Armenian Parliament Members Adopted A Draft Law On Introduction Of Id-Cards And Biometrical Passports

YEREVAN, November 28. /ARKA/. National Assembly of Armenia adopted in the extraordinary meeting the draft law “On identification cards”, as well as amendments in the law “On passport” and a number of accompanying laws envisaging introduction of identification cards and biometrical passports.

“Introduction of this system will allow to increase general security level of the citizens due to additional technical protection of the documents identifying the person”, said Deputy head of Police Department of Armenia Artur Osikyan introducing the draft law.

The new documents will allow to facilitate the process of entry to the countries of Shengen zone.
“The majority of EU member-countries have already introduced this system. Countries being in the process of association with EU will also pass this way. For example, in Georgia this system is working now”, he said.

Osikyan said that identification card is envisaged for internal use and the passport – for entry to other states.

Identification card will have an appearance of plastic card and the passport – the same type of current passport of the citizen of Armenia. Besides the personal details, digital photo and electronic signature, the international passport will contain the prints of two index fingers of the passport holder.

Such data as nationality and the blood group can be included in the passport upon the wish of the citizen.

“Definition of the cost of the documents is not envisaged by the draft law. However, taking into account the international experience, it can be assumed that the cost of the passport will cost about 50-60 euro and identification cards - from 3 thousand to 5 thousand drams”, he said.

Identification card is envisaged for all the citizens above 16 years and the passport can be received at any age. Identification card will be provided for 10 and the passport - for 5 years.

“In the result of integration of many systems in future, particularly healthcare and insurance, the card will substitute many other documents. The package of amendments includes also elimination of social cards as the social number will be included in the new documents”, said Osikyan.

Transfer to the new documents and the existing passports will be effective, and after the expiration date the citizens can change them into new ones.

“There will be no problems with using the old and new documents within the country and abroad. However, for receiving ID-cards and biometrical passports, the citizens should hand over their old passports”, he said.

The dates of introduction of identification cards and passports with biometrical data is planned to postpone till 2012. —0—