UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe Leo Docherty will travel to Armenia and Azerbaijan in the coming weeks. He announced the visit during a debate at the House of Commons.
“Following the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh last month, the Government called for an end to the violence, direct talks between parties to the conflict and urgent humanitarian access,” Leo Docherty said, when asked what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that humanitarian support reaches people affected by the conflict.
“We have provided £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross to meet humanitarian needs, and of course the UN has had access to the region. We encourage Azerbaijan to continue co-operation in that regard,” he said.
“While unspeakable horrors unfold in Israel and Palestine, we must not forget other conflicts around the world in which crimes against humanity have been committed against innocent civilians,” MP Chris Law said during the debate.
“Following Azerbaijan’s military intervention in Nagorno-Karabakh, almost all of the ethnic Armenian population has been forced to flee,” the MP stated.
Noting that over 100,000 people have been displaced, he asked the Minister whether he agrees that it bears the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing?
“I do not agree, but I should say that we have urged both sides to resume dialogue. Talks will be the basis of a sustainable peace. I have made that point to Foreign Ministers from both countries in recent weeks. I will make that point again when I travel to both countries in the coming weeks,” Leo Docherty said.
