At its sitting Sept 14, the Armenian parliament started discussing the bills on identity cards and passports, submitted by Vice-Chief of Armenia's police Artur Osikyan, Tert.am reported.
The biometric passports to be introduced in Armenia have a number of advantages. "The new system is immediately connected with the entry to foreign states," Osikyan said. The chip in the biometric passports to be introduced in Armenia will contain the passport holder's digital photo and fingerprints.
Old passports will remain in force. However, if a citizen wants to get a biometric passport, he or she has to surrender the old passport. The biometric passports will come into force in Armenia next year.