Geopolitics behind EU`s plans to allocate EUR 10mln for Armenia`s armed forces - Maria Zakharova
ArmInfo. The European Union has lost its peaceful foundation and has no peaceful potential. This is an obvious fact that Moscow has repeatedly stated. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova during a weekly briefing on July 24, commenting on reports that the EU has allocated 10 million euros in aid to Armenia through the European Peace Fund, in conditions when peace talks between Baku and Yerevan have not been completed.
"Perhaps there is something left in the depths, but we do not see anything that could be brought into working order and applied. Once upon a time, there were times when the EU, at least in words, sought a peaceful, stable environment, tried to hold some negotiations in the name of such goals," the diplomat noted.
According to Zakharova, "today the EU has taken a course towards militarization, confrontation, serving the interests of not its own citizens, but the US and NATO."
"Our warnings are also being confirmed that this entire Western company is working towards imposing a widespread confrontation, turning the entire post-Soviet space into an arena of geopolitical confrontation," Zakharova added. "According to the EU's plan, the intensification of existing contradictions, including between Baku and Yerevan, meets the objectives of containing Russia and other countries that are pursuing a sovereign policy independent of the West," she said, sarcastically asking how the West can survive the fact that there will be one less conflict point on the world map. "There are certainly geopolitical calculations behind the EU's plans to allocate 10 million euros to support the Armenian Armed Forces. In particular, to spread its destructive influence to the Transcaucasus. We are sure that the so-called European Peace Fund is not about peace, not about stability, not about security. It is about war, about provoking countries, about bloodshed. Nothing good will come of such approaches by the West in the vein of divide and rule, pitting and pitting against each other, pumping the South Caucasus with weapons," Zakharova concluded.
Having acknowledged the fact that it is up to the sovereign state how and what to spend the aid received on, and from whom to accept it in general, Zakharova added that, nevertheless, there are issues that really worry Moscow, since this is not the Peace Fund, but the War Fund.
Recall that on July 22, the EU Council adopted the first ever aid measure in support of the Armenian Armed Forces in the amount of 10 million euros through the European Peace Facility (EPF).
The purpose of this aid measure is to increase the logistical potential of the Armenian Armed Forces, as well as to help improve the protection of the civilian population in crisis and emergency situations. It is also aimed at increasing Armenia's resilience and stimulating the interoperability of its Armed Forces in the event of the country's possible future participation in international military missions and operations, including those deployed by the EU. Specifically, the adopted aid measure will ensure the full deployment of a tent city for a battalion unit. The European Commission noted that the support adopted today will be provided within the framework of the EU's partnership with Armenia, which is based on shared values and aimed at promoting peace, stability and prosperity in Armenia and the South Caucasus.
The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 to finance actions within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy aimed at preventing conflicts, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability. In particular, the European Peace Facility allows the EU to finance actions aimed at strengthening the capacity of third countries, as well as regional and international organizations, in military and defense matters. The EU Council also gave the green light to the start of a visa liberalization dialogue with Armenia.