Speaker lauds EUMA for thwarting possible escalation

Armenian Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan credited on Tuesday the EU monitoring mission for having thwarted a possible new escalation by Azerbaijan. 

The deployment of the EU monitoring mission (EUMA) has significantly reduced the number of incidents on the border and prevented the risk of a possible renewed escalation, he said. 

Speaking at the 4th Meeting of EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee, Simonyan thanked the EU for the financial support aimed at the ongoing reforms and initiatives in Armenia.

“This is all taking place within the framework of closer cooperation between Armenia and the EU defining a new agenda,” he said.

Simonyan pointed out the launch of the visa liberalization dialogue, Armenia’s inclusion in the European Peace Facility and the extension of the EUMA. 

Speaking about EUMA, Simonyan said, “It obviously reduced the number of incidents taking place on the border and prevented the risk of a possible escalation.”

Simonyan recalled that the Armenian parliament adopted at first reading on February 13 the EU integration bill, which he described the “real manifestation of the Armenian citizens’ determination to become part of the European society.” 

EUMA was launched in 2023 at the request of Armenia. The civilian mission observes and reports on the security situation along the Armenian side of the international border with Azerbaijan. In January 2025 the EU extended the mandate of the EUMA for a further two years.