Paying a visit to Kars, Minister of Transport Binali Yildirim gave positive signals about opening of the borders with Armenia.

Minister of Transport Binali Yildirim said, “Turkey is a big country with great traditions. It cannot be considered for Turkey to live with the problems with its neighbours till the end of the time.”

Commenting on the importance of Kars-Tiblisi-Baku railway, Minister said that the project has vival importance not only for Kars, but also for Turkey, Europe, Far East, Caucasus and Middle Asian Turkish Republics.

When a reporter asked whether Turkey will open its borders to Armenia, Yildirim said, “About this issue, Turkey has started a policy of zero problems with neighbouring countries. In this context we have started strategical relations with Iraq, Syria, Russia and Iran.”

Stressing that there are fabricated problems between Turkey and Armenia because of the baseless claims of diaspora Armenians, Yildirim said, “Turkey is a big country with great traditions. It cannot be considered for Turkey to live with the problems with its neighbours till the end of the time. Because of that, we signed protocols with Armenia in Switzerland. Virtually, protocol includes three issues. One of these is thatArmenia will leave these baseless claims against Turkey. Historical events will be analysed by a joint committee of historians and Turkey and Armenia will have neighbourly relations. But there is a must for that. Armeniashould solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem with Azerbaijan. If these could all progress together, we will see opening of borders.”