Armenia welcomes Canada's initiative to join EU monitoring mission

YEREVAN. July 20 (Interfax) - Yerevan has welcomed Ottawa's decision to join the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA).

"We welcome Canada's initiative to become part of the European civilian monitoring mission in Armenia. We view this as an important contribution to the mission's role in promoting stability and peace in the South Caucasus region," the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

On Wednesday, the Council of the EU published a decision on its website saying that Canada would provide material support to the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia. The specific value of this support was not indicated. The Council mentioned the fact that it earlier allowed assistance for the mission's operations to be accepted from third countries.

The EU announced the launch of EUMA for two years on February 20. EUMA's functions include conducting routine patrolling and reporting on the situation, contributing to stability in Armenia's border areas, and ensuring an environment conducive to normalization efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan with the EU's support. The mission consists of about 100 civilian members, including around 50 unarmed observers.

Speaking at the Prague Center for Transatlantic Relations in May, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the EU's monitoring mission did not offer any security guarantees.

Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan said in April that Yerevan proposed increasing the number of EUMA monitors and broadening its mandate.