Foreign Ministry on the Issue of Bringing Armenian Peacekeepers Home from Kosovo

Armenia does not intend to withdraw its peacekeepers from Kosovo, despite the statements made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. This becomes evident from a written response given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia to Sputnik Armenia.

In a recent interview with Armenia's public television, Pashinyan stated that the Armenian army has no issues to resolve outside the internationally recognized territory of Armenia. In a speech before the National Assembly on April 15, he reiterated this statement, noting that the Armenian army has no issues outside the sovereign, internationally recognized territory of Armenia, nor will it have.

Following the Prime Minister's initial statements, we sent an inquiry to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking what issues the Armenian Armed Forces peacekeepers are addressing in Kosovo and whether Yerevan plans to withdraw these peacekeepers considering Pashinyan's statements.

The foreign ministry responded that the mission of international peacekeeping forces is to ensure peace, and the Republic of Armenia is committed to the peace agenda, which applies not only to the South Caucasus region but also to the global community.

“By participating in the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, the Republic of Armenia contributes to international efforts aimed at de-escalating tension and establishing stability in the Balkans,” the Foreign Ministry noted.

The ministry emphasized the importance of Armenia's participation in international peacekeeping missions in the context of expanding cooperation with international partners to establish peace and security.

“Armenian peacekeepers are involved in the KFOR forces established under UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Among the main objectives of KFOR forces are the creation of security conditions and the prevention of the resumption of military operations, in which Armenian peacekeeping forces are also appropriately engaged,” the Foreign Ministry's response stated.

The ministry believes that Armenia's participation in international peacekeeping missions also enhances the resilience of Armenia's security system, based on international standards and acquired experience, making it more resilient to modern security challenges.

It is emphasized that the Republic of Armenia is willing to continue its participation in the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, contributing to the strengthening of peace and stability in the Balkan region.

It should be noted that Armenian peacekeepers are also conducting missions in Lebanon within the framework of the UNIFIL mission.