U.S. Funds Key Armenian Border Checkpoint

Baku Today
19/05/2005 03:46

Armenia opened on Wednesday a new U.S.-funded checkpoint at its main
border crossing with Georgia which officials said will facilitate brisk
cross-border commerce and complicate smuggling of sensitive equipment.

The two-story building in Bagratashen, a town on the Georgian border,
was constructed and equipped with $200,000 provided by the United
States. It will house both the local Armenian border point and
customs office.

Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian thanked the U.S. government
for the assistance. “This demonstrates that our relations with the
United States in the political, economic and security spheres are at
a high level today,” Kirakosian said during the checkpoint’s official
inauguration.

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans also attended the ceremony. “This
facility is built to the highest European standards with the latest
and secure building materials,” he said.

Bagratashen and especially a Georgian village across the border are
known for their open-air markets that have served as the main setting
for regional trade since the early 1990s. Tens of thousands of traders
from Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan converge on the area every week
to sell and buy various goods. A large part of them are smuggled in
the process.

Officials said the modern equipment installed at the checkpoint will
make it easier for the Armenian authorities to keep track of persons
crossing the frontier and goods transported by them. The Americans
hope that will also lead to tighter export and import controls.

“There is no country in the world which is more committed to free
trade than the United States,” Evans said. “At the same time there
is no country in the world which is more committed to the rule of
law than the United States.”

The money spent on the new checkpoint is part of Washington’s
Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance Program
(EXBS) implemented in 45 countries around the world. Armenia has
been covered by the scheme since 2000. Its border guard and customs
services have been supplied with various U.S.-made equipment such
as radio-communication systems, border sensors, metal detectors,
cargo truck scales, and X-ray units. The assistance has also taken
the form of personnel training.

In addition, U.S. and Armenian officials meet regularly to discuss
their efforts to thwart possible transfer of sensitive equipment and
technology from Armenia to neighboring countries, notably Iran. The
Islamic Republic has long been accused by Washington of illegally
developing nuclear and biological weapons.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress