Geopolitics behind EU`s plans to allocate EUR 10mln for Armenia`s armed forces - Maria Zakharova

ArmInfo. The European Union  has lost its peaceful foundation and has no peaceful potential. This  is an obvious fact that Moscow has repeatedly stated. This was stated  by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria  Zakharova during a weekly briefing on July 24, commenting on reports  that the EU has allocated 10 million euros in aid to Armenia through  the European Peace Fund, in conditions when peace talks between Baku  and Yerevan have not been completed.

"Perhaps there is something left in the depths, but we do not see  anything that could be brought into working order and applied. Once  upon a time, there were times when the EU, at least in words, sought  a peaceful, stable environment, tried to hold some negotiations in  the name of such goals," the diplomat noted.

According to Zakharova, "today the EU has taken a course towards  militarization, confrontation, serving the interests of not its own  citizens, but the US and NATO."

"Our warnings are also being confirmed that this entire Western  company is working towards imposing a widespread confrontation,  turning the entire post-Soviet space into an arena of geopolitical  confrontation," Zakharova added. "According to the EU's plan, the  intensification of existing contradictions, including between Baku  and Yerevan, meets the objectives of containing Russia and other  countries that are pursuing a sovereign policy independent of the  West," she said, sarcastically asking how the West can survive the  fact that there will be one less conflict point on the world map.  "There are certainly geopolitical calculations behind the EU's plans  to allocate 10 million euros to support the Armenian Armed Forces. In  particular, to spread its destructive influence to the Transcaucasus.  We are sure that the so-called European Peace Fund is not about  peace, not about stability, not about security. It is about war,  about provoking countries, about bloodshed. Nothing good will come of  such approaches by the West in the vein of divide and rule, pitting  and pitting against each other, pumping the South Caucasus with  weapons," Zakharova concluded.

Having acknowledged the fact that it is up to the sovereign state how  and what to spend the aid received on, and from whom to accept it in  general, Zakharova added that, nevertheless, there are issues that  really worry Moscow, since this is not the Peace Fund, but the War  Fund.

Recall that on July 22, the EU Council adopted the first ever aid  measure in support of the Armenian Armed Forces in the amount of 10  million euros through the European Peace Facility (EPF).

The purpose of this aid measure is to increase the logistical  potential of the Armenian Armed Forces, as well as to help improve  the protection of the civilian population in crisis and emergency  situations. It is also aimed at increasing Armenia's resilience and  stimulating the interoperability of its Armed Forces in the event of  the country's possible future participation in international military  missions and operations, including those deployed by the EU.  Specifically, the adopted aid measure will ensure the full deployment  of a tent city for a battalion unit. The European Commission noted  that the support adopted today will be provided within the framework  of the EU's partnership with Armenia, which is based on shared values  and aimed at promoting peace, stability and prosperity in Armenia and  the South Caucasus.

The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 to finance  actions within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security  Policy aimed at preventing conflicts, preserving peace and  strengthening international security and stability. In particular,  the European Peace Facility allows the EU to finance actions aimed at  strengthening the capacity of third countries, as well as regional  and international organizations, in military and defense matters. The  EU Council also gave the green light to the start of a visa  liberalization dialogue with Armenia.