Armenia and Turkey intend for the first time in three decades to permanently open border crossings between them, Armenian officials said, quoted by DPA.

"Initially, the land border will be open only to diplomats and citizens of third countries, until the beginning of the tourist season," announced Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

Direct air flights between Armenia and Turkey were also resumed earlier.

In February, Turkey opened the border for the first time to let in humanitarian aid and aid teams from Armenia after the devastating earthquakes that rocked Turkey.

In 1993, Ankara unilaterally closed the border in support of Azerbaijan.

The measure caused severe economic problems for Armenia, which continues to wage a bloody conflict with Baku over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Relations between Ankara and Yerevan have long been strained.

The massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman army more than a century ago also added to the tension.

However, at the end of 2021, the two countries restored their official diplomatic relations, the BTA chronology of events recalls.

Armenia sent a proposal for a peace agreement to Azerbaijan

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