Russia protection of Armenia’s borders perfected
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
April 19, 2005 Tuesday
YEREVAN, April 19 — Robert Kocharyan, the president of Armenia, and
Colonel-General Vladimir Pronichev, the first deputy-director of the
Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation – head of
the Border Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation, discussed
on Tuesday perfecting the protection of Armenia’s state border.
The Armenian president expressed satisfaction with the present state
and tendencies of the development of Russo-Armenian cooperation as
regards border protection.
Pronichev, in his turn, noted that, just as in the past, Armenian
people have friendly attitude to Russian border guards. This is an
important factor that gives an impetus to effective service, he said.
The Armenian authorities regard the presence of Russian border
guards in Armenia, alongside a Russian military base, as an important
component of the republic’s national security.
The system of the protection of Armenia’s state border with Turkey
stretching for 345 kilometres and of the 45- kilometre stretch of
Armenia’s border with Iran has been fully preserved from the times
of the USSR.
Russian border guards stay in Armenia on the basis of the Interstate
Agreement on the status of Russian border troops in the Armenian
territory concluded in Yerevan on September 30, 1992.
The FSB border agency of the Russian Federation in Armenia consists
of four border guards units stationed in Gyumri, Armavir, Artashat and
Megri, and the separate checkpoint at Yerevan’s Zvartnots international
airport. The governments of the two countries share the upkeep of
the Russian border guards in Armenia half-and-half.
As distinct from the Russian base that is manned entirely by Russian
servicemen, Armenian citizens have a right to serve in Russian border
troops in Armenia, and this service is regarded as highly prestigious.