2024-04-24 07:07:57
The situation in the region continues to be very serious, this was stated by the Shadow Minister for European Affairs, Labor MP Stephen Doughty, during the discussion in the United Kingdom Parliament entitled “International support for refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh”, noting that he is in regular contact with both Armenia and Azerbaijan in Great Britain. with the ambassadors, recently he met with the foreign ministers of both Azerbaijan and Armenia.
“We all want to see peace and stability in the region. Any return to the large-scale conflict of recent years will be an absolute disaster for the region and for all peoples,” he said.
Doughty reminded that in September of last year, Nagorno Karabakh came under direct Azerbaijani control, and the ethnic Armenian population was forced to flee to Armenia.
Although the IMF took temporary measures in November 2023, ordering Azerbaijan to allow ethnic Armenians to return “in a safe, unhindered and expeditious manner”, they still remain in Armenia,” he noted.
According to the shadow minister for European affairs, from the messages of the last days, peace seems closer than ever, at least publicly, but it should be realized that, taking into account the recent history, we need to go much further to reduce the tension and ensure the territorial integrity of Armenia.
“Armenia is now facing a large-scale refugee crisis. One out of every 30 people in the country is a refugee. More than half of these refugees are women and girls, almost a third are children, and almost a fifth are elderly. Their whole life has been uprooted. There is also a mental health crisis. About 22,500 of these refugees are believed to be living with mental health problems. It is clear that managing this crisis is beyond the capacity of any government. Despite the many global crises we face, which we regularly discuss in this place, including in the main chamber, we cannot allow Armenian refugees to face the challenges of 2024 alone, without adequate support and without clear means to rebuild their lives.
I have a number of questions for the minister, and I hope that he will be able to provide some clarity. First, will the UK government continue to play a constructive and essential role in the establishment of lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? Recently, what discussions did he have with colleagues and other interlocutors from the two countries? What were the results of those discussions? What discussions did he have with French and American officials, particularly regarding displaced persons from Nagorno Karabakh? How can we work together to provide critical support to these refugees? We simply cannot return to the violence of 2020, when more than 6,500 people lost their lives and civilians were forced to live under the constant threat of conflict and violence. We must, of course, work with European and regional partners to ensure a return to broader dialogue and a peaceful settlement.
I hope the Minister can provide further clarity on the funding issues raised by colleagues. In September last year, he and the government announced £1 million for the ICRC. What was that money spent on? Was it really all spent? Is that £1m payout enough? By comparison, France announced in December that its total contribution to emergency aid applications was 27.5 million euros. The EU provided 17.5 million euros in humanitarian aid to help displaced people in Armenia. I hope the minister can give clarity on the sufficiency of our support and evaluations.
An important issue was raised regarding the protection of cultural and religious heritage not only in Nagorno-Karabakh, but in a wider sense. What assessments did the minister give about that? What discussions did he have with the authorities of Azerbaijan and UNESCO and other structures? The issue is of critical importance, and reference was made to the important role of Armenia, particularly in the history of Christianity.
Nagorno-Karabakh and the wider region may seem far away to many, but I fear it contains men, women and children who have been humiliated for years, and they need and deserve our attention and support. The minister will tell a little about the alleged extrajudicial killings, torture and violence of prisoners of war. What assessment did he give to the people still kept in prisons? Did he discuss this issue with his colleagues in Azerbaijan and elsewhere?
Will the minister set out a broader strategy for the Caucasus, covering diplomacy, aid and trade, and, most importantly, atrocity prevention, humanitarian assistance and human rights protection? Also, what is his assessment of UK corporations in the region? That is an important point. We have a significant presence, and with that comes certain responsibilities regarding ethical practices.
We are clear, and I think there will be unity in the House on this, that Russia has no place in the future of the region, and that it will actively seek, indeed, actively seeks to obstruct progress toward peace, security, and good. The past few years have shown that Putin’s vision for the region is less secure, less coherent, and weakened to keep it within Russia’s sphere of influence. What is the minister’s assessment of Russia’s involvement in the region, and what steps are being taken together with our partners to counter Russia’s harmful influence?
I note that Armenia has frozen its membership in the CSTO and, apparently, is thinking about leaving. What is the UK Government’s view on this? Also, how can we support all the countries in the region, and indeed all of Europe, that are seeking to break free from Russia’s evil influence? Finally, what is the UK government’s official position on the right of return of ethnic Armenians expelled from Nagorno Karabakh? I hope he can give a clear answer on that matter.
The people of Nagorno Karabakh cannot be forgotten. I hope that the government will continue to support these people in their plight and also work to bring stable and lasting peace to this troubled region. The view of the official opposition is that Great Britain has an important role in the Caucasus, and I hope that the government can show that it is ready to face the challenges,” added Stephen Doughty.