Armenia must learn to independently control its borders – Deputy FM

Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan did not rule out the possibility of withdrawing Russian border guards not only from the Armenian-Iranian border, but also from the Armenian-Turkish border after Armenia strengthens its border security potential. He stated this during a conversation with journalists on January 24, in response to a question about the upcoming visit of the US Customs and Border Security Group.
Hovhannisyan, however, was unable to explain the meaning of the phrase “strengthening potential”, simply stating that in Armenia “border control has always been carried out by a third party, and ultimately, Armenia must be able to control its borders itself.” Additionally, the Deputy Foreign Minister noted that the assistance from the United States is intended to enhance the capabilities of the border service by sharing relevant expertise. Hovhannisyan expressed confidence that inviting American specialists would not cause any concerns from the Iranian side.
The diplomat referred to a statement published after the visit of his colleague Vahan Kostanyan (Deputy Foreign Minister), to Tehran. The statement highlighted the special and close partnership relations between the countries. “I do not know of any issue on which we could not agree with the Iranian side. Our relations are currently at an unprecedentedly high level, as evidenced by the mutual visits and recent statements made by officials,” the diplomat emphasized.
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