No US special services to be deployed on the borders of Armenia: Arman Abovyan misrepresents Blinken’s words

In an episode of the Abovyan Time podcast broadcast on Sputnik Armenia radio station, host of the podcast and Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia party Arman Abovyan claimed that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, during the signing of the Charter on Strategic Partnership between Armenia and the US, stated that “in the coming weeks, within the framework of the Charter, a special group will arrive in Armenia to deal with border security issues.”

“Let me translate it into plain language: next week, US special services will start operating on the borders of Armenia. Is it the case with Armenia’s border with Iran too? In other words, it is possible, but most likely, too,” Abovyan noted.

Fact Investigation Platform examined the speech of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and revealed that Arman Abovyan misrepresented Blinken’s words. In fact, during his speech at the signing of the Charter of Strategic Partnership between Armenia and the United States, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken noted: “Next month, in the coming weeks, we will have a Customs and Border Patrol team travel to Armenia to work with their Armenian counterparts on border security capacity building, strengthening security cooperation, enhancing Armenia’s peacekeeping capabilities through exercises like Eagle Partner.”

On January 14, the signing ceremony of the Charter on Strategic Partnership Commission between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America took place at the US State Department in Washington.

The document was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on the Armenian side, and by the Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on the US side.

The first section of the Charter covers the principles of partnership, such as support for each other’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, etc.

The second section covers economic, trade, transportation, and energy cooperation: “Armenia and the United States intend to expand cooperation to enhance job creation and economic growth, support economic/market reform and liberalization, promote transport connectivity, improve the bilateral business climate, and improve market access for goods and services.”

The third section covers defense and security: “The United States supports an independent, sovereign, and democratic Armenia.  A peaceful South Caucasus is foundational to Armenia’s continued economic growth and democratic development, and that of the region.  Defense and security cooperation between Armenia and the United States benefits both nations and the region.”

The fourth section covers strengthening democracy, justice, and inclusion: “Recognizing Armenia’s significant achievements to date, our two countries commit to work together to foster the rule of law buttressed by an impartial, independent judiciary, and to further strengthen freedom of expression, including for the media, good governance and accountability, public administration reform, fair and transparent electoral competition, a free and active civil society, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and anti-corruption efforts in Armenia.”

After incorrectly reproducing Blinken’s words, Abovyan drew groundless conclusions, stating that American border guard troops would be stationed on the Armenia-Iran border, “border guards of the country that threatens to attack Iran, that is, the United States. Have we thought about the consequences?”

Thus, the Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia Party, Arman Abovyan, conveyed incorrect information to his listeners, attributing statements to the US Secretary of State that he did not make. Therefore, Abovyan’s conclusion is also groundless.

Syuzanna Hambardzumyan