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On January 1, 2017 the term of the of the contract signed with the Polish company supplying the system of biometric passports and identification cards and forms, and conditioned by that work was done on the issuance of biometric passports and identification cards in Armenia, introducing the modernized public certificates’ infrastructure automated system. Later the Government made a decision to go to more extensive reforms and to introduce a system of providing not only biometric documents in the country, but also to increase the opportunities rendering electronic services to the population. The Head of Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Armen Ghazaryan said this, presenting the legislative initiative on Making Amendments and Addendum to the law on RA Citizen’s Passport for debate of parliament in the first reading on November 14.

Presenting this and other details, the rapporteur noted that it is proposed to the legislative body by the initiative to give an opportunity to the authorized body still to provide passports of old sample before the complete modernization and introduction of the system.

“After how long the citizens will be able to receive identification cards and biometric passports,” the deputy of the NA Civil Contract Faction Vahagn Aleksanyan particularly asked. Armen Ghazaryan informed that providing the identification cards and passports of old sample had not stopped and will continue before the adoption of this draft and the complete introduction of the system. And when providing the biometric passports will begin, Armen Ghazaryan had not specified, noting that work will be done stage by stage and it is difficult to mention the term.

The member of the NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security Vahagn Aleksanyan presented the endorsement of the Committee, also inquiring why the biometric passports will not be provided from January 1, 2024, as it was designed.

The NA President Alen Simonyan reacted to the question, noting the problems existing in the sphere regarding the valid and diplomatic passports. The NA President emphasized the priority regulation of the issue.

In his final speech the rapporteur touched upon the deputies’ raised questions and gave clarifications.

The draft was adopted in the first reading.