Western Azerbaijan Community slams extended EU mission in Armenia over historical injustices

The European Union's mission in Armenia, recently granted an extension, is facing criticism from the Western Azerbaijan Community for its operations in areas that were once home to Western Azerbaijanis, who were forcibly deported. 

The community's spokesperson, Ulviyya Zulfigar, has raised concerns over the mission's actions, questioning its true purpose, Caliber.Az reports.

"The EU mission in Armenia, whose mandate was recently extended, is operating in territories previously inhabited by Western Azerbaijanis, who were forcibly deported," Zulfigar stated.

According to Zulfigar, "The areas where the EU mission is watching the Azerbaijani border with binoculars are the historical lands of Western Azerbaijanis." She further emphasized that "Not only have the representatives of the EU mission, who are supposedly committed to the defence of human rights, never once expressed a position on the issue of Western Azerbaijanis forcibly deported from their native lands, but they are also taking outrageous actions against the Azerbaijani side."

Zulfigar posed a critical question, asking, "What is the true purpose of this mission?" She concluded by calling on EU representatives to "refrain from actions aimed at destabilising the region and to show a fair position on the return of Western Azerbaijanis."

On January 30, the European Union Council approved the extension of the European Union Mission to Armenia (EUMA) for another two years, with a budget allocation of €44 million.

Launched in 2023 with an initial staff of 100, the mission has faced significant criticism, particularly for its intelligence-gathering activities. Previous reports have suggested that the mission targets not only Azerbaijan but also Russia and Iran. Officially, the mission focuses on border monitoring and patrols, but it is also seen as a symbolic gesture, with visits from Western politicians serving as a sign of support for Armenia.

Azerbaijan has consistently voiced concerns about the mission's actions. President Ilham Aliyev has highlighted that the mission's extension was not coordinated with Baku. In December 2024, Aliyev outlined conditions for a peace agreement with Armenia, including a stipulation that no third-party armed forces should be deployed along the border.

By Tamilla Hasanova