Canada is the first country outside EU to send two observers to Armenia to join EUMA- Deputy Foreign Minister
YEREVAN, October 26. /ARKA/. Canada will send soon two observers to Armenia, who will join the EU monitoring mission (EUMA), deployed along its border with Azerbaijan, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan told reporters today, after visiting the spa town Jermuk with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly', Armenpress reported.
The Deputy Minister noted that the visit of the Canadian Foreign Minister to Armenia was quite intense. First, she inauguarted the Canadian Embassy in Yerevan in a sign of Canada's special attention to Armenia.
Hovhannisyan added that Canada tripled its assistance to refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh. According to him, Canada is interested in expanding assistance to democracy and human rights reforms in Armenia.
'Many programs were discussed. From the political point of view, the Minister repeatedly emphasized that Armenia's independence, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders are important for Canada," the Deputy Minister noted.
According to him, the visit of the Canadian Foreign Minister to Jermuk also had a symbolic significance.
"The Minister saw the situation on the ground after the invasion of Azerbaijani troops into the sovereign territory of Armenia in September 2022 and she met also with refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh. It is no secret that Canada is a powerful country whose voice is very influential in international organizations," Hovhannisyan said, adding that the visit created good prerequisites for deepening cooperation between Armenia and Canada.
The EU Mission in Armenia was deployed on February 20, 2023 on the Armenian side of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
It is tasked with observing and reporting on the situation on the ground; contributing to human security in conflict-affected areas and based on the above, contributing to build confidence between populations of both Armenia and Azerbaijan and, where possible, their authorities.
The Mission has a two-year mandate and involves up to 100 staff, including EU experts and monitors.
EUMA’s headquarters is based in Yeghegnadzor with operating bases in Jermuk, Goris, Kapan, Martuni, Ijevan and Yeghegnadzor and a liaison and support office in Yerevan.-0-
