The RA Government recognizes that highly effective border control technologies are essential in today’s globalised world, and requested IOM’s technical assistance to expand BMIS to the country’s main border crossing control points.  Thus, in 2005 BMIS was installed at Bagratashen land border, and in 2007 – 2008, as part of IOM’s Project entitled “Further Expansion and Establishment of the Network of Border Management Information System: Republic of Armenia,” BMIS was expanded to the following border crossing control points: Giumri Airport, Meghri, Bavra, Gogavan land borders and Airum railway station.  Project also included training of relevant border management staff.  Through BMIS the border-crossing checkpoints of Armenia are now equipped with state-of-the-art technology for efficient border control and management.  The IOM Mission in Armenia implemented this project in the framework of its assistance to the Government of the Republic of Armenia in border management reforms and through funding from International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau of the US Department of State. 

BMIS was developed by an Armenian information technology firm, Aviainfotel CJSC, and is a complete business application integrating all aspects of migration facilitation and management with border security and control. The information system via a centralized data storage, retrieval and analysis provides information on traveller flows, as well as information on asylum seekers, illegal migrants, un-accompanied minors and monitors the data against watch-lists.  BMIS assists in combating irregular migration, human trafficking, and unlawful trade in drugs and weapons, while facilitating border-crossing data exchange between law enforcement bodies. The system contains a database of both genuine and fraudulent identification, travel, and security documents issued by different countries.

The expanded border management information system was launched at Giumri “Shirak” Airport by Major General Armen Abrahamyan, Commander of the Republic of Armenia (RA) Border Guard Troops of the National Security Service, H. E. Marie Yovanovitch, US Ambassador to Armenia, and Ms. Ilona Ter-Minasyan, Head of the IOM Mission in Armenia on December 16, 2008.  The launching date was selected to mark the International Migrants’ Day (December 18) and the Day of the Day of Servants of the Armenian Security Bodies (December 20).  The Deputy Head of the RA National Security Service, Deputy Head of the RA Civil Aviation General Department, Deputy Head of the RA State Revenues Committee, Deputy Prosecutor General, Governor of Shirak Region, Head of the RA Police Department for Visas and Passports, Deputy Head of the Interpol Armenia National Central Bureau, and other high-ranking government officials as well as representatives of international organizations, and civil society honoured the ceremony with their presence.  The launching received vast media coverage. 

The Project Development and Implementation Unit of the IOM Mission in Armenia had prepared a brochure on “Expansion of Advanced Border Control and Management Technologies in Armenia” in Armenian and English languages to inform about IOM’s operations in border management in Armenia and application advanced border control and management technologies.  The brochure was widely distributed in Armenia. 

To receive more detailed information about the initiative, please contact Ms. Kristina Galstyan, the Head of Project Development and Implementation Unit and Media focal point for the IOM Mission in Armenia, at (+374 10) 585692, ext. 112 or kgalstyan@iom.am