The extension of the mandate of the EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia by the Council of the European Union demonstrates that Brussels views the mission’s work as a useful tool for contributing to stability in the South Caucasus.
In an interview with Armenpress, Markus Ritter, Head of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA), addressed the extension of the mission’s mandate, its future activities, the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the accusations leveled against the EU mission by Azerbaijan.Ritter also noted that since the beginning of the mission’s activities on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in February 2023, border incidents between the two countries have significantly decreased.
- Mr. Ritter, the European Union Monitoring Mission has been operating in Armenia for more than two years, particularly on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Overall, how would you assess the mission's activities and its importance for the stability of the South Caucasus and Armenia?
- It is obvious that since we arrived (ed. EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia) in Armenia on February 23, 2023, the number of incidents along the border and the Line of Control between Azerbaijan and Armenia has significantly decreased. I am sure that it is also an impact we have, our patrolling along the border, and our presence that helps decrease incidents. It is not only us, but also the political environment, the talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, that help decrease incidents. I am confident that with our presence, we support this general process.
- Mr. Ritter, in January 2025, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision to extend the mandate of the EU Mission in Armenia for another two years, until 2027. How do you assess this decision, and how important do you consider the extension of the mission's mandate?
-The decision itself shows that the European Union sees us (ed. refers to the EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia) as a useful tool here to contribute to stability in the South Caucasus. It also makes it clear that the Armenian side wants us to stay, because we are here on the invitation of the Armenian government, and with this agreement or the agreement between the European Union and the Armenian government that we should stay two years longer, which shows that they see us positively.
- Azerbaijan has consistently expressed complaints about the activities of the EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia, stating that the mission does not contribute to the stability of the region, between Yerevan and Baku, accusing the mission of conducting intelligence work on the border areas. How would you respond to these complaints and claims by Azerbaijan, and in your opinion, what is the purpose of Baku in making such statements?
- As I have already said, the number of incidents has decreased, and the people feel safer and more secure. That is a fact, and that is part of our work. Regarding the accusation of intelligence work, from the very first day that we have been here, we have been doing the same thing we are doing now, and we never change that. We are patrolling openly along the border and the Line of Control. When we appear somewhere on the border, somewhere, we always stay in a position where both sides can see that we are there. Everything is visible.
We are observing what is happening on the border. This means that we are not only looking at what the Azerbaijani side is doing; we are also observing what the Armenian side is doing, because Brussels wants to know from us what the situation at the border is like. They do not want us to report only on what Azerbaijan is doing. So we are observing both sides because we want to report to Brussels on the situation and what is going on. Therefore, we always patrol openly. We never hide somewhere or stay covered.
That's what we've been doing since the very beginning, and that’s what we are still doing now. This means it’s very easy for the Azerbaijani side to spot us and see where we are because we don’t want to hide. It is fine if they see that we are there. Even for the patrols that we go on with escorts, we notify Baku a week in advance through the office of the special representative. This means they even know in advance where we are going. It is very, very open and transparent, and we do not engage in any intelligence work. The intentions behind why Baku is doing this, you have to ask Baku.
At least we are not convenient for either side because we bring an international view into this conflict zone. This means for both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides that they simply cannot start anything without letting us, the international community, and especially Brussels, know that something is happening.
- Mr. Ritter, in response to the demand of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to remove the EU monitoring mission from the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, announced that Yerevan has suggested Azerbaijan to remove the EU monitors from the already demarcated sections of the border. What is the position of the mission on this statement?
- At the end of last year, I had a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and we discussed this. It is not about removing us from the border, but in the areas that are agreed upon, demarcated, and clearly marked, there is no need for us to go directly to the border. It is fine for us not to show up in the border zone anymore, but this does not mean that we will not continue to visit villages and farms to talk to people near the border. If the Armenian government and the Azerbaijani side agree that we should not patrol directly in the already clearly demarcated border areas, that is fine for us.
-Mr. Ritter, based on the operational information from the mission's patrols and the work being done on the ground in the border areas, how would you evaluate the current situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border? Are there any reasons for concern in terms of security?
- What the patrols are seeing and reporting is that the situation on the border is quite calm. There are no incidents at the moment. Both sides are fortifying their positions. Both sides continue to be prepared for the worst, which is obvious. But we are not seeing any tension at the moment, and this has been the situation for a month, we are confident that the region is on a good path. And we always say: be prepared for the worst, but be ready for the best. So it seems to us that both sides are following this advice.
-Are there any plans to make any changes in the size and structure of the EU mission in Armenia in the near future?
- No, the second mandate will have the same tasks as the first mandate. This means, first, patrolling and reporting alongside the border and the line of confrontation. The second task is our so-called human security patrols to increase the feeling of safety and security for the local population in the conflict-affected areas. And the third is taking steps that contribute to building confidence.Since December, we have been visiting schools in villages near the border to talk to the children there, to the students, to explain to them who we are, what we do, what the European Union is, and what the European Union stands for. We want to increase this activity. We not only want to visit schools in the future, but we also want to promote our work, the European idea, and let everyone know that we are not spying, conducting intelligence work, or anything else. We are a civilian, unarmed mission that wants to help stabilize this region.
- Mr. Ritter, thank you for the opportunity to conduct this interview.
