PM: Armenia, Russia to continue joint border service with Iran, Türkiye

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the joint border service of Armenian and Russian border guards at the borders with Iran and Türkiye will continue as long as both sides have the political will to maintain it.

“The country must ensure the security of its borders. However, this does not mean that it cannot be done with the assistance of others. Regarding the borders with Iran and Türkiye, we are carrying out a certain joint service,” the prime minister noted, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media.

“At Zvartnots International Airport, we are fully responsible for the service on our own, and we are grateful for the support from the Russian side. At the Armenia-Iran border crossing, we are fully responsible for the service ourselves. Our border troops have begun their service at the border with Iran. This is a matter of political will between the parties. As long as there is the political will to cooperate, we will cooperate. I do not rule out that the joint service will be expanded in the future,” the prime minister added.

Pashinyan also noted that the adoption of the law initiating Armenia's EU membership process does not guarantee membership in the EU yet.

"I would like to emphasise that the adoption of the law does not automatically imply EU membership. It means that there are many citizens in Armenia who believe that the EU is a more advantageous path than the Eurasian Economic Union [EAEU]," he added.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said that discussions suggesting that Armenia could remain in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) while simultaneously joining the EU are unfeasible.

He said that opening markets with the EU will mean closing markets with the Eurasian Economic Union, otherwise our producers within the EAEU will suffer. This is obvious: the elimination of import tariffs with the EU will automatically mean returning to customs duties and tariffs with the EAEU. 

On January 9, the Armenian government approved a bill on the country’s accession to the EU, officially launching the process. The Armenian Parliament's Standing Committee on European Integration also endorsed the bill. The document is expected to be presented for discussion in the National Assembly in early February. The final decision on Armenia’s EU membership will be made through a national referendum.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pashinyan proposed an alteration to the order of verses in the national anthem, suggesting that the anthem should conclude with a verse highlighting the glory of Armenia.

Pashinyan explained that while the text of the anthem would remain unchanged, the last two verses should be swapped. This change would ensure that the anthem ends with the words, "May Armenia always be glorious," rather than the current ending, which describes a death scene.

Pashinyan expressed that this adjustment would better reflect a more positive and celebratory tone for the anthem, instead of concluding with a focus on death. He also remarked on the current anthem’s conclusion, noting, "We are still clapping for this."

By Naila Huseynova