ArmInfo. Today, Russian border guards work with triple or more workload, face very difficult trials that Armenia has to endure, and the opening of the monument to "Russian-Armenian friendship" at such times is of great importance. Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin stated this at the solemn ceremony of unveiling the monument to the "Russian-Armenian friendship" on the territory of the border department of the FSS of the Russian Federation in Armenia.
"Today, the border troops of Russia, which serve in the RA, continue not only to protect the peace of the southern borders of the country, but also provide the Armenian people with a sense of security in such difficult times. Their service is the embodiment of the realities in which both countries live and develop, as well as the embodiment of the spirit of strategic alliance between Armenia and Russia, when the two states proceed from the fact that they have common interests, "the ambassador said, adding that the Russian border guards make a very great contribution to the Syunik region to live normally and people who find themselves in an unusual place, a very difficult, tragic situation, they felt safe and had confidence in today and tomorrow.
At the same time, pointing out the difficult situation in Syunik, the Ambassador stated that in addition to the duties prescribed in the agreement, the Russian border troops increased their presence in the Syunik region. The head of the border department of the FSS of Russia in Armenia, Lieutenant General Roman Golubitsky, in turn, noted that the idea of creating a monument comes from the common history of the two peoples, whose friendship is needed every day today. According to him, it is significant that the monument was unveiled in such difficult times and on May 28. This event is not politicized, it symbolizes Russian- Armenian friendship, he stressed.
Commander of the Border Troops of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia, Colonel Arman Maralchyan emphasized the invaluable role of Russian border guards in protecting the state borders and expressed confidence that in the future cooperation will serve to ensure the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of Armenia.
The monument, the idea of which arose back in 2020, was opened by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Sergei Kopyrkin and the leader of the Prosperous Armenia party Gagik Tsarukyan. The sculpture is designed to personify the friendship of the Armenian and Russian peoples, and its opening was on May 28, when Russia celebrates the Day of the Border Guard, and Armenia the Day of the First Republic, which according to the organizers, is very symbolic, especially since the monument itself was ready a few months ago. The initiative was implemented with Gagik Tsarukyan's financial support. The opening ceremony was also attended by the Ambassador of Belarus to Armenia Alexander Konyuk.