Armenian PM rules out EU mission deployment on delimited border after Azerbaijan's demand

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is prepared to refrain from deploying the EU civilian mission on the delimited sections of the border with Azerbaijan.

He made the remarks during a discussion at the Atlantic Council in Washington, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“Azerbaijan says that troops of third countries should not be deployed on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, openly alluding to an EU civilian mission. We take note of this and propose that they should not be stationed on those parts of the border that are delimited,” he said.

It is crucial to recall that in May 2024, Azerbaijan regained control over the villages of Baganis Ayrim, Ashagi Askipara, Kheyrimli, and Gizilhajili in the Gazakh district. This development followed a series of meetings between the Azerbaijani and Armenian commissions on state border delimitation. 

On April 19, 2024, both sides signed a protocol during their eighth meeting, which outlined the framework for delimitation. Subsequent geodetic measurements and technical protocols led to the establishment of a 12.7 km borderline, resulting in the return of these villages, covering an area of 6.5 square kilometres, to Azerbaijan. By May 14, 2024, the State Border Service of Azerbaijan had taken control of these territories. 

By Khagan Isayev