Armenia and the EU may discuss a new mandate for the EU observer mission in case of signing a peace agreement with Azerbaijan. This was stated by Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan on March 24 in the National Assembly at the session of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on European Integration during the discussion of the report on the implementation of the Government's program in 2024.

“This mandate is for two years. Of course, in the future, if the peace agreement is signed, ratified, and there are signs indicating a stable peace, we can discuss a new mandate for European observers. After all, it is not necessary to limit ourselves to the border line alone,” Hovhannisyan explained.

The mandate, he said, also contains the need for confidence-building activities.  “In a positive scenario of development of relations with Baku, the right models aimed at continuing work with the EU mission can be found,” the deputy minister added.

In response to the question whether Azerbaijan can demand the complete withdrawal of the European mission, using the uncertainty in the wording about “withdrawal of third forces” in the peace agreement, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said, “This is an observer mission. Therefore, logic suggests that there should simply be no such demands. However, it is rather difficult to speak of any certainty.