Civilnet
By Siranush Adamyan
The European Union’s monitoring mission in Armenia will continue its border patrols unchanged until a peace treaty with Azerbaijan is fully ratified, the mission’s head said on Thursday.
Markus Ritter, Head of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA), clarified the mission's status during an interview broadcast by the Public Television of Armenia on Thursday evening, addressing reports that a peace deal might require the withdrawal of international observers.
When asked about a provision in the draft agreement stipulating the removal of "third-party forces" from border areas, Ritter confirmed that the mission is aware of the proposal.
"We know that such plans exist," Ritter said, noting that while the text may not explicitly name the EU mission, the implication is understood.
"There will be no need for our mission to be at the border," he added, describing the scenario in which a peace treaty is signed and ratified.
However, until that legal ratification occurs, Brussels and Yerevan will maintain the mission's current operations, including daily patrols and reporting mechanisms, Ritter explained.
Reflecting on the operational challenges faced since the mission’s launch in 2023, Ritter disclosed specific instances where Russian security forces hindered EU observers.
In the summer of 2023, EU patrols were physically blocked from accessing the village of Nerkin Hand and areas southeast of Kapan, Ritter said.
“The Russian border guards were there and they wouldn’t let us go any further,” Ritter explained.
He noted that the mission was only able to regain access to these sensitive sectors after Russian forces withdrew in 2024. Ritter added that since that withdrawal, the mission has faced no direct threats from either Russian or Azerbaijani forces, though he noted instances of hostile rhetoric from Moscow and Baku in 2024.
Ritter, who is scheduled to conclude his tenure at the end of February, argued that the mission has successfully prepared "fertile ground" for the current peace negotiations by stabilizing the security situation.
He also recounted how the mission defused tensions in April 2024, when Azerbaijan accused Armenia of pulling troops to the border. EU observers patrolled the area and found out that the activity was merely local residents celebrating a holiday, effectively dismissing claims of an imminent attack.
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