YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The Armavir border detachment was named the best division of the operative group of the Federal Border Service of Russia of 2001–which defends the Armenian borders with Iran and Turkey. Major-General Vyacheslav Aboimov–the Chief of the operative group–gave the detachment a challenge pennant.
The challenge pennant was awarded to the Armavir detachment for the first time after the collapse of the Soviet Union. According to the decree of lieutenant-colonel Roman Zemtsov–the Chief of the Armavir detachment–the commander of the best outpost of the detachment–the best specialist–the best sniper–the best young organization and the best cook were awarded diplomas and valuable presents.
While summing up the year’s activities–Major-General Aboimov mentioned that in 2001–the operative group caught three times as many trespassers this year on the Armenian borders with Iran and Turkey.
There were 81 attempts to cross the border. Thirty-one were attempts to go into Armenia–and 50 were attempts to cross the border from Armenia to foreign countries. Ninety cases of violation of immigrations laws were also registered. According to Aboimov–the majority of border violators come through the international check point at the Zvartnots airport. Some citizens from Iran and Turkey strive to come to Armenia "in search of better life."
According to Aboimov–the border situation was generally the same as last year’s–there were no registered extraordinary incidents.
The Major-General also spoke about the warm relations between Russian frontier guards and the local population. He said the people actively support the frontier guards’ activities.
The Chief of the operative group highly evaluated the level of military training–equipment and the discipline of border troops. He said that the group’s activities are deployed in close cooperation with the detachmen’s of the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia.
Aboimov mentioned that Russian FBS Chief Konstantin Totsky will visit Armenia at the end of January. Totsky will visit Yerevan to sign the proposed 2002 budget for the operative group.