Armenia hails EU move to expand spy mission on conditional border with Azerbaijan

The Armenian government welcomes the European Union's decision to extend the reconnaissance and monitoring mission on the conditional border with Azerbaijan, said the republic's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

Mirzoyan noted that during its existence the mission has played "an important role in maintaining stability along the entire Armenian-Azerbaijani border", Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

"Of course, we're working on other mechanisms to maintain stability, but there is an EU civilian mission in Armenia which monitors the interstate border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since its deployment, this mission has played a significant role in maintaining stability along the entire border. We welcome the European Union's decision to expand the mission's mandate and the number of observers," Mirzoyan told the press conference.

The EU announced the launch of the mission in Armenia in February 2023. At the end of last year, the EU increased the number of observers from 138 to 209. The mission is expected to last until 2025. The EU will provide more than €39 million to fund the mission for two years.

It should be noted that several Armenian political analysts and experts have previously stated that the main purpose of the EU mission in Armenia is to carry out intelligence activities against Russia and Iran.