The European Union monitoring mission in Armenia echoed Armenia’s Defense Ministry denials of Azerbaijani claims of Armenian troop movements along the border.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry alleged that Armenia “continues to concentrate its troops on the border and build offensive bases,” adding that “intensive movements” of Armenian troops were in preparation for a “military provocation.” It warned that any such attempt “will be suppressed by the Azerbaijani army.”
“Our observers did not notice any unusual military movements. It was a calm and peaceful Easter Monday,” the EU mission said in a statement on Monday.
Armenia’s Defense Ministry called the allegation from Baku “disinformation,” saying that its Azerbaijani counterpart has released edited videos depicting engineering, fortification, and construction activities by Armenian forces in recent months, attempting to paint a picture of “troop build-up on the border during the past few days.”
Armenia’s defense ministry argued that fortification and engineering efforts were within the “sovereign rights of the Republic of Armenia. These activities are purely defensive and are aimed at safeguarding the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia.”
Calling the situation along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border “stable,” Armenia’s defense ministry said that information disseminated by the Azerbaijani side “does not reflect the current reality.”
France’s Ambassador to Armenia, Olivier Decottignies, said the EU mission in Armenia was fulfilling its mandate.
“Being on the ground as close as possible to the line of contact, it dispels rumors and disinformation and provides the international community with impartial information,” the French diplomat wrote on social media.
“The EU Mission to Armenia is performing an essential function to ensure transparency. It is open to engagement with Azerbaijan,” Toivo Klaar, the EU’s special envoy to the Caucasus said in a social media post on Monday.
“If there are concerns, these need to be addressed in a safe environment, like EUMM Georgia is providing through its regular contacts with all sides,” Klaar said.