Wednesday, April 10 2024 12:31

ArmInfo. The extension of EUMA for another two years is under discussion, Armenia's Premier Nikol  Pashinyan stated in Parliament on April 10. 

According to him, the quadripartite meeting in Prague was of key  importance for achieving a stable peace in the South Caucasus, which,  among other things, provided for the mutual recognition of the  territorial integrity of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the basis of the  Almaty Declaration of 1991, as well as the deployment of a civilian  EU mission along the Armenian border. Azerbaijani border.

"Before this I had no reason to talk, but now I must record that  French President Emmanuel Macron played a colossal role in achieving  these agreements. And against this background, the attacks on  President Macron and France are surprising, unacceptable and  incomprehensible," he noted.

As the Prime Minister stated, the decision to send EU observers to  Armenia was made on the basis of consensus. In this regard, he  thanked all European leaders. The EU mission on the border with  Azerbaijan has become a source of objective information, Nikol  Pashinyan emphasized.

EU Mission in Armenia launches a new phase in the EU's engagement in  the South Caucasus. The EU Mission in Armenia  is tasked with  observing and reporting on the situation on the ground; contributing  to human security in conflict-affected areas and based on the above,  contributing to build confidence between populations of both Armenia  and Azerbaijan and, where possible, their authorities.

The Mission has a two-year mandate and will involve up to 100 staff,  including EU experts and monitors. It will become fully operational  in the coming weeks.

The EU established the Mission in  response to an official request by  the Armenian authorities to deploy a full-fledged EU civilian mission  on the ground. This deployment follows the successful experience of  the EU Monitoring Capacity (EUMCAP) deployed previously on the  Armenian side of the Armenia- Azerbaijan border between 20 October  2022 and 19 December 2022. The EU Mission in Armenia is expected to  support the EU's efforts to promote peace, including President of the  European Council Michel's facilitated leaders' meetings.

EUMA will be deployed in several locations across Armenia's  territory, in border regions with Azerbaijan.  Its area of operation  will cover the entire length of the border with Azerbaijan, including  the Nakhchivan section. EUMA's headquarters will be established in  Yeghegnadzor. It will have several field offices and also a separate  liaison office in Yerevan.