EU mission chief: people building homes, opening shops near border

PanARMENIAN.Net - The head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Armenia, Markus Ritter, has assessed the mission’s two-year work in the country as effective. He noted that in the early stages, the mission’s primary goal was to strengthen trust and ensure the security of conflict-affected regions.

Now, two years later, Ritter sees a completely different picture in the border areas of Vayots Dzor: shops are opening, and people are building homes, demonstrating that they see a future in their communities, reports 1lurer.am .

The main task of the EU monitors is to observe and report on the situation along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The observers use flags, off-road vehicles, binoculars, and cameras in their work.

The mission does not conduct intelligence activities or support any side in military preparations. On the contrary, according to their observations, there is no risk of escalation along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Twenty-five of the EU’s 27 member states have deployed monitors to Armenia, and Norway has also expressed interest in joining the mission.

The EU’s civilian monitoring mission in Armenia has been extended for another two years, until February 2027. Twenty-five of the EU’s 27 member states have monitors in Armenia, and Norway has expressed interest in joining the mission.