VIDEO. 'We Have 3 Main Problems': EU Mission Head Details in Armenia

For over 10 days now, EU mission observers have been in Armenia, continuing to remain a subject of discussion between Russia and Azerbaijan. This was reported by 1lurer.am.

On December 27, 2022, Armenia requested the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to appoint a civilian mission in Armenia. The European Council made a decision regarding the establishment of this mission about a month later, on January 23, 2023. The observers arrived in Armenia on February 20.

Who are involved in the mission, how observations at the border are conducted, and how frequently they report to Brussels was discussed by Markus Ritter, the head of the mission, who is of German nationality. He has been in various hot spots, including South Sudan, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Georgia. He will be in Armenia for the next two years.

Markus Ritter (Head of the EU Civilian Monitoring Mission in Armenia) stated, 'We have three main problems. The first is to carry out patrols along the border with Azerbaijan, including the border with Nakhchivan, and report on everything. The second is to ensure the safety of people through patrols, meaning visiting villages and border areas to show people that we are here and our task is to care for them. The third is the implementation of confidence-building mechanisms, but that is already a question for the future. The primary issue now is monitoring the situation along the border.'

The operational center of the EU civilian mission in Armenia is located in Yeghsnadzor. The choice of location is not random.

Markus Ritter explained, 'Yeghsnadzor was chosen because the mission aims to be as close as possible to the border between the two countries. We want to show that the mission is not just for the Armenian side, which is why it wasn’t located in Yerevan, but along the border with Azerbaijan.' He added that they have sub-stations, one of which is located in Martuni, and also in Ijevan, Jermuk, Kapan, and Goris. He emphasized that this way they cover the entire length of the border with Azerbaijan. Patrols can sometimes last 24 hours, depending on necessity and weather conditions. Currently, with winter weather still prevailing, it’s difficult to reach mountainous areas.

Although the mission has started its operations, not all members are yet in Armenia, as Ritter elaborated. 'Currently, about 50 are on the ground, and by March-April, all will arrive.' Almost all EU member states are represented in the mission.

Markus Ritter mentioned, 'We have representatives from 25 EU member states, including France, Germany, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, and others. In the future, the EU mission plans to engage locals in some of its work.'

A message released by the European Council emphasized that the mission consists of 50 unarmed observers, which has raised waves of speculation regarding the other 50. Ritter clarified that the other 50 will be administrative staff. 'We have observers, but we also need administrative staff. The mission includes security specialists, doctors, and reporters.'

The mission head continually stresses the importance of ensuring the safety of the population in border areas. 'We conduct regular patrols visiting villages that are within the conflict-affected zone. With our presence, we show locals that the international community is here to protect them. We are here to ensure that people feel safe and secure.'

Ritter emphasized that their operations are transparent. 'We have telescopes, GPS equipment, that’s everything we use; we only display our flag and conduct observations. We do not have special technical equipment.' During observations, photos are taken as necessary.

The mission reports to Brussels every week in a closed format. 'Not only about the situation on the border but also about our work, meaning we inform about what we do every week. The reports are confidential, and we are only authorized to pass them to Brussels, which can then decide whether to publish them or not.'

During over a week of conducted observations, no ceasefire violations have been reported, noted the mission head. Ritter remarked, 'Our presence seems to somewhat influence the situation, as both sides are aware that there is an international observation group here.'

The only difficulty faced in recent days has been related to weather conditions. 'The difficulties are due to weather conditions; it was winter, with snow and icy roads. There have been instances when we couldn’t reach areas where we wanted to go. We hope that the weather will be better in spring and summer. We haven’t faced other problems. Our mission is still in a phase of consolidation; we have specific logistical issues related to bringing the entire personnel here, but I can say that the work is going quite well.'

On-site, especially in risky areas, cooperation with Armenia's Ministry of Defense is as needed. With a smile, he recounts the curiosity of local residents approaching them, inviting them into their homes, and wanting to offer something.

The EU civilian mission in Armenia has a mandate of 2 years. Recently, the EU special representative in Armenia expressed hope that a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan would be signed sooner, and that European observers would no longer be needed.