UK Gov’t: Concern regarding situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia: UK statement to the OSCE

The UK continues to have serious concerns about the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the significant refugee flows from Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia.

It is vital that international humanitarian organisations have independent access into Nagorno-Karabakh, so they can assess humanitarian need and respond appropriately. We therefore welcome Azerbaijan’s decision last week to allow UN agencies into Nagorno-Karabakh, to complement ongoing efforts by the ICRC.

On 29 September, the UK government announced that it is giving £1 million to the ICRC to support those efforts. Alongside contributions from others, this will help fund life-saving medication, healthcare, and other essential support to those affected by the recent conflict.

We are also mindful of the significant pressures the movement of over 100,000 refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia will place on support services provided by the Armenian government and international aid organisations. We continue to liaise with the UN, ICRC and others to assess humanitarian need in both Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia to determine what further assistance may be required.

We continue to urge both Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue negotiations and to do all they can to reduce tensions and avoid further escalation, including through Azerbaijan making clear its respect for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for the rights and security of the remaining ethnic Armenian community in Nagorno-Karabakh. On 28 September the UK’s Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty, had calls with both Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov and made these points.

We will continue to monitor the situation, in close cooperation with our international partners, and hope to see positive steps soon to continue the substantive negotiations that are the only way to secure a lasting peace, and stability and security for the region.