Wednesday, June 16 2021 13:12

ArmInfo. Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite and Armenian Ambassador to Lithuania Armen Martirosyan signed a Protocol between the Republic of Lithuania and  the Republic of Armenia on the implementation of the Agreement  between the EU and the RA on the readmission of persons living  without permission.

According to the press service of the Ministry of the Interior of the  Republic of Lithuania, the signed bilateral international agreement  establishes quick and effective procedures for the identification,  safe return and transit of persons who do not meet the conditions of  entry, stay or residence in the territory of the countries. The  agreement is intended to fulfill the obligations of both parties to  readmission not only their own nationals to be returned, but also  stateless persons and third-country nationals who arrived directly  from a Contracting Party or on visas of that party.

"Ensuring effective migration management is an important priority.  Recently, due to the increased flows of illegal migration across the  state border with Belarus, this has become especially relevant for  Lithuania.  However, the agreement signed today concerns not only and  not so much migration management, since the number of people returned  to the Republic of Armenia really small - on average over the past 10  years, there were about 9 such people on an annual basis. This  agreement is a symbol of deepening bilateral cooperation, mutual  respect and trust, "the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of  Lithuania said.

In turn, Martirosyan stated that Lithuania and Armenia already have a  solid basis for cooperation, which needs to be developed. "Armenia  could benefit from the experience of reforms carried out by Lithuania  in the field of law enforcement, such as the reform of the police,"  the Armenian Ambassador said.

Bilotaite answered that the institutions of the Lithuanian internal  affairs system are ready to transfer the experience and knowledge  gained on the path of Lithuanian reforms and Euro-Atlantic  integration, as well as to further strengthen cooperation.

The EU currently has 18 readmission agreements with third countries.  To implement these agreements, EU member states conclude bilateral  protocols, depending on the situation, in which detailed readmission  procedures are established.