OUR European Union deployment of an observer mission to its borders began today Armenia With Azerbaijantwo former Soviet republics of the Caucasus that have been in conflict for years over the disputed enclave Nagorno-Karabakh.

The risk of escalation remains high in this Azerbaijani enclave, although its inhabitants are mostly Armenian. The two countries have begun peace talks, and the West is making efforts to find a peaceful settlement in the region, which Russia considers its sphere of influence.

We opened the EU Mission in Armenia #EUMAwhich is currently operational and conducted its first patrol today.#EUMA will promote human security, build trust on the ground and support EU efforts in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process https://t.co/Wq26ZhbtsK pic.twitter.com/jtQTNafjaI

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) February 20, 2023

“Today the European Union is sending a political mission to Armenia,” EUMA, the Council of Europe, said. The observers will be deployed for two years on the Armenian side of the border. The mission requested by Yerevan will consist of approximately 100 people, 50 of whom are “unarmed observers.” Its goal is “to contribute to the stability of the border areas of Armenia,” according to the same source.

Armenia: Mission will contribute to de-escalation

Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturian, via Twitter, thanked the EU and its members “for this show of strong solidarity” in his country and appreciated that the mission “will play a role in de-escalation” and help peace in the area.

Yerevan recently accused Baku of attempting “ethnic cleansing” in Nagorno-Karabakh, forcing the Armenians living there to leave the enclave. Since mid-December, a road needed to supply the enclave has been blocked by Azerbaijani activists who say they are fighting to protect the environment.

On Thursday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that his country had sent Azerbaijan a draft peace agreement to end the war. Baku is “studying” these proposals, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Saturday after a meeting in Munich with Pashinyan that he called “constructive.”

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}