ANC UK Newsletter No 25

Genocide warning as Azerbaijan continues to block the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia.

Azerbaijan has been imposing a blockade on Artsakh and its 120,000 Armenian residents since 12 December 2022 by blocking the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor, which is the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia.

As Artsakh is under a complete blockade, this prevents food, medicine and other vital goods from transiting to the population of Artsakh. The supplies of food and medicine have already started to run out, a humanitarian catastrophe is imminent. One of the seriously ill patients in need of medical care has died due to the Azerbaijani blockade as it was impossible to transport him to Yerevan. Many other patients, including children, are currently in intensive care – it is critical that the Berdzor corridor be opened for them to obtain critical medical supplies.

The government of Azerbaijan has long promoted official hate speeches and animosity towards  Armenians, fostering impunity for atrocities committed against Armenians. The blockade is a violation of international humanitarian rights and risks causing a genocide of the Armenian population of Artsakh as the risk factors for atrocity crimes under the Genocide Convention are met. The blockade is also a violation of Point 6 of the 9 November 2020 trilateral ceasefire statement, under which Azerbaijan had assumed an obligation to allow for communications along the Berdzor corridor to remain under the control of the peacekeeping contingent of Russia. As Azerbaijan has violated this provision, it is in breach of its international obligations assumed under the ceasefire agreement.

We call on Azerbaijan to immediately stop the illegal blockade of the Berdzor corridor. To this effect, we wrote to James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, urging the UK government to condemn Azerbaijan’s criminal policy of eradication of the Armenian population of Artsakh and sanction Azerbaijan. The humanitarian crisis created needs a political solution in order to uphold the self-determination rights of Artsakh.

We thank the members of the APPG for Armenia and our other allies for their support. In particular, we thank Tim Loughton (Chairman of the APPG for Armenia) for questioning the Foreign Secretary and writing a strong letter calling for action, Chris Law for constantly raising issues on Azerbaijan’s aggression, Rupa Huq for warning about crimes of Genocide, Jessica Morden (Vice Chair of the APPG for Armenia) for condemning the actions taken by Azerbaijan, Alex Sobel for questioning the Foreign Secretary on the matter, Baroness Cox for sending letters to the Foreign Secretary and Lord Alton for raising important questions to His Majesty’s Government regarding the situation in Artsakh and the atrocities committed against the Armenian population. We also thank Lord McInnes Kilwinning for sending a question to the Foreign Secretary on what the government has done about Azerbaijan blocking the corridor and violating the peace agreement and Fiona Bruce for asking for humanitarian aid for Artsakh. Stephen Doughty the Shadow Foreign Minister has also called on Azerbaijan to end the blockade and stop the humanitarian crisis caused as a result.

Through Baroness Cox’s efforts and Christian Solidarity International, a very important document was prepared, called “GENOCIDE WARNING: NAGORNO KARABAKH”.

ANC UK has and continues to work very hard to raise this issue amongst the parliamentarians and different government departments, by sending regular briefings, letters and holding meetings.

We ask you to please send a letter to your MP using the template of the ANC UK Statement: https://ancuk.org.uk/press-release/anc-uk-press-release-on-azerbaijans-blockade-of-artsakh/

The strength of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Armenia

The APPG for Armenia has doubled its numbers since its relaunch in 2020. The APPG promotes positive relations between the UK and Armenia and raises awareness around important issues. We have had the pleasure of holding regular meetings with the group members of the APPG for Armenia, including the recently held annual general meeting during which new officers of the APPG were elected. We also had a cross-party delegation in March-April 2022 as well as held various events including a screening of the documentary film «The Hidden Map» in Parliament, an Afternoon Tea at the House of Lords, and an event for the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

The Chairman of the APPG is Tim Loughton, a Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham. We thank the APPG for Armenia for their constant support, for raising awareness of issues which are often otherwise unheard and neglected, and for constantly calling the government to keep Azerbaijan accountable for atrocities committed. We believe that our work with the APPG for Armenia is crucial in the Armenian Genocide recognition and self-determination rights of Artsakh and look forward to another fruitful year of cooperation with the APPG for Armenia in 2023!

The Security of Artsakh and Armenia

As both Artsakh and Armenia have been subject to several security threats throughout 2022, we have worked hard to raise awareness of these issues by sending regular briefings to parliamentarians and the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office, as well as by raising awareness among the UK community and organising campaigns calling MPs for action.

We strongly believe that the people of Artsakh must have a right to self-determination, and we support the peaceful resolution of the conflict. We call for Azerbaijan to stop its continuous aggression towards Artsakh and Armenia. As the most pressing issue facing the very survival of the population of Artsakh today is the blockage of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, it is our demand that Azerbaijan immediately stops the blockade of the Berdzor corridor, as well as leaves the sovereign territory of Armenia which has been encroached by 140 square kilometres and the releases all POWs.

Work on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide 

On 28 October 2022, a Genocide Determination Bill sponsored by Lord David Alton was given a Second Reading in the House of Lords. Peers of the House of Lords agreed to commit the Bill to a committee of the whole House for further consideration.

In his speech, Lord Alton pointed out that although 2023 will mark the 75th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, we are nowhere near having made clear mechanisms for helping deliver on the duty to prevent future genocides.

Lord Ara Darzi made a powerful speech, pointing out that most European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden, and the US have already recognised the Armenian Genocide. He further pointed out that a stake must be set in the ground by the UK to recognise the Armenian genocide – not just for the Armenians but for people all over the world.

You can watch Lord Darzi’s full speech here: https://ancuk.org.uk/press-release/lord-darzis-speech-at-the-house-of-lords-on-the-armenian-genocide/

Strengthening of deeper ties

ANC UK is looking forward to building stronger ties with the Cypriot, Kurdish and other community representatives in the UK. We also look forward to another year of advocating on behalf of the Armenian community in the United Kingdom.