Meeting with the Deputy Secretary-General for political affairs of the European External Action Service

On January 26, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received Enrique Mora, the Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs of the European External Action Service, the Press Office of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.

The sides highlighted the first meeting of the Armenia-EU dialogue on political and security issues, held on the same day. Issues related to the expansion of the Armenia-EU partnership were also discussed.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Enrique Mora touched upon regional security issues. Minister Mirzoyan highly appreciated the decision to deploy an EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia, expressing a conviction that it will contribute to establishing stability and peace in the region.

Interlocutors also discussed the latest developments in the normalization process of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations.

"Referring to the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from the Lachin Corridor blockade, Ararat Mirzoyan stressed that Azerbaijan's actions grossly violate the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, as well as the norms of international humanitarian law. Minister Mirzoyan stressed that Azerbaijan's failure to fulfill its international obligations and its maximalist position greatly undermine the efforts of the Armenian side to establish stability and security in the region," the report added.

Armenia and the European Union hold their first Political and Security Dialogue

The first high-level Armenia-EU Political and Security Dialogue took place on January 26, 2023, in Yerevan, co-chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Vahe Gevorgyan and Deputy Secretary General/Political Director of the European External Action Service Enrique Mora.

"The parties reviewed key security issues for Armenia, the EU, and the wider region, in particular challenges to European security, as well as issues related to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the growing humanitarian concerns related to the obstruction of free movement in the Lachin corridor," the report added.

"Armenia is pleased to host the 1st Armenia-EU Political and Security Dialogue, an important framework for discussing a wide range of international and regional security issues. Armenia looks forward to strong cooperation with the EU Mission in Armenia in monitoring the international borders of Armenia. Armenia values all mediation and facilitation activities aimed at building peace and security, which is essential to ensure the territorial integrity of Armenia, the rights and security of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh," Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Vahe Gevorgyan said.

"The EU is making significant efforts at the highest level to contribute to comprehensive normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We have just established a civilian EU Mission in Armenia, which aims to contribute to increased stability on the ground, human security, and confidence-building. The first-ever Armenia-EU Political and Security Dialogue launched today demonstrates our mutual interest in enhancing cooperation on foreign and security policy issues and readiness to work together for the benefit of peace, security, and stability, especially in the current challenging international context marked by the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine," EEAS Deputy Secretary-General Enrique Mora said.

In the comprehensive exchange of views, the participants in the Dialogue also discussed the situation in the wider region, including the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, as well as issues relating to hybrid threats and other security-related matters.

Russia Says European Union Mission in Armenia will Bring Geopolitical Conflict to Region

On January 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia reported that deploying the civilian monitoring group of the European Union in Armenia would affect the peace process in the region.

"The specific parameters of the existence of the EU will be determined in the near future. But it is already obvious that it will be more ambitious than the monitoring mechanism of the EU operating in Armenia from October to December last year. Russia's principled position regarding the consolidation of the non-regional factor in the South Caucasus has not changed. Armenia- We do not see any 'added value' from EU 'experts' monitoring what is happening on Azerbaijan's border. If Brussels were sincerely interested in the establishment of peace in the South Caucasus, they would have agreed on the terms of their mission with Azerbaijan. The appearance of representatives of the Union in the border regions of Armenia will only bring a geopolitical conflict to the region and may intensify the existing contradictions. The declared civilian nature of the EU mission should not be misleading either - it is formed within the framework of the Common Security and Defense Policy of the EU, with all the ensuing consequences," the information added.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the attempts of the European Union to strengthen itself in Armenia at any cost and to withdraw Russia's mediation efforts might harm the fundamental interests of Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the direction of their desire to return to the peaceful development of the region.

"We are sure that the main factor of stability and security in the region for the near future is the Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed on the basis of the statement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia dated November 9, 2020, as well as the Russian border guards serving on the borders of Armenia. They are considering the development of the situation 'on the ground.' They will react to the behavior of EU observers. We determine they prefer to make choices in favor of the EU in Armenia without bringing the work towards a logical end to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) mission in Yerevan. If Armenian allies are interested in using the potential of the CSTO, its mission will soon It can be placed in Armenia", the Ministry noted.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia believes that the most stable and long-term basis for the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and the improvement of the situation in the region, in general, is the strict and consistent implementation of tripartite agreements of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.

As previously reported by Caucasus Watch, on January 23, the Council of the European Union (EU) agreed to establish a civilian EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) under the Common Security and Defence Policy. The mission's objective is to contribute to stability in the border areas of Armenia, build confidence on the ground, and ensure a conducive environment for normalization efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan supported by the EU.