Armenian Foreign Ministry Provides Official Position on Demarcation and Delimitation Processes to the Ombudsman

The Human Rights Defender’s Office of Armenia has reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia has provided an official stance to the Defender regarding the processes of demarcation and delimitation. In a statement released by the Public Relations Department of the Human Rights Defender’s Office, it is noted:

“As a result of a visit to the Syunik Province of Armenia, the Human Rights Defender sent an official inquiry to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia concerning the processes of demarcation and delimitation, taking into account the direct impact of these processes on human rights in the current situation.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry has communicated a position of significant importance. Below is the complete release:

“The delimitation (defining state boundaries) and demarcation (marking state boundaries) are bilateral international processes conducted sequentially, requiring the existence of a joint commission and conducted within it through professional discussions and negotiations. A primary condition for the aforementioned processes is the existence of normal bilateral relations, including diplomatic relations, between the bordering states.

In international practice, relevant bilateral intergovernmental commissions (led by representatives of the countries’ foreign policy agencies) are formed for the purpose of carrying out demarcation and delimitation processes between neighboring countries, comprising representatives and experts from state bodies concerned (in the fields of foreign policy, defense, and security) particularly in the fields of geodesy and cartography.

The first phase of the work of such commissions typically concludes with a separate bilateral agreement on the legal foundations of delimitation, and subsequently, after the completion of delimitation, on the joint implementation of the demarcation process. Following the successful conclusion of the bilateral process by the commission, a border agreement is established between the two states, recording the resolution of all issues related to border matters.

Prior to the commencement and successful completion of the aforementioned processes, the deployment of armed forces or border guard troops for the purpose of combat duty along the state border is exclusively a defensive and security measure in the areas under the actual control of the parties, which is negotiated directly or through intermediaries between the representatives of the armed forces.

Thus, the implementation of currently ongoing measures is not related to status issues, and cannot be interpreted as a final agreement on delimitation and demarcation or mechanical confirmation of existing administrative boundaries.”

As indicated, there is also effective cooperation and reliable partnership work established between the Human Rights Defender of Armenia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia concerning various other issues, particularly with our country's permanent representatives in international organizations and with the ambassadors in several states.