Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment his Department has made of the level of humanitarian need in (a) Nagorno-Karabakh and (b) Armenia since September 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK remains concerned for the welfare of those in Nagorno-Karabakh affected by limited access to supplies following September's military action in the region. We welcome Azerbaijan's decision to grant UN access into Nagorno-Karabakh and encourage them to continue supporting international efforts to address humanitarian need. We also welcome Armenian and international assistance provided to the 100,000 or more people displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia. The UK is providing £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide life-saving medication, healthcare and other essential support. We are liaising with the UN, ICRC and others to further assess humanitarian need in the region.
Mentions:
1: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con - Life peer) months, we have sent joint delegations to the UAE, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Armenia - Speech Link
Oral Evidence Jan. 10 2024
Committee: International Relations and Defence CommitteeFound: I am also the author of a book on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current security situation in Nagorno-Karabakh; and what recent discussions they have had, together with international partners, concerning peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The return of conflict to Nagorno-Karabakh on 19 September was devastating for the local population; the subsequent ceasefire announced on 20 September must now be upheld by all parties. The Azerbaijani Government must continue to engage in talks with ethnic Armenian representatives in Nagorno-Karabakh, and ensure that it delivers on its humanitarian commitments. I [Lord Ahmad] raised this at the UN Security Council on 21 September and with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister on 23 September. The Government also continues to urge talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia to find a long term resolution to all outstanding tensions in the interests of all the peoples of the South Caucasus.
Mentions:
1: McNeill, Pauline (Lab - Glasgow) Unless there is pressure of that type, I do not see how that will come about.This week, Armenia joined - Speech Link
2: Robertson, Angus (SNP - Edinburgh Central) Today, we were updated that the Republic of Armenia has done likewise. - Speech Link
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the British Armenian community.
Answered by Leo Docherty
We regularly engage with diaspora groups representing a huge range of the diverse communities represented in the UK today. This includes the British-Armenian community, through groups such as the Armenian National Committee of the UK. We are also in regular contact with the Armenian government both through our Embassy in Armenia, and through regular ministerial calls.
We call for the UK government to pressure Azerbaijan to immediately respect a safe and secure humanitarian corridor for all the citizens of Artsakh between the region and Armenia, and to cease any aggression in all its forms against the civilian population.
Found: The situation is unacceptable, and we must help them reach safety in the neighbouring Armenia, by lifting
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to help support security in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Answered by Leo Docherty
I underlined the UK's support for the sovereignty and security of the region during a visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan in November. The UK has urged the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage meaningfully in joint and internationally-mediated negotiations to conclude a final peace settlement. We welcomed the two countries' historic joint statement of 7 December, in which important confidence-building measures were announced, aimed at reaching an historic agreement and securing lasting peace for the region.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) security and (b) stability of the Caucasus region.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The UK strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the three states that make up the South Caucasus region. The UK welcomes recent peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the agreed progress on the delimitation of their international border. We wish to see a lasting and sustainable peace settlement reached as soon as possible and stand ready to support this process. The UK remains a close supporter of Georgian democracy and Euro-Atlantic aspirations in line with the will of the Georgian people and stands with Georgia against Russian hybrid pressure.
Mentions:
1: Baroness Cox (XB - Life peer) forced to flee and live in dire conditions as displaced people.I turn briefly to my second example: Armenia - Speech Link