group is visiting Armenia “to speak with Armenian partners and gain a better understanding of the situation following the signing of the August 8 document in Washington, which is truly historic and has brought new hope and a new sense of peace to the region.”

“But most importantly, what actually unites us is this region. It is Armenia and the entire peace process. And we want to be part of that.”
Speaking about the opportunities to open the Armenian-Turkish border, Füle said what he saw at the Margara checkpoint is a significant step toward realizing that goal.

“I believe the technical readiness is in place. There is no doubt after seeing this. On the other hand, this must be part of the broader process. It cannot be a separate initiative.”
Füle added that he plans to present several proposals based on his Armenia visit regarding how the EU can strengthen its support:

“My proposal is for the EU to send a clear signal in its relations with regional countries—especially Türkiye—that the opening of the border is a crucial step. After all, the European project is built on this: open borders, the lifting of the Iron Curtain, allowing people on both sides of borders to connect, trade, and grow closer.”

“It is highly important to demonstrate that Armenia is ready—technically and otherwise. And I hope that soon the political aspect will follow, and our Turkish partners will also be ready to reciprocate. I think this would be beneficial for both sides.”
He also spoke about EU support for the Crossroads of Peace project, saying he sees no risks in the initiative:

“When I used to visit the region in the past, there was war. Even if we didn’t feel it directly, you could sense it in society when walking through the capital. This is actually my first visit to Armenia where I feel that people perceive the situation differently. This is just the beginning, but important steps were taken on August 8.”
“Now, we can not only look at the lines on the map of the Crossroads of Peace, but also begin transforming them into real connection points—places where people can get to know each other better, trade, and support one another. That is extremely important.”
Fredrik Wesslau also praised the Crossroads of Peace project developed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, calling it a highly promising initiative that seeks to expand connectivity, people-to-people contacts, and trade:

“I think this initiative will significantly boost trade. It will be good for all countries in the region—and of course, for the EU.”

The group is visiting Armenia to share proposals and expertise.

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1230369