Russia left Armenia alone; EU plays key role in border security - Simonyan

YEREVAN, January 21. /ARКА/. Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, emphasized the important role of the EU mission in ensuring the security of Armenia's borders.
"What the Russian side is losing in the region, in the context of Armenia, is a result of Russia's own actions and the fact that Russia left us alone in the region and abandoned the region. No country can blame Armenia for trying to ensure its security and its existence," Speaker Simonyan said.
He noted that this is one of the first steps in this direction.
"The presence of the EU civilian mission on Armenia's border highlights the important role of the EU in ensuring the security of our borders... Compare the level of tension now with what it was even in 2018," he said.
About the EU Mission in Armenia
The EU Civilian Mission to Armenia (EUMA) was launched on February 20, 2023, within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and has a two-year mandate. In January 2024, the EU Council decided to increase the mission's personnel by 50%, bringing the total to 209.
EUMA operates from six operational bases in Kapan, Goris, Jermuk, Yeghegnadzor, Martuni, and Ijevan. The mission's goal is to stabilize the situation in Armenia's border areas, strengthen trust and security in conflict-affected regions, and create conditions conducive to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the support of the EU.
In October, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated that the EU is considering extending the mandate of the EUMA.