The newly announced EU mission in Armenia is nothing but a geopolitical project targeting Russia’s ally, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused on Monday, stressing that the mission would hardly improve the security situation in the region.
The statement added that the West does everything it can to push Russia out of the region and weaken Moscow’s historical role as a major security guarantor.
Previously on Sunday, Brussels announced it would send a civilian mission that would involve some 100 civilian staff members – including 50 unarmed observers – to Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan.
The advertised aim of the mission is to contribute to stability in Armenia’s border areas, support the process of normalizing relations between the two neighbors, and build confidence and human security in conflict-affected areas.
Brussels claims that the mission – which was first announced by EU top diplomat Josep Borrell in January – was established at Yerevan’s request.
Though Brussels’ “civilian mission” in Armenia is allegedly aiming to contribute to stability in the border areas, Russian FM pointed out that it’s only a geopolitical project serving the West’s interests.
While calling Yerevan Moscow’s ally, the ministry said that this is not the first example of the EU and the West’s desire to gain a foothold in Armenia, adding that Russia treats such actions as geopolitical moves that have nothing to do with the real peace process in the region.
Pointing to the fact that a similar EU mission in Kosovo failed to prevent last year a major flare-up of tensions between Belgrade and Pristina, Russia also doubts the real ability of the EU mission to ensure the South Caucasus’ peace and stability.
Russian Foreign Ministry underscored that the EU also outright ignored Baku’s public criticism of its initiative. The head of the Azerbaijani parliament, Sakhiba Gafarova, warned last week such a mission could impede the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
