ArmInfo.In response to Baku's proposal to withdraw the EU observation mission from the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Yerevan made a counter-proposal - to withdraw observers only from the delimited sections. This was stated by RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in an interview with the Public Television of Armenia.
"There is objectively no need for observers there," he emphasized. Recalling that the last meeting of the border delimitation commissions took place in October, the prime minister said that the parties made mutual proposals to determine further sections for the border delimitation process. In this vein, Pashinyan emphasized that this section will be determined at the next meeting of the commissions. He suggested that the processes on this issue will continue only after the Azerbaijani side sums up the results of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29), which was held in Baku.
As a reminder, on 23 January 2023, the EU Council agreed to establish a new EU civilian mission to Armenia (EUMA) within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The stated objective of the Mission is to contribute to stability in the border areas of Armenia, build confidence on the ground and provide an environment conducive to EU-supported efforts to normalise relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The EU civilian mission to Armenia includeD up to 100 specialists. Over ?8 million has been allocated for the first four months of the Mission. EUMA has an initial mandate of two years, with its operational headquarters in Yeghegnadzor. The civilian operation commander is Stefano Tomat, Managing Director of the Civilian Planning and Conduct Unit (CPCC) of the EEAS.
The mission began operating on 20 February 2023. It included, among others, 8 French gendarmes and 15 police officers from Germany. In addition, on 11 December 2023, following the meeting of the EU Ministerial Council, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell announced the intention to increase the number of the mission to 209 people.
On 12 October in Yerevan at the forum "Crossroads of Peace: Connecting Security and Democracy", Acting Head of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMA) Marek Kuberski announced that there is an intention to extend the EU observer mission in Armenia. He stressed that if such a decision is made, the EU mission will remain in Armenia for another 2 years.