Armenia to Temporarily Open Margara Checkpoint on Turkey Border for Humanitarian Aid to Syria

The Armenian government has decided to open the Margara checkpoint on its border with Turkey for a temporary period of ten days. The decision, which was not initially mentioned during the government’s regular Cabinet meeting, was officially adopted on Thursday. According to the government’s statement, the Margara checkpoint will be operational from March 21 to March 31 to facilitate the transportation of humanitarian aid to Syria via Turkish territory.

The Armenian government said that the opening of the checkpoint is necessary to deliver humanitarian aid to Syria. Following discussions between representatives of Armenia and Syria, an agreement was reached to coordinate Armenia’s assistance efforts. The government’s official statement noted that the reopening of Margara is primarily aimed at ensuring that humanitarian cargo from Armenia reaches Syria efficiently through a land route via Turkey.

This initiative shows Armenia’s commitment to aiding Syria, which has faced severe humanitarian crises in recent years due to ongoing wars and natural disasters. By utilizing Turkey as a transit route, Armenia is seeking to expedite the delivery of aid to those in need.

The Margara checkpoint, located on the Armenia-Turkey border, has been non-operational for decades due to geopolitical tensions. However, the Armenian government, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, has undertaken efforts to renovate the checkpoint as part of broader attempts to normalize relations with Turkey. The Armenian government remains hopeful that past agreements with Turkey, including the commitment to open the border for third-country nationals and diplomatic passport holders, will eventually be realized.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in the early 1990s during the First Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) War, in support of Azerbaijan. Since then, the land border between the two nations has remained shut. Despite occasional diplomatic efforts, relations have remained strained due to historical and political disputes, particularly Turkey’s ongoing refusal to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide of 1915, during which the Ottoman Empire systematically killed and displaced millions of Armenians, as well as Greeks and Assyrians.

The temporary opening of the Margara checkpoint raises questions about whether this move is purely humanitarian or if it signals a broader shift in Armenia-Turkey relations. While both countries have engaged in diplomatic talks over the years, progress has been slow. Previous discussions have included proposals to open the border under specific conditions, yet deep-seated political disagreements have hindered any lasting breakthrough.

The Armenian Report’s Ani Khachatryan will be traveling to Armavir Province, Armenia, where the Margara checkpoint is located, to bring us videos and news reports. We highly recommend that our readers subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay informed and not miss this important video report from the Armenia-Turkey border.