Media: EU planning new monitoring mission in Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union is planning to send a new monitoring mission to Armenia in a month – this time not for two months, but for at least two years.

According to sources cited by the Armenian service of RFE/RL, the draft decision was last week adopted by the Political and Security Committee of the European Council, and it was approved by the Civilian Crisis Management on Monday, January 16.

Moreover, unlike the group of 40 observers sent in October last year, which was deployed on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, this time European observers will patrol the entire territory of Armenia. They will again be unarmed.

According to said sources, the new mission will include about 200 European specialists.

“Their priority is to contribute to the reduction of incidents in the border zones of Armenia and in areas affected by the conflict, reduce the danger to the people living in these areas and, thus, create favorable conditions for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the Committee reportedly concluded.

In addition, it is proposed to clarify the expected support from the Armenian authorities. Brussels, in particular, expects that Yerevan will take responsibility for the contacts of Europeans with Russian units or the settlement of incidents, as well as provide observers with the necessary immunity and privileges.