Russian Foreign Ministry: Deployment of EU mission in Armenia to exacerbate existing contradictions

Attempts by the European Union to gain a foothold in Armenia at any cost can harm the fundamental interests of Armenians and Azerbaijanis in their aspirations to return to the peaceful development of the region, reads the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Report informs.

It is noted that the appearance of representatives of the European Union in the border regions of Armenia on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border can only “bring geopolitical confrontation to the region and exacerbate existing contradictions.”

“The declared civilian nature of the EU mission should not be misleading - it is being formed within the EU Common Security and Defense Policy with all the ensuing consequences,” the Russian Foreign Ministry noted, adding that if Brussels were sincerely interested in establishing peace in the South Caucasus, then they would agree with Azerbaijan on the terms of the work of their mission.

At the same time, it is noted that the Russian peacekeeping contingent will respond to the behavior of the EU mission observers “taking into account the development of the situation on the ground.”