Thursday, March 21 2024 18:58

ArmInfo.The plight of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh is the most recent chapter in a 35-year conflict in which hundreds of thousands of civilians on both sides have been displaced from their homes. Leo Docherty, Minister of State for European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Development of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stated on Tuesday in the House of Commons of the British Parliament during debate: "Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenian  refugees".

According to the source, the British minister made the following  remarks in his speech:

"I am pleased to be here to answer this important debate, Ms Elliott.  I am grateful to the hon. Member for Glasgow North West (Carol  Monaghan) for securing it and for highlighting, through reference to  her recent experience of travelling in the region, the acute  challenges facing those affected by September's military action in  Nagorno-Karabakh. I appreciate her sharing her impressions of her  time there.

I am grateful for the contributions of all other hon. Members, and I  shall seek to cover off the questions and points raised during this  afternoon's powerful and compelling speeches. I will begin by  reflecting on the humanitarian situation, before turning to the topic  of peace efforts. As colleagues have concluded this afternoon,  lasting peace is at the heart of any long-term solution and any  improvement in the lives and livelihoods of people in the region.

As hon. Members have eloquently set out, relations between Armenia  and Azerbaijan are deeply complex.  The plight of refugees from  Nagorno-Karabakh is the most recent chapter in a 35-year conflict in  which hundreds of thousands of civilians on both sides have been  displaced from their homes. As we have heard this afternoon,  Azerbaijan carried out a military operation last September that  restored its sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh. As a result, nearly  the entire ethnic Armenian population of around 100,000 people fled  to Armenia, where they faced acute humanitarian challenges.

Although the UK fully recognises Azerbaijan's sovereignty and  territorial integrity, we are also clear that the use of force is not  an acceptable means of resolving tensions between communities. As we  have heard this afternoon, that military operation followed a  nine-month restriction of the Lachin corridor-the only road linking  Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia-which Toggle showing location ofColumn  282WHresulted in a dire humanitarian situation, including shortages  of food, fuel, medicine and other basic supplies. The UK made it very  clear bilaterally, as well as in the OSCE and at the United Nations,  restricting access to the Lachin corridor and other supply routes was  unacceptable, and we publicly called for access to be restored.

Dwelling on UK action as part of the humanitarian response, we  continued to work alongside international partners in both countries  to support humanitarian responses to the situation. Last September,  as has been discussed this afternoon, we announced  1 million for the  Red Cross's movement of life-saving medication, healthcare and other  essential support for the most vulnerable people affected by the  conflict. I have heard the calls this afternoon for an increased  financial contribution, and I can say that we will of course continue  to keep these issues under review. We should also bear in mind that  we have contributed EUR1 million to regional de-mining since 2021. I  have noted the views of colleagues this afternoon, and we will also  keep that issue under review.

We provided further medical assistance to survivors in Armenia in  partnership with the UK medical education database, including medical  supplies given to the National Centre for Burns and Dermatology.  We  are committed to supporting Armenia as it provides for the refugees  from Nagorno-Karabakh, and we will continue to work with  international partners and the Armenian Government to strengthen  their capacity to support the refugees and the communities hosting  them. We are also determined to support Azerbaijan to make safe its  recovered territories for the return of its own displaced population,  as well to ensure the integration of ethnic Armenians who wish to  return. As I have mentioned, we have contributed  1.5 million to mine  action in the region, which continues to have a very important,  lifesaving effect.

I turn to the peace process. I intend during my peroration to answer  all the questions posed. It is clear that the peoples of both Armenia  and Azerbaijan have suffered greatly during this long-running  conflict. That is why the UK Government have been a leading voice in  urging peace and engaging extensively with both Governments. I  thought my right hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Sir John  Whittingdale) summed up the current feeling when he said that there  is a realistic recognition of the current situation and a quiet  positivity about the possibility of peace, and I concur with that  sentiment."

"The hon. Lady is absolutely right: it is a contradiction in terms to  refer to Russian peacekeepers. They are nothing of the sort, and we  see the Russian role across the region as nothing but extremely  unhelpful meddling; I may dwell on that at the end of my remarks.  Toggle showing location of Column 283WHTo answer the question posed  by the hon. Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Stephen Doughty)  about our approach in the context of Russia's historical role in the  region, it is clear that practical experience has revealed Russia to  be an unhelpful and unreliable ally.

It is clearly incumbent on countries such as ours-I say this  conscious that His Excellency the Ambassador is in the Public  Gallery, and I am very glad to see him there-to offer the hand of  friendship and partnership to Armenia. I am very pleased that during  my last visit we undertook the first stage of the strategic dialogue  that now exists between our two countries. It represents a thickening  and deepening of an increasingly meaningful bilateral relationship  that is good for both sides and for the region.

On the peace process, in calls with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia  and Azerbaijan last September, I urged both sides to return to  dialogue and ensure unfettered humanitarian access to the vulnerable  people and communities affected by events in Nagorno-Karabakh. The  then Foreign Secretary reiterated that message last October when he  spoke to various Foreign Ministers. As I mentioned, I visited Yerevan  and Baku last November, where I met the leaders and Foreign Ministers  of both countries, and I urged them to engage meaningfully in  internationally mediated negotiations to reach an agreement and  secure a lasting peace for the region. I was delighted that President  Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan met in Munich last month at the  security conference, and that their Foreign Ministers quickly  followed up with a meeting in Berlin at the end of February. We  continue to engage energetically on the diplomatic front.

I am encouraged by both sides' openness to continuing their  discussions and to recognising and welcoming the offers of  international support. We, in concert with our allies in Europe and  across the Atlantic, continue to stand ready to support them at every  step of their journey towards peace. I again refer to the comments of  my right hon. Friend the Member for Maldon: there is a realistic  recognition of the opportunity that lies ahead for both leaders to  achieve a meaningful and sustainable peace, and we should be quietly  optimistic about that. We will continue to offer support through our  diplomacy as they do that important work in a bilateral context,  which is something we should be quietly encouraged by."

"The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. We are pleased that we will  be hosting the EPC in July; it is a very useful convening moment and  a good opportunity for leaders from the Caucasus to come together, in  concert with other European leaders, to progress peace."

"Let me turn to some of the other questions that were asked. On the  preservation of religious sites, both Armenia and Azerbaijan are  responsible for ensuring that the cultural heritage of all the  peoples of the region is protected and preserved for the benefit of  all. We take very seriously reports of the destruction of religious  and cultural sites, and we support the work of international  organisations undertaking observation missions to evaluate those. I  am grateful that the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) raised  the important issue of freedom of religion, and I entirely agree with  the sentiment he expressed.

Several hon. Members asked about prisoners of war and war crimes. We  continue to encourage the return of all prisoners of war and the  remains of the deceased from the conflicts. We were pleased that  Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to the release of 34 prisoners in  December last year. We continue to call for-" "To conclude,  therefore, I reiterate that we stand by those affected by this  conflict. We will continue to offer humanitarian support, and we will  energetically offer our diplomatic support. We hope that, after many  turbulent years, there is a real, meaningful and sustainable chance  for peace in the south Caucasus."