Armenia Awaits EU Decision on Observer Mission Extension
On November 19, the European Union, which currently has an observer mission on Armenia’s side of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, announced that no decision has yet been made regarding the continuation of the mission after its mandate expires.
Vassilis Maragos, the European Union Ambassador to Armenia, stated, "The decision to extend the mission has not been made yet, but we are working on the issue. It is at the stage of discussion with the Armenian authorities." He did not clarify whether official Yerevan had requested an extension of the mission.
Since February 2023, when the European Union deployed observers to Armenia, they have established offices in Kapan, Goris, Jermuk, Yeghegnadzor, Martuni, and Ijevan to monitor the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and promote stability in the region. While the Armenian side has consistently valued their presence, Azerbaijan has frequently criticized the unarmed observers, accusing them of espionage and claiming their presence exacerbates tensions in the South Caucasus.
Initially, 100 civilian observers were deployed to Armenia in February 2023, with the number doubling in subsequent months. The mission's mandate, set for two years, will expire in February 2025. As of now, Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not provided information on whether Yerevan has formally requested the continuation of EU border monitoring beyond February 2025.