“After our arrival, the incidents decreased; people do not leave their homes. We have increased international attention to the conflict but are not free to say who started the incident to ensure impartiality. Our mission is to serve as a preventative factor. People feel more protected. We need to communicate with the civilian population and understand their moods.
But in case of a serious conflict, we have to leave the combat zone,” said Markus Ritter, Head of the EU Civilian Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA), at the forum titled “Progress in Uncertainty” organized by the “APRI Armenia” analytical center. He specifically reminded us that the mission has a civilian character, so the expectations should align with it. Markus Ritter assures that after the deployment of the mission in the RA-Azerbaijan border areas, there have been no incursions into the territory of Armenia by Azerbaijan.
“That’s the goal. The situation is stable, strengthening works are underway.” He also assures that the mission does not carry out secret operations. By the way, mission members carry out up to 7 patrols daily.
In total, there were about 1000 of them. Russian border guards in Armenia create certain complications for the EU civil observation mission only when visiting the area adjacent to the Kapan airport. “We went there accompanied by the security forces of Armenia. We do not ask a third party about the monitoring, only Armenia.”
Read also
Nelly GRIGORYAN
