United News of Bangladesh

 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is set to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday in a rare visit intended to advance the normalisation of ties between the two nations, whose relationship has long been marred by historic grievances and Turkey’s close alliance with Azerbaijan. The two countries, which currently lack formal diplomatic relations, are expected to focus their discussions on potentially reopening their shared border and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, according to AP. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 as a show of solidarity with Azerbaijan, which was then engaged in a conflict with Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. In 2020, Turkey lent strong support to Azerbaijan in a six-week war with Armenia over the same territory. India and Canada to resume diplomatic ties nearly two years after Sikh Separatist killing That conflict concluded with a Russia-brokered ceasefire, granting Azerbaijan control over large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh. The two countries also remain divided over the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were reportedly killed through massacres, deportations, and forced marches beginning in 1915. Historians widely characterise the atrocities as genocide — a term Turkey rejects. Ankara concedes that many perished during the period but disputes the death toll and insists the casualties occurred amid civil unrest. Pashinyan’s visit marks a continuation of a thaw in relations, which began when Ankara and Yerevan agreed in 2021 to begin efforts to normalise ties. Both sides appointed special envoys to oversee dialogue.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated his stance for working with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Turkey to a new height. The re-elected president of Turkey said this during a telephone call to PM Hasina at around 11:15 pm on Wednesday (May 31, 2023). The two leaders exchanged greetings and spoke to each other for 10 minutes, according to a press release from PMO Press Wing. Hasina congratulated Erdogan on securing victory at the second round election, where the voter turnout rate was above 86 percent. Read more: What 5 more years of Erdogan's rule means for Turkey She expressed her happiness over her confidence that the people of Turkey would make the right choice, which was proved after the runoff election. PM Hasina reiterated that the People of Bangladesh would remain steadfast to stand by the brotherly people of Turkey at any time of need, as during the February 2023 earthquake. President Erdogan expressed his gratitude that the brotherly people of Bangladesh mentally joined the jubilant people of Turkey at his victory in the second round election. To this end, he thanked the people of Bangladesh and wished to further strengthen the ties between the two peoples. Read more: Turkey's Erdogan retains power, now faces challenges over the economy and earthquake recovery Hasina conveyed her best wishes to Erdogan and his family members and wished continued peace, progress, and prosperity through him to the people of Turkey.

Turkey wants enhanced trade relations with Bangladesh to substantially push up the bilateral trade volume between the two countries, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said Wednesday.