Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to recent fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers, what assessment they have made of the current security situation on the Armenia–Azerbaijan state border; and what discussions they have had with international partners on ways to prevent further escalation.

The Government is deeply concerned by the recent ceasefire violations on the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and regrets the loss of life. We continue to monitor the situation closely. The Government supports the negotiations facilitated by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group aimed at securing a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office statement of 14 July called for both sides to respect the ceasefire, engage in dialogue and refrain from rhetoric that could increase tensions. In our conversations with both governments we will continue to stress the need for a return to substantive talks and the importance of building confidence in the peacebuilding process.