Vice President Yılmaz Announces: Agreement Signed for Joint Restoration of 'Ani Bridge' with Armenia
Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Turkey and Armenia have signed an agreement for the joint restoration of the historic Ani Bridge, located in the ancient city of Ani.
- The agreement was signed by Turkey's Special Representative for Normalization Process, Ambassador Serdar Kılıç, and Armenia's Special Representative, Ruben Rubinyan.
- This restoration project, agreed upon in September 2025, is expected to boost regional tourism and cultural cooperation between the two nations.
In a significant development signaling a potential thaw in relations, Turkey and Armenia have inked a landmark agreement for the joint restoration of the historic Ani Bridge. The announcement came from Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz during his visit to Yerevan for the 8th European Political Community Summit, marking the highest-level visit from Turkey to Armenia since then-President Abdullah Gül's trip in 2008.
An agreement was signed regarding the joint restoration of the Ani Bridge with Armenia.
The agreement, a tangible outcome of the ongoing normalization process, was formally signed by Ambassador Serdar Kılıç, Turkey's Special Representative for the Normalization Process, and Ruben Rubinyan, Armenia's counterpart. This collaborative effort builds upon the decision made during the 6th meeting of the special representatives in Yerevan in September 2025, where the joint renovation of the Silk Road (Ani) Bridge, situated within the ancient ruins of Ani, was first agreed upon.
The agreement was signed by Turkey's Special Representative for the Normalization Process, Ambassador Serdar Kılıç, and Armenia's Special Representative, Ruben Rubinyan.
The Ani Bridge, constructed in the 10th-11th centuries and functional until the 16th-17th centuries, was a crucial crossing point on historical trade routes. The restoration is anticipated to yield substantial benefits, not only by revitalizing regional tourism but also by fostering deeper cultural cooperation between Turkey and Armenia. This initiative represents a concrete step towards rebuilding bridges, both literally and figuratively, between the two neighboring countries.
In the 6th meeting held in Yerevan in September 2025, an agreement was reached on the joint renovation of the Silk Road (Ani) Bridge in the historical Ani Ruins.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
