According to the Turkish "Hurriyet" news agency, the second stage of normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia has started. Accordingly, Armenian and Turkish officials are discussing the start of Turkey-Armenia air cargo transportation before the New Year, including opening the "Alijan" border checkpoint.

On February 2, after months of negotiations, the first Istanbul-Yerevan passenger services were launched. Officials are now nearing the end of the talks to start cargo transportation between the two countries.

According to the sources of the Turkish news agency, cargo transportation can begin by the end of this year, December 31. Until now, Armenia was buying Turkish goods through the territory of Georgia. With the start of cargo transportation, Turkish goods will be delivered to Armenia by direct flights.

Officials are also discussing opening the Turkish-Armenian border crossing "Alijan," which has been closed since April 1993. The checkpoint in Eastern Igdir province connects the two countries with a 128 m long bridge, but due to being closed for nearly three decades, the bridge has become inoperable.

The unnamed officials said that the bridge would be repaired, adding that negotiations for its repair began several weeks ago. However, no results are expected shortly, as the snowy weather hinders the construction works.

The third stage of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will be the negotiations on starting direct trade between the two countries. "Technical works have already started in that direction," the newspaper sources added.