Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of reports of (a) violence and (b) land repossession against Armenian Christians in Jerusalem; and whether his Department plans to take steps to help preserve the Armenian community presence in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The UK is monitoring the situation and is clear on the need to avoid any further rise in tensions. British Consulate General staff in Jerusalem met members of the community earlier this year, discussed the current situation, and visited relevant sites in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The UK is a strong supporter of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and an advocate for the integrity of culturally important areas to be respected.