The European Union Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA) on Friday marked, in Yeghegnadzor, the two years of its operations in the country.

EUMA head Markus Ritter said in his respective remarks that their mandate in Armenia has been extended until February 19, 2027. The extension of their mandate a few weeks ago is a clear sign that the Armenian people trust them and need there presence here, and it also means that the EU cares about its neighbors, their safety and security, Ritter said.

They have witnessed that the biggest concern of the majority of people living near the borders is security. The EUMA patrols go to the most remote areas of Armenia, where other international organizations cannot go. Today, there are far fewer incidents on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border than two years ago, and he is proud that they, along with other security and diplomatic efforts, have been one of the actors whose presence has made the people’s lives safer, said Ritter.

He noted that over the past two years, more than 4,600 EUMA patrols have been conducted along the 1,000-kilometer Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and more than 300 official visits have been made. This is a good result for a relatively small new mission, added the EUMA chief.

For his part, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, noted that this is an important milestone and a source of pride for the EU, its member states, and partners who contribute to the success of this EU monitoring mission in Armenia.

EUMA has done an impressive job over these two years. When the EU European Council launched this mission on February 20, 2023, it was successfully established, started to work, and delivered real results in a very short period of time, said the EU ambassador to Armenia.

Since the start of its activities, EUMA has ensured credible and impartial monitoring and reports on the border situation on the ground. Moreover, the number of security incidents at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border has decreased, EUMA is providing real transparency and contributing to a greater sense of security among the conflict-affected population, concluded Ambassador Maragos.