"Opening the borders of Armenia with Turkey and Azerbaijan could radically change the situation" - Von der Leyen

European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen spoke about the geopolitical and economic significance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor at the EU-Central Asia Summit.

According to APA, Ursula von der Leyen said that this corridor will play an important role in strengthening relations between Europe and the five Central Asian countries.

“The Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor will strengthen ties between your countries (the five Central Asian states) and Europe,” Ursula von der Leyen said.

She also stressed the importance of simplifying border crossings between the countries of the region for the effectiveness of the corridor: “Border crossings with both Central Asia and the South Caucasus are important for access to the Black Sea.”

The EC President also touched upon the issue of opening the Armenian-Turkish border.

According to von der Leyen, the opening of Armenia's borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan after 30 years could radically change the situation.

"This will bring Europe and Central Asia closer than ever before," she noted.