Russia says the EU’s recent decision to establish a new civil mission in Armenia “can only bring geopolitical confrontation to the region and exacerbate existing contradictions”.

The Russian Foreign ministry, in a statement released today, claimed the mission is part of the EU Common Security and Defense Policy "with all the ensuing consequences.”

“We do not see any added value from the monitoring of the EU experts over the events in the area of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. If Brussels were sincerely interested in peace in the Transcaucasia, they would agree on the terms of their mission's work with Azerbaijan,” the statement reads.

The ministry accuses the EU of attempting to “gain a foothold in Armenia at any cost”, and describes such attempts as possibly harming the fundamental interests of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“We are convinced that the key factor for stability and security in the region for the foreseeable future remains the Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed based on the statement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia dated November 9, 2020, as well as the Russian border guards serving on the Armenian borders. They will react to the behavior of the EU observers, considering the development of the situation on the ground,” the Russian Foreign Ministry statement reads.

The ministry says Yerevan preferred to choose the EU without exploring all the potential of the CSTO mission dispatched to Armenia.