ArmInfo.The centenary of the Gyumri border detachment is a significant event, not only in terms of the number of years, but also because it brings such an intermediate result to the important, glorious path of this detachment, which was established in 1924. Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin stated on May 20 in a conversation with journalists at an event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Gyumri (Leninakan) border detachment.
"Before that, it was the Alexandrapol company. Of course, the time period when the detachment operated, as we know, was rich in a variety of events. And, of course, the path of this detachment is glorified, and reflects the quality of relations that have always existed between Russian and Armenian peoples," the ambassador noted.
At the same time, the Russian diplomat expressed the conviction that today Russian and Armenian border guards are shoulder to shoulder on a combat watch and at a decent level are carrying the baton that was passed on to them by their predecessors. "Of course, we are still going through difficult times - not only the region, but also the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation. Events in the region are very dynamic. On the one hand, opportunities are being created for establishing lasting peace and prosperity in the region. But, new risks are also emerging. And, unfortunately, all this is reflected in the mission that the border guards perform," the Russian Ambassador expressed confidence.
At the same time, Kopyrkin expressed confidence that the border service is a very symbolic phenomenon in relations between Armenia and Russia, reflecting their character and quality.
"We all know that citizens of Russia and Armenia serve jointly in the border troops, including in the Leninakan border detachment. Border guards, by the nature of their service and activities, are closely connected with the local population and authorities. This is truly such an important factor in our relations," he said, while expressing gratitude to the border guards for their service, wishing them peace and health. To clarify whether it is possible to expect that border guards will remain on Armenia for another 100 years, the ambassador recalled that the service of Russian border guards is carried out on a contractual basis. "It's difficult to look so far into the future. We can say that there are agreements on this issue. On May 8, there were discussions on this issue between the leaders of Armenia and Russia, then the presidential press secretary and the head of the FSB gave a comment. So, everything is within the framework of the agreement" , he concluded.