Armenia has signed a deal to supply electricity to Turkey, Energy Minister Armen Movsisian said yesterday, in the first tangible sign of a thaw in relations since an historic weekend visit by the Turkish president.
Movsisian told reporters that the deal will see electricity from Armenian thermal power plants supplied to eastern Turkey from the beginning of 2009.
“An agreement on this was reached during the recent visit by Turkish President Abdullah Gul,” he said. “Turkey is a new market for Armenia, as Armenia last supplied electricity to this country during the Soviet period,” he added.
Gul’s visit Saturday to attend a soccer match between the two nations’ teams and meet officials raised hopes that Turkey and Armenia could overcome traditional enmity and establish diplomatic relations.