Swedish Member of Parliament Erik Hellsborn has welcomed the extension of the European Union's mission mandate in Armenia, emphasizing that it could help prevent potential Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia. He expressed this view regarding the decision to prolong the mission's mandate by another two years, as reported by Armenpress.
The Swedish MP expressed concern that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev continues to use belligerent rhetoric towards Armenia.
"I believe this (i.e., the extension of the EU observer mission's mandate in Armenia) is very positive. Unfortunately, Baku repeatedly employs highly aggressive rhetoric against Yerevan. Aliyev (i.e., the President of Azerbaijan) seems not far from initiating a new war. We hope the EU mission can help prevent this," noted the Swedish parliamentarian.
He also addressed the criticisms that Baku consistently voices regarding the EU mission's activities in Armenia, reminding that it was the Azerbaijani authorities who refused the deployment of EU observers on their territory. The MP also dismissed Azerbaijan's claims that EU observers in Armenia are conducting espionage activities along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
"The European Union would prefer to work on both sides (i.e., in the territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan), but Baku has declined this. Claims that there are spies in the mission are absurd. The mission is very transparent and even informs in advance where it will conduct patrols," emphasized the MP.
Discussing Baku's grievances and the real purpose behind such statements, Hellsborn stated: "The question to ask in this case is, what is Baku afraid of? What does it fear the EU might see?"
The Swedish MP also responded to the observation that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev demanded the removal of EU observers from the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, while Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan replied that Baku was offered to withdraw observers from already demarcated sections. Nevertheless, Hellsborn advised Yerevan not to limit the EU mission's mandate.
"Of course, these matters are decided by Prime Minister Pashinyan and the Armenian Parliament, but I would advise against restricting the mission's mandate. The mission members know what they are doing and can make informed decisions on where the best places to patrol are," he concluded.
The EU mission's mandate in Armenia has been extended by two years, until February 2027.
