Agreement Signed: EU Ready to Strengthen Presence in Armenia

An agreement on the status of the European Union's mission in Armenia was signed between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union. This was reported by Armenpress.

According to the media, the agreement was signed at the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Deputy Minister Paruir Hovhannisyan and Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Vasilis Maragkos.

“First of all, I would like to thank the Armenian authorities for accepting this mission since February. This mission has already offered a lot in terms of stability and security in Armenia. The status agreement that we signed today will help introduce more legal clarity regarding the different rights and obligations concerning the presence of the mission in the country,” said the EU ambassador.

Regarding the expansion of the mission, this issue was decided a few days ago in Brussels. The EU foreign ministers approved the proposal to expand the EU monitoring mission stationed in Armenia.

“We are ready to move forward and strengthen the presence of the mission in the country to contribute to stability and monitor the situation on the Armenian side of the border,” Maragkos noted.

The status agreement is a document between the European Union and the government of Armenia that primarily regulates legal issues. According to the ambassador, the content will remain the same, and the observers will continue to monitor the situation. “We believe that this will enhance people's security, and we also contribute to strengthening trust in the region. The EU is committed to establishing peace in the region, and this is one of the tools we have in Armenia,” Maragkos added.

Deputy Foreign Minister Paruir Hovhannisyan clarified that it is still early to talk about changes in mandates; the discussions revolve around increasing the number and strengthening capacities. “Canada has joined the mission, and there is interest from other countries as well,” the deputy minister stated.

According to Hovhannisyan, the agreement on the status of the EU mission should facilitate more efficient implementation of its activities. “It is about creating favorable conditions for observers, ranging from health care to technical issues. It is similar to the powers that diplomats have in each country,” the deputy minister clarified.