RUSSIA WILL REMAIN WITHIN THE BORDERS OF ARMENIA

Lragir/am
22 March 06

On March 22 Lieutenant-General Sergey Bondarev, the chief of the
Frontier Department of the RF Federal Security Service in Armenia,
announced that the question of placing Russian border installations
at the Georgian-Armenian border is not on the agenda, informs the
news agency ARKA. According to Bondarev, the defense of this section
of the border is guaranteed by the Armenian frontier troops, so the
question of Russian border installations is unlikely in the nearest
future. Armenia is the only country of the CIS, whose borders are
partly defended by the Russian troops. It is 59 frontier posts and
4500 soldiers. By the way, 50 per cent of these 4500 are nationals of
Armenia. The Russian troops are stationed along 375 km of the border,
330 km is the border with Turkey, 45 km is the border with Iran.

In 2005 the frontier guards arrested 187 people who attempted to
cross the border illegally, 90 per cent were detained at Zvartnots
Airport of Yerevan.

Although in accordance with the Russian-Armenian agreement the Russian
frontier troops will be gradually replaced by the Armenian troops,
Sergey Bondarev said this question is not raised currently. But the
Russian Federation assists in training. Annually 10 Armenians are
trained in Moscow.

“Defense of frontiers is a major problem for Armenia. The defense
of the 900 km Armenian-Azerbaijani frontier requires considerable
resources. We have assumed the defense of the Turkish-Armenian and
Iran-Armenian borders. It is of considerable aid for the country,”
stated Sergey Bondarev.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress