Biometric passports to be issued in Armenia in 2012June 7, 2011 - 19:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - In 2012, biometric passports will be issued in Armenia. As Armenian Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan stated during a discussion organised by the Civilitas Foundation, a relevant governmental resolution has already been taken. The Minister characterised the issue of biometric passports as another step to intensification of Armenia-EU ties, as well as abolition of Armenia-EU visa regime, providing higher level of protection. It was announced in February that Polish PWPW S.A. (Polish Security Printing Works) and French Oberthur have won a tender to print IDs and biometric passports for Armenia. However it is not decided yet which of these two companies will introduce the new documents in Armenia. Biometric passports and electronic ID cards will be issued to Armenian citizens from Sept. 2011. Biometric passports will contain the citizen’s name and last name, date and place of birth, photograph and two fingerprints. Electronic ID cards will contain the same data, but with an electronic signature instead of fingerprints. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. |