The mandate of EU monitors in Armenia clearly states the goal of contributing to stability and the peace process along the border and in the border regions. Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan told this to reporters at the National Assembly Friday—and addressing the question of why the mandate of the EU monitoring mission in Armenia was extended for two years if this mission were to leave.

“We have had the opportunity to say dozens, if not hundreds of times, that we attach great importance to the activities of the EU civilian [monitoring] mission [in Armenia]. We even state that since their deployment and the launch of their activities, since then, we have not had any significant, large-scale escalations [of tension along the border with Azerbaijan]. In some sense, we also believe that this is due to their activities; therefore we are truly grateful and appreciate it.

They continue, and as long as it [i.e. the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty] is not signed, they will continue [their mission]. When the treaty is signed, ratified, and enters into force, it means that peace has been established [between Armenia and Azerbaijan]. Their function is to contribute to peace. Now if it has entered into force, peace is established, therefore we should probably have a discussion with our EU partners about what kind of change should be made to the mandate, what kind of other cooperation should be developed. It is purely about ‘binocular monitoring’—as others like to say—of the border," added the Armenian FM.