Checkpoint control among conditions for dialogue on visa  liberalization with EU - Armen Grigoryan

ArmInfo.The replacement of Russian border guards with Armenian ones on the borders of the Republic is not a new process. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan stated this in an interview with Factor, touching upon the withdrawal of Russian border guards from the checkpoint on the border with Iran. 

He recalled that earlier Russian border guards were withdrawn from  the Yerevan international airport "Zvartnots" and from the  Armenian-Azerbaijani border. "The political agreements with Russia  were such that if Armenia acquires the ability to ensure the security  of its borders, the RA will assume full or partial control over the  protection of the borders. The agreement with Russia should be viewed  from this point of view. And since the border troops of the NSS of  Armenia have acquired sufficient capabilities, we proposed to the  Russian Federation that from January 1, the border troops of the NSS  of the RA begin to serve at the checkpoint with the Islamic Republic  of Iran, as well as carry out joint service on the border with Turkey  and Iran. We have already begun preparations for this process. From  January 1, we will begin to implement this agreement reached at the  highest level," Grigoryan said. According to him, the border service  of the NSS of Armenia has sufficient resources for this.

When asked how close the hour is when Armenia will be able to  independently exercise full control over its borders, the official  did not answer, only saying that there was no talk of this now and  Armenia is developing its capabilities on a permanent basis to  strengthen its border capabilities. According to him, work in this  direction is ongoing.

When asked how likely it is that Turkey will not attack Armenia after  Russia leaves the Armenian-Turkish border, Grigoryan recalled that at  this stage Yerevan and Ankara are negotiating the normalization of  relations and there is already an agreement to open the borders to  citizens of third countries and to persons with diplomatic passports.  According to him, all this indicates that relations are moving  towards normalization. Grigoryan added that the replacement of  Russian border guards will be determined by the development of  Armenia's capabilities in this area, the processes around the country  and the overall situation in the region.

Touching on where Armenia will get these resources, the official  assured that it was the lack of experience that was the reason for  the insufficient resources in the area of border security.

He further noted that in the context of visa liberalization with the  European Union, it is very important to develop the concept of  unified border management, and Armenia is taking steps in this  direction.  According to him, the dialogue with the EU on visa  liberalization has begun, and Yerevan has set a high bar for quickly  passing all the necessary requirements for signing the agreement.

When asked whether full control over one's own borders is a condition  for visa liberalization with the EU, Grigoryan assured that control  over the checkpoints is more likely. "If we look now, from January 1  we will fully control our checkpoints," the Security Council  Secretary said.

When asked that the border with Turkey remains closed, Grigoryan  noted with a grin that Yerevan expects this checkpoint to open as  soon as possible.

"Armenia is ready to open this border right now based on previously  reached agreements," Grigoryan said in response to a question about  whether this topic was discussed at the meeting of the Armenian Prime  Minister with the Turkish President in New York.

The interviewer then complained that in order to visit Nrnadzor or  Shvanidzor on the Armenian-Iranian border, he had to obtain  permission from Russian border guards and from the Meghri mayor's  office.  Grigoryan asked a counter question: is this a problem today?  He replied that he did not know.

Then, when the interviewer asked whether it was possible to make  40-50 km of the section he was talking about, especially in the  context of the upcoming unblocking of communications with Azerbaijan,  under the jurisdiction of Armenia, Grigoryan noted the  inadmissibility of thinking about this section in the corridor logic.  According to him, the corridor logic is a claim to the sovereignty of  Armenia and the unblocking of communications can only be on the  principle of equality and reciprocity.

When asked whether Azerbaijan agrees to the introduction of  international private organizations on the principle of reciprocity  to protect the borders in the region, Grigoryan stated that the  unblocking means the presence of security guarantees in the  territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "Armenia has stated that it is  ready to provide these guarantees on its own. Armenia is ready to  involve other institutions only on the basis of the principle of  reciprocity. In other words, reciprocity and equality are also  important principles.  We have not yet been able to reach an  agreement on this issue," the official said.