On 19 February, Prime Minister of Armenia, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan received Mr. Tomat and noted that effective operation of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) contributes to ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Mr. Ararat Mirzoyan met with Mr. Tomat to discuss the activities of EUMA, touching upon the work done with one year since the deployment of the Mission. Minister Mirzoyan emphasized the important contribution of the Mission in promoting the stability of the international border with Azerbaijan.

The parties agreed that the Mission is one of the good examples of expanding Armenia-EU cooperation, serving the mutual interest of both Armenia and the EU.

During his visit, CivopsCdr Tomat also joined a EUMA patrol in Jermuk, sharing a car with EU monitors. To this day, EUMA has conducted over 1720 patrols contributing to enhanced security and stability on the Armenian side of the border with Azerbaijan.

On 21 February, EUMA celebrated its first anniversary in Yerevan. CivOpsCdr Tomat addressed the participants stating:

I am very proud of what has been achieved by the Mission so far. It has conducted its activities with exemplary professionalism. EUMA’s presence on the ground is proof of EU engagement for peace and stability in the region.

EUMA is an exclusively civilian and unarmed Mission, operating as an impartial actor to monitor the situation on the Armenian side of the Armenian border with Azerbaijan. Through its reporting to Brussels, it has contributed to a better understanding of the situation on the ground. It also plays an important role in support of EU high-level efforts for Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation.

On 11 December 2023, the EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed to strengthen the observation capacity of EUMA within the Mission’s existing Area of Operation by increasing its presence on the ground from 138 staff to 209.

The Mission operates from Headquarters in Yeghegnadzor, with six Forward Operating bases in Kapan, Goris, Jermuk, Yeghegnadzor, Martuni and Ijevan. The Mission will open a Liaison and Support Office in Yerevan in spring 2024. The Mission has a two year mandate which runs until February 2025.