Visa Liberalization Process in Armenia Will Bring Deep Changes, Says Arpine Sargsyan

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Arpine Sargsyan, in an interview with CivilNet, answered the question of what major institutional transformation the visa liberalization will bring to the Armenian state governance system. She noted that visa liberalization is not only an opportunity for free movement but also a crucial tool for reforming public administration, public services, and the protection of citizens' rights.

“The visa liberalization process is much more than just the ability to move without a visa for Armenia. It should be viewed not only as an opportunity for free movement but also as an important instrument for the qualitative transformation of state institutions, which will have a long-term impact on the governance system, the quality of public services, and the level of protection of citizens' rights in Armenia.”

As you correctly noted, the Armenia-EU visa liberalization action plan is a comprehensive project for modernizing relevant areas of the state governance system and bringing them closer to European standards. Its implementation will lead to profound institutional transformations, ranging from improving sectoral legislation to strengthening the operational capabilities of state bodies and creating a new management culture.

The action plan also outlines the form and pathway for implementing these transformations, with a logic that is fully acceptable for us. In particular, the existing vulnerabilities have been identified, processes that need improvement or reform have been highlighted, as well as legislative and institutional gaps. At the same time, there are reference points where particularly extensive work will not be required, as part of this has already been implemented, and the existing procedures mainly correspond to the set objectives.”