Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his Azerbaijani counterpart on the protection of the cultural and religious heritage of Artsakh.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is clear that the preservation of religious and cultural sites in the region is important. We are aware of allegations from both Armenia and Azerbaijan that cultural and religious sites have been deliberately damaged over the course of the decades-long conflict between the two states. The UK Government has raised the topic of religious and cultural destruction with the Azerbaijani Government on many occasions and continues to press for the protection of sites of significance.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make representations on (a) a right of return for Armenians and (b) the release of detained Armenians during the COP29 summit.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has encouraged Azerbaijan to provide clarity on the rights and security of ethnic Armenians displaced by conflict who wish to return to Nagorno-Karabakh. The UK continues to urge Azerbaijan to ensure that those detained during September 2023's military action in Nagorno-Karabakh are afforded a fair trial and provided safe conditions. Regarding the remaining prisoners of war, we have been consistent in calling for their release and for the return of the remains of the deceased throughout the period of conflict in the region. I discussed these issues with Azerbaijani counterparts in the run-up to COP29.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Azerbaijani counterpart on the right of return of Armenians of Artsakh under international protection.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has consistently encouraged the Azerbaijani authorities to provide clarity on the rights and security of ethnic Armenians displaced by conflict who wish to return to Nagorno-Karabakh. We have no plans to raise international protection in relation to this matter. We commend the tremendous efforts of the Armenian government which has supported those displaced from the region to enable them to have a future in the country.
Asked by: Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prospects for a negotiated peace between the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia; and what steps they are taking to support the current negotiations between the two parties.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Minister of State for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories spoke with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on 11 October and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on 31 October. Both parties highlighted progress on peace negotiations, supported by meetings between the two countries in Istanbul and Kazan in October. The Government is clear that a sustainable peace is key for the stability and prosperity of both countries and the region, and we stand ready to support the two sides to achieve this goal.
Asked by: Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Azerbaijan regarding the release of ethnic Armenians held in detention following Azerbaijan’s military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK continues to urge the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure that those detained during September 2023's military action in Nagorno-Karabakh are afforded a fair trial and provided safe conditions, in accordance with Azerbaijan's international obligations and commitments. The Minister of State for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories discussed this issue with Presidential Representative Elchin Amirbayov on 29 October.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his Azerbaijani counterpart on Armenian prisoners illegally held by the Azerbaijan regime.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK continues to urge the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure that those detained during its longstanding conflict with Armenia, or during September 2023's military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, are afforded a fair trial and provided safe conditions, in accordance with Azerbaijan's international obligations and commitments. Regarding prisoners of war, we have been consistent in calling for their release, and for the return of the remains of the deceased, throughout the period of conflict in the region. I raised this issue with Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan, Elchin Amirbayov, during his visit to the UK in October.
Asked by: Lord Carey of Clifton (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of recent developments in the control of the Nagorno–Karabakh region for freedom of religion or belief in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK has been clear that the preservation of sites of religious significance in both Armenia and Azerbaijan is an important issue, and we take seriously reports of the destruction or targeting of such sites. Embassies in Baku and Yerevan have raised this issue with both Armenian and Azerbaijani governments, and we encourage both to ensure that freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is protected in their countries. We will continue to uphold the right to FoRB through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through our bilateral work.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will raise the detention in Azerbaijan of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu during COP29 climate conference in November.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I [Minister Doughty] raised the detention of prominent academic Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov during our call on 31 October, and with Presidential Representative Elchin Amirbayov on 29 October. The UK consistently advocates for Dr Ibadoghlu to receive all appropriate medical access and treatment, and for a fair legal process. We will continue to raise his case alongside wider human rights issues of concern.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to respond to recent alleged reports of violence against ethnic Armenians by Azerbaijan.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are not aware of any recent reports of alleged violence against ethnic Armenians by Azerbaijan. However, we are clear that peaceful negotiation is the only route to a lasting resolution of the longstanding conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we stand ready to support them to achieve this. I conveyed this sentiment in calls with the foreign ministers of both Armenia (on 11 October) and Azerbaijan (on 31 October).
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Alongside our European allies, we continue to urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to utilise upcoming multilateral meetings to maintain momentum on the peace process to finalise a lasting peace agreement. Officials in London, Baku and Yerevan remain in regular close contact with European counterparts on peace negotiations. We regularly discuss these issues with our European counterparts.