Brussels: The ambassadors of European Union member countries in Brussels have agreed to extend the mandate of the observer mission on the Armenian side of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border for another two years, until February 19, 2027. This decision, pending confirmation at the upcoming EU foreign ministers' meeting, extends the EU's observer mission in the region without the consent of official Baku or other regional countries.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the EU's decision could negatively impact the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process and the overall security structure in the South Caucasus. Initially, in October 2022, the EU mediated talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, resulting in a temporary deployment of a 40-member EU mission to Armenia for two months under the Prague agreement. Despite the mission's completion in December, in January 2023, the EU decided to deploy an observer mission along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border without Azerbaijan's approval.
President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly addressed this issue, highlighting breaches of initial agreements. In a recent interview, he mentioned that the mission was extended and expanded without notification or consent, involving a non-EU member country, undermining trust. He criticized the observers for their conduct at the border, describing their actions as ostentatious and likening them to military personnel.
The initial 40-member EU mission began its long-term operations on February 20, 2023, with a staff of 138, later increasing to 209 by December 2023. Despite not being an EU member, Canada joined the observer mission. The mission's activities, including patrolling the border and observing Azerbaijani territories, have raised concerns about potential military and intelligence gathering purposes.
While the EU claims the mission aims to observe the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and contribute to conflict resolution, there are suspicions that it functions as an espionage network against Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia. The involvement of former military and intelligence officers from NATO and other European countries strengthens these concerns.
The extension of the EU Monitoring Mission's mandate until 2027 could hinder the peace negotiation process. President Ilham Aliyev, in an interview, noted that 15 out of 17 articles of the peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan had been agreed upon. However, the unresolved articles relate to the non-deployment of foreign representatives at the border.
The EU's decision to extend the Monitoring Mission's activities suggests an intention to establish a permanent presence in the region, potentially destabilizing the peace process. Armenia is urged to prioritize peace, accept Azerbaijan's conditions for a peace agreement, and oppose the extension of the EU Monitoring Mission's mandate. The EU's actions have raised concerns about the mission's role in the West's regional policy, potentially leading to destabilization and militarization rather than supporting peace and stability.
The European Union still has an opportunity to support peace and stability in the South Caucasus by suspending the mission and leaving the region.