The Turkey–Armenia border crossing, which had been closed since 1993, was opened to allow humanitarian aid sent by Armenia to reach Lebanon more quickly.
The border crossing, known as Margara on the Armenian side and Alican on the Turkish side, which has been closed between the two countries since 1993, has now been opened for the third time in its history for the purpose of serving as a “humanitarian corridor.”
In accordance with a decision adopted at the June 11 session of the Armenian government and an agreement reached with Ankara, the border crossing will remain open for shipments between June 12 and June 22.
4 trucks and 80 tons of aid
Immediately following the agreement, four Armenian trucks carrying humanitarian aid crossed the Margara–Alican checkpoint on June 12. The trucks will continue their journey to Lebanon using the route through Turkey.
The details of the 80-ton aid shipment, prepared under the coordination of Armenia’s Ministries of Health and Economy, are as follows: 38 tons of medicines and medical hygiene supplies, and 42 tons of canned and non-perishable food products.
Third exception
The border crossing, which Turkey unilaterally closed in 1993, is normally closed to civilian and commercial traffic. This crossing, taking place at a time when expectations are quite high that the border may be permanently opened as part of the ongoing normalization talks between the two countries, is being viewed as an important indicator.
This move has been recorded as the third humanitarian exception in the 33-year history of the closed border:
In February 2023, following the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, the Alican border crossing was opened for the first time in thirty years to allow Armenian search-and-rescue teams and humanitarian aid trucks to enter Turkey.
Also in February 2023, during the same period, the crossing was used a second time to facilitate the transit of Armenian aid intended for earthquake victims in Syria.
This logistical operation, which began on June 12, 2026, constitutes the third temporary crossing along the border.
Regional public opinion and diplomatic sources predict that this activity at the border crossing, prompted by humanitarian diplomacy, could provide positive momentum to the full normalization process between Ankara and Yerevan and to expectations for the complete reopening of the border.
(Source: Public Radio of Armenia)
