EU observation mission in Armenia does not create additional value: Zakharova
We are aware of the EU’s announced plans to strengthen its presence in Armenia, for which three new EU “observation” mission posts will be opened in Armenia in Kapan, Ijevan and Yeghegnadzor in the near future. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated in response to a media question about the opening of three operational centers of the EU observation mission in Armenia.
“From the very beginning, the EU has been extremely non-transparent. The deployment of the European Union presence in Armenia was carried out forcefully, under serious pressure from Brussels. The EU members practically imposed their presence. The launch of the mission, which aimed to help normalize relations between Baku and Yerevan, took place unilaterally, on a non-consensual basis, without the consent of the Azerbaijani side and other regional players, and without proper reporting. This only confirms the true background of the EU policy in the region, the main purpose of which is to squeeze Russia out of the Transcaucasus and turn the South Caucasus into an arena of geopolitical confrontation to the detriment of the core interests of the people living there.
It is obvious that the increase in the number of EU “observer” centers in Armenia has nothing to do with the task of establishing stability and peace between Baku and Yerevan. The unaccountability of the EU mission to the international community and, above all, to Azerbaijan and Armenia reinforces suspicions of a hidden agenda in EU activities “on the ground,” the presence of a “second bottom” in the mission’s mandate under the guise of its “civilian” nature. Given all the circumstances, we are not the only ones who have many reasonable questions about the real motives behind the EU’s actions in the region. We continue to believe that the continuing expansion of the EU extra-regional factor in the Transcaucasus, behind which the anti-Russian objectives of the United States and NATO can be seen, can only exacerbate the existing contradictions here. Apparently, this is why some politicians from Germany are trying to convince the public that the German policemen and French gendarmes sent to Armenia “are not occupiers.”
There is no “added value” from the dubious activity of EU “experts” near the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. All the more incapable of ensuring security and compliance with ceasefires reached under the decisive role of Russian mediation. A real guarantee of peace in the region remains the presence of a Russian peacekeeping contingent.
The development of the situation once again proves that the most stable and long-term basis for the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization and the overall improvement of the situation in Transcaucasia is the consistent implementation of the trilateral agreements of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on November 9, 2020, January 11, 2021 and October 31, 2022, including the unblocking of all transport and economic links, delimitation and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and agreeing on the parameters of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Russia will continue to assist the parties in ensuring security and stability in the region,” said Zakharova in her response.
