Azerbaijan’s President Slams EU Observer Mission on Border with Armenia

NATO Infrastructure Set Up Under the Guise of EU Observers

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused the European Union (EU) of setting up a NATO infrastructure on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border under the guise of an observer mission. In an interview with VGTRK and Sputnik/RIA Novosti, Aliyev expressed his concerns over the development, which he claims is a clear violation of the spirit of the mission.

Extension of the Mission and its Expansion

The issue of the observation mission was initially agreed upon between Baku and the EU in 2022. However, the subsequent extension of the mission was not agreed upon, and Aliyev believes that this has led to the mission’s expansion by more than 200 people. The president is concerned that this expansion has turned the mission into a de facto NATO mission, with representatives from Canada joining the group.

Unresolved Issues in the Peace Treaty

Aliyev also noted that there are still two articles in the future peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan that have not been agreed upon. These articles relate to refraining from international lawsuits against each other and the presence of third countries on the border. The president believes that these unresolved issues are a major obstacle to achieving a lasting peace in the region.

Conclusion

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s comments highlight the ongoing tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the concerns he has over the EU’s observer mission on their shared border. The expansion of the mission to include representatives from Canada has raised concerns that it may be used as a means to further NATO’s interests in the region. The unresolved issues in the peace treaty also suggest that a lasting resolution to the conflict remains elusive.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the EU observer mission on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border?
  • The EU observer mission is a monitoring mission set up to observe the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
• When was the issue of the observation mission agreed upon?
  • The issue was agreed upon in 2022.
• Has the mission been extended?
  • The mission was extended, but not in accordance with the original agreement.
• What is the current status of the peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan?
  • There are still two unresolved articles in the peace treaty, including refraining from international lawsuits and the presence of third countries on the border.