Germany welcomes launch of EU mission in Armenia 

ArmInfo. Germany welcomes the launch of the European Union mission in Armenia. This is stated in the message of the German Embassy in Armenia.

The mission of the European Union in Armenia is an important step for trust, stability and  normalization in the South Caucasus and is meant to improve the  security of the population of the border regions>, the German embassy  said in a statement. The mission was also welcomed by the Ambassador  of Sweden to the Republic of Armenia  Patrik Svensson: "New level of  Swedish-Armenian cooperation as EUMA is now operational. Exciting to  participate in launch in Yeghegnadzor & reception in Yerevan. Mission  to contribute to stabilization, confidence-building and normalization  efforts. Pleased Sweden & other partners have monitors on the ground".

On January 23 this year, the Council of the EU has agreed to form a  new European Union civilian mission in Armenia (EUMA) within the  framework of the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP). As stated  in the EU message, the aim of the Mission is to promote stability in  the border areas of Armenia, build confidence on the ground and  provide an environment conducive to EU-supported efforts to normalize  relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  The EU civil mission in  Armenia includes up to 100 specialists. More than 8 million euros  have been allocated for the first four months of the Mission's work. 

EUMA's initial mandate will be for two years and its operational  headquarters will be located in Armenia. The Civil Operations  Commander will be Stefano Tomat, Managing Director of the EEAS Civil  Planning and Conduct (CPCC) Division.  The European Union deployed a  new civilian mission to monitor the situation on the  Armenian-Azerbaijani border on 20 February. It included 8 French  gendarmes and 15 policemen from Germany. The headquarters of the  mission is located in Yeghegnadzor.  We also recall that on February  8, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, from the rostrum of the  Parliament, arguing the reasons for the deployment of a new EU  mission in Armenia, noted that Baku, in many Western international  venues, trying to justify its aggression against Armenia, declares  that the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, increasing the  grouping of Russian troops near the borders of Azerbaijan, in tandem  with the Armenian Armed Forces is preparing to carry out aggression  against Azerbaijan, and for this reason Baku is forced to seize the  heights in order to balance the situation " Our Western partners ask   us how this is possible, you want to occupy the lands of Azerbaijan,  in response to this we have taken the initiative to deploy  observers," the prime minister said. He added that there is no  geopolitical subtext in relations with the CSTO and the EU, there is  a political agenda, and a specific issue that official Yerevan is  trying to resolve. Moscow criticized this initiative, accusing the  West of trying to oust Russia from the Transcaucasus.