Installing modern equipment at checkpoints and customs stations is of high importance for Armenia’s national security. The recently formed interagency commission will soon submit to the RA National Security Council a border security strategy of Armenia, which will serve as a basis for a program of action, Secretary of the RA National Security Council, Artur Baghdasaryan stated at a bilateral workshop on integrated border management in Yerevan within the framework of “Supporting Integrated Border Management Systems in the South Caucasus” (SCIBM).

According to him, Armenia has, with the European Union’s assistance, to provide its customs stations with modern equipment. The Bagratashen customs station (Armenia) and the Sadakhlo customs station (Georgia) have been selected under the program. The stations will be modernized as soon as next year.

As regards Armenia-Georgia-Azerbaijan cooperation, Baghdasaryan said: “Armenia also has borders with Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan. With the present situation in the region considered, we have to differentiate our approaches to each of the countries.”

“Since we have no relations with Azerbaijan, we will only pay attention to our border with Georgia and to strengthening Armenian-Georgian our relations. Russian border guards are guarding the Armenian-Georgian and Armenian-Iranian borders. In this aspect, Armenia has an interesting border security model. This is the reason why the proposals by out Russian partners and the European Union are incorporated in the border security strategy of Armenia,” Baghdasaryan said.

RA President Serzh Sargsyan is to approve the document within a month. Thereafter, the Government is to draft a relevant program.

Responding to a question concerning a disputable section of the Armenian-Georgian border, Baghdasaryan said: “The issue is not to be settled under the program. The program is aimed at resolving global problems of border security. Issues related to the disputed border section are under discussion and will soon be settled. We have no grave problems with Georgia over this matter, and I am sure all the problems will be resolved.”

The SCIBM aim is the establishment of IBM principles and operational techniques in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan as well as enhancement of inter-agency bilateral and regional cooperation between the South Caucasus countries, EU member-states and other international stakeholders, with the ultimate goal to facilitate the movement of legitimate persons and goods across borders, while at the same time maintaining those borders secure and locked for any kind of illegal activity.

The program has an overall budget of EUR 6.3m, with EUR 1.3m provided to Armenia.

Despite the political tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the project provides for training in all the three South Caucasus states, Georgian-Armenian and Georgian-Azerbaijani cooperation.