EU observers to continue work in Armenia, spox says

By Alexander Pracht

The European Union’s monitoring mission in Armenia (EUMA) will continue its operations, with potential changes to its mandate to be discussed only between Yerevan and Brussels, EU foreign policy spokesperson Anita Hipper told Azerbaijani media outlet Report today.

“The mission’s authority includes observing and reporting on the situation on the Armenian side of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border,” Hipper said, adding that the EU welcomes last week’s peace declaration, signed in Washington between Armenia and Azerbaijan and called on both sides to sign and ratify the full peace treaty as soon as possible.

The EU mission has been deployed along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border since February 2023, several months after Azerbaijan launched a major incursion into Armenian territory. Its mandate was later extended for two more years, running until early 2027. Azerbaijan’s leadership has repeatedly criticized the mission, accusing it of political pressure and espionage, and at times even threatening it with gunfire.

The draft peace treaty, published by the foreign ministries of both countries on Monday and pending signature, includes a clause stating that “The Parties shall not deploy along their mutual border forces of any third party.” While the provision does not mention the EU mission explicitly, reports indicate that Baku pushed for this provision to remove European observers from the border.

Last October, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan highlighted the mission’s importance in preventing border escalation. “Since its deployment there hasn’t been any major escalation. It works, it really works, and we highly appreciate this effort of the European Union,” he said.