When the European Union Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA) came to the country, it had three tasks: to calm the situation with its presence, to create a sense of security among people, and to help increase trust. This was stated by the head of EUMA, Markus Ritter, in his address at the Comprehensive Security & Resilience International Conference – 2025 that kicked off Monday in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan.

The work with Azerbaijan has not been very successful. EUMA is working towards the Armenian population on the border. It is trying to work with 170 NGOs, and it has regular contacts with some of them. EUMA started visiting Armenia’s border schools at the end of last year to present the European ideology. Many have no idea what the EU is; and if they do, it was formed on Russian television broadcasts. EUMA has tried to bring it a little closer to reality. It sees that young people in particular are interested in why the EU was created, Ritter added.

Being a member of the EU, or following the example of that idea, does not mean giving up Armenia's national identity and culture, he said.

EUMA is trying to tell the young people of Armenia’s border villages that if there is a will on both sides, there can be a peaceful future, borders that will not divide, separate, but that will connect, from which both sides will benefit, said the head of EUMA.