Deputy FM: Armenia to partner with EU civilian mission after peace deal with Azerbaijan

Armenia's Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan has said that Armenia is set to work closely with the EU’s civilian mission after the signing of a peace agreement with Azerbaijan, which will see the withdrawal of observers from the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

Hovhannisyan highlighted during a recent briefing that discussions with the EU regarding a new mandate for observers were possible, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

He stressed that cooperation between Armenia and the EU would not be limited to border-related issues.

"We can explore a suitable model for continuing our work with European observers," Hovhannisyan said. 

The deputy minister also reiterated Armenia's readiness to collaborate with all international partners, including Russia, to finalise the peace agreement with Azerbaijan.

The EU Mission in Armenia has been regularly deployed to observe the situation along the border with Azerbaijan, with the mission's activities often resulting in media reports and video recordings that are periodically shared with the public.

The mission, which began with 100 staff members in 2023, has long been criticized for its intelligence-gathering activities. Previous reports have suggested that the mission targets not only Azerbaijan but also Russia and Iran. While the mission officially focuses on monitoring and border patrols, it is also viewed as serving a symbolic role, with visits from Western politicians signalling support for Armenia.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly raised concerns about the mission’s activities. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has pointed out that the extension of the mission was not coordinated with Baku. In December 2024, President Aliyev presented conditions for a peace agreement with Armenia, which included the rejection of the deployment of third-party armed forces along the border.

By Naila Huseynova