DISINFO: West aims to squeeze Russia out of Transcaucasia
SUMMARY
Western countries are persistently trying to wedge themselves into the formats of Russia's interaction with Armenia and Azerbaijan. And no matter how hard they try in Brussels and Washington to imagine otherwise, the desire to squeeze Russia out of Transcaucasia, rather than really and sincerely help in establishing peace and stability in the region is behind this.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia as the ultimate target of international events, accusing the ever-aggressive West of having an anti-Russian agenda in the Caucasus. The article advances the claim that the Caucasus is exclusively within Russia's zone of geopolitical interests and attempts to discredit EU action in the area, and specifically the EU Monitoring Capacity. The claim attempts to pre-empt Russia's weakening position in the region.
The EU Monitoring Capacity in Armenia was not directed against Russia, or any third country. The EU Monitoring Capacity to Armenia focused on two core tasks:
1) support confidence-building between Armenia and Azerbaijan by monitoring the adherence of both parties to the ceasefire;
2) through regular and ad-hoc reporting the EU team reported on ceasefire-related developments, monitoring the situation on the Armenian side of the internationally recognised border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This will allow the EU to better support the work of the two parties’ border commissions.
Based on the agreement by Armenia and Azerbaijan, the EU is closely involved in leading a peace process between both sides.
The EU Monitoring Capacity responds to the agreement reached at the quadrilateral meeting between President Aliyev, Prime Minister Pashinyan, French President Macron, and President of the European Council Michel.
The decision to deploy the EU monitors on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan was made after the September 2022 escalation, when Azerbaijan attacked sovereign Armenia and occupied Armenian territories.
On 19 December 2022, EU Monitoring Capacity completes its mandate, and Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy announced the start of a new phase in the EU’s engagement in the South Caucasus, with a transitional team that will prepare the ground for a possible longer-term EU mission in Armenia, with the ultimate goal of contributing to sustainable peace in the region.