UNDP Resident Representative: Integrated border management is vital  for the expansion of Armenia`s economic, trade, and cultural ties  with the countries of the region

ArmInfo. On 3 October 2016, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a project cooperation agreement for the project "Support to Migration and  Border Management in Armenia" (MIBMA) in Yerevan. The project is  fully funded by the European Union and implemented by ICMPD in  partnership with UNDP.  

"Integrated border management is vital for the expansion of Armenia's  economic, trade, and cultural ties with the countries of the region,  but also to manage and control the flow of travelers efficiently with  full protection of the rights," stated senior representatives of the  EU, ICMPD, and UNDP who took part at the signing ceremony of the  project cooperation agreement.        

The overall objective of the project, which is financed by the  European Union and implemented by ICMPD in partnership with UNDP, is  to improve the approximation of migration and border management in  Armenia to the European standards of governance in order to increase  security and facilitate trade. UNDP will also support the government  in preparation for the modernization of the southern border crossing  with Iran. 

"ICMPD and UNDP have vast experience in the integrated border  management sector and contributed greatly to adopting and  implementing integrated border management concepts and principles in  Armenia, such as the Border Security and State Border Integrated  Management Strategy and Action Plan. UNDP has also worked extensively  on infrastructure upgrades, on sharing knowledge and expertise in  transparency, accountability and integrity, as well as in trade  facilitation. Together with our partners, we will build on these  results and continue supporting Armenia's efforts in this area," said  Mr. Bradley Busetto, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident  Representative in Armenia.  He added that the modernization of the  border crossing with Iran will make it possible to deepen the  Armenian-Iranian relations even more.                    

Ambassador Piotr Switalski, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia,  shared that: "Expanding and improving regional connectivity is a  global priority for the EU, which is manifested in large investments  in economic and infrastructure development in the European  Neighborhood Region. I am very pleased with and proud of the strong  EU support to increasing Armenia's trade, economic, cooperation and  wider relations with Iran through the MIBMA project. This represents  an enormous current-day development potential for Armenia while  re-establishing an important historic cultural and economic corridor  that as influenced Armenia, Europe and Asia for centuries". He said  that the EU will provide nearly 1 mln EUR to support the project.          

In this light, Ambassador Switalski said that he has recently  returned from Iran and he can say that Iran's attitude to Armenia is  very warm. He expressed hope that the modernization of the crossing  will intensify the business contacts between the two countries.   

"Although ICMPD has established a permanent presence in Armenia in  April of this year, we have been working with the Government of  Armenia on improvement of border management at a technical level  since 2010. Throughout, ICMPD's activities in this area have been  implemented in partnership with UNDP, thus we are happy that the EU  has granted us the financial means to continue and build on the  success of this partnership," said Mr. Carel Hofstra, Team Leader of  the MIBMA project. 

The EU is financing the 3-year MIBMA project with a grant close to  EUR 4.000.000. As a project partner UNDP will lead the implementation  of the border management component with a price tag of EUR 880,000 to  be spent before the end of 2017.