Hovhannes Kocharyan: "We have done our best"
New biometric passports and identification cards will be introduced in Armenia from June 1, Hovhannes Kocharyan, Head of the Passports and Visa Department of RA Police, told a press conference on Monday.
Current passports will also remain in circulation
"The introduction of the system will help avoid the bureaucratic red tape and minimize corruption risks. The new system will also reduce the risk of forging passports, simplify and automate the identification process and make it easier for Armenian citizens to enter EU member countries," said the official.
Hovhannes Kocharyan stressed that the switch to the new system will be done gradually: at the initial period new passports will be issued for citizens of Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor.
Identification cards will cost 3000 AMD while passports 25 000 AMD. Citizens can receive the documents within 15 working days.
Speaking about the inaccuracies on the voters' list and the opposition's move to dispute the [May 6] election results in the Constitutional Court, Mr Kocharyan said, "I am not acquainted with the contents of the application. Nor do I know what they are disputing. I can only say that we have given all possible and impossible explanations connected with the voters' list."
