Zakharoova Discusses the Real Purpose of Brussels’ Mission in Armenia

Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated during today’s briefing that the "European Union" name is merely a cover for the West's military objectives while addressing the question of sending an EU monitoring mission to Armenia.

"The name of the EU remains a way to mask NATO's apparent role in various global affairs," Zakharova remarked.

According to the diplomat, if actions are taken through the EU, questions regarding NATO's military ambitions will no longer arise. "Any mission should operate in the interest of the peoples of the countries where they are deployed, not serve the interests of a particular group but work for peace in the region. Diplomacy, political dialogue, and negotiation tools can help. When military-political alliances are activated under the cover of political institutions, everything comes into question," she added.

In this context, she emphasized that the CSTO, for instance, has never been a military alliance, and decisions there are made not through command methods but by consensus.

It is noteworthy that the EU’s civilian mission in Armenia will fully operate in the coming weeks. The mission's mandate is set for two years, involving around 100 personnel, including experts and European observers. They will be gathering information regarding the situation along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, analyzing it, and sending reports to Brussels. The mission is civilian in nature and will not carry weapons; thus, in the event of aggression, the observers will be unprotected.

Earlier, it was reported that the first four months of the EU's new civilian mission in Armenia would cost €8.1 million.