In a post on his Telegram channel mneniyefm, political analyst Farhad Mammadov criticized recent statements made by EU representative Peter Stano in an interview with Armenian state media. According to Mammadov, these remarks highlight a clear shift in the European Union’s stance, increasingly favoring Armenia. This, he argues, calls into question the EU’s credibility as a neutral mediator in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.
Mammadov noted that Stano dismissed Azerbaijan’s concerns over the EU mission in Armenia and its militarization, labeling the criticisms as baseless. However, Mammadov points out that Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territories for 25 years, and only through military action did Azerbaijan manage to reclaim them. Throughout this period, the EU failed to impose sanctions on Armenia as an aggressor. Armenia continues to uphold territorial claims against Azerbaijan in its Constitution and refuses to disband the OSCE Minsk Group, signaling a continuation of its occupation policies. Against this backdrop, Armenia’s militarization raises legitimate concerns for Azerbaijan.
Mammadov also addressed the contradictory nature of Stano’s comments regarding the EU mission in Armenia. While Stano claims the mission is civilian and unarmed, Azerbaijan has not been provided with any guarantees to verify this. The mission was initially agreed upon with Baku for a two-month period in 2022 to assist with border delimitation. Since then, no new agreements have been made, and Mammadov argues that the mission’s ongoing presence in Armenia is unjustified. It has lost its purpose now that border negotiations are handled bilaterally between Azerbaijan and Armenia, leaving the EU’s role marginal.
Mammadov further disputes Stano’s claims about the mission’s “stabilizing effect.” He notes that, in 2024 alone, Armenia initiated two armed incidents along the border, yet the EU mission had no involvement in preventing or managing these conflicts. Moreover, members of the mission were found to have disseminated misleading information by releasing deceptive videos to the public.
A significant concern for Mammadov is the EU’s continued financial support for Armenia. The EU recently allocated 10 million euros for civilian protection, which, in practice, frees up more resources for Armenia to expand its military capacity. Mammadov expects further increases in EU assistance, which he believes will only heighten tensions in the South Caucasus.
Mammadov warns that the EU is rapidly losing Azerbaijan’s trust. Although Azerbaijan acknowledges the EU’s contributions to demining efforts in Karabakh, this assistance is insufficient. The EU has yet to provide any meaningful aid for the reconstruction of Karabakh, revealing its true priorities. Azerbaijan now manages its relationship with Armenia through direct bilateral negotiations, reducing the EU’s relevance. Mammadov believes the EU’s continued support for Armenia undermines its claims of neutrality and shows a clear bias in its approach to the region.
