YEREVAN. Dec 12 (Interfax) - The European Union will increase the size of its civilian monitoring mission in Armenia from 138 staff to 209, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said, as reported by Armenian media.
"Today, the [EU] Foreign Affairs Council agreed to strengthen our civilian mission in Armenia, increasing our presence on the ground from 138 staff to 209. This is an important increase in the size of the mission and this is a way of increasing the stability of Armenia's international border with Azerbaijan," Borrell said at a press conference following a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
"We believe that there is a historic chance to achieve piece in the region [...], and we are committed to continue our support to these efforts by working together with both Armenia and Azerbaijan," Borrell also said.
The EU foreign ministers had an informal conversation with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan before the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, he said. "Armenia sees the benefit of increasing cooperation with us [the EU], and we are ready to respond positively," Borrell said.
On February 20, the EU announced the launch of a civilian mission in Armenia (EUMA) for two years. The objectives of the mission are to carry out scheduled patrols and provide reports on the situation, promote stability in Armenia's border regions, and ensure conditions contributing to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan with the EU's support.
Armenia and the EU signed an agreement on the status of the EU mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on November 20.