ANC UK Newsletter

February 2023

Discussions in the House of Lords and in the House of Commons on the ongoing blockade of Artsakh

The House of Lords Oral Question Time on the ongoing blockade of Artsakh
The House of Commons: Westminster Hall debate on the closure of the Lachin Corridor and the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh
Questions sent by Peers and MPs regarding the blockade of Artsakh

The crisis caused by Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor, the only corridor connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the rest of the world, has been the focus of our advocacy since the start of the blockade on 12 December 2022.

We have worked very hard to alarm parliamentarians in the UK on the crisis and to request action from them. As a result, please see below two events that have been a breakthrough.

1. The House of Lords Oral Question Time of the blockade of Artsakh (17 January 2023)

A discussion was held at the House of Lords on the subject of Artsakh’s blockade on 17 January 2023. The Oral Question Time was initiated by Lord McInnes of Kilwinning.

Lord McInnes asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Azerbaijan regarding the blocking of the Lachin (Berdzor) Corridor, and the consequences for the humanitarian situation in that region. Lord McInnes also pointed to the relevance of Article II(c) of the Genocide Convention in light of the Azerbaijani-imposed blockade, under which genocide is defined is “deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”.
In response, Lord Ahmad, the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, noted that officials, including the UK ambassador in Baku, have engaged with the Azerbaijani Government to urge the immediate reopening of the corridor. Lord Ahmad made it clear that the UK Government is categorically clear that the closure of the corridor risks a significant humanitarian crisis and that access must be restored. Baroness Cox raised the “dire” situation in Artsakh and pointed out that some fear genocide unravelling as a result of the horrendous suffering inflicted by Azerbaijan. Together with Lord Alton, she questioned the UK Government on their genocide prevention responsibilities and on the work which the UK Government should undertake in respect of requiring the immediate lifting of the blockade and/or launching of humanitarian aid airlifts.

Lord Howell noted that he is “a feeble supporter in securing the position of Armenian citizens in Nagorno-Karabakh [Artsakh]”. Lord Darzi highlighted the humanitarian crisis unravelling in Artsakh and pointed out that “it is time for the international community and the Government to step up the pressure on Azerbaijan by imposing sanctions over and above existing embargoes against the supply of arms”.

Lord Browne, Lord Bruce and Lord Collins were the other participants in the discussion. We thank them, as well as Lord McInnes, Lord Ahmad, Baroness Cox and Lord Alton for all the work they have done and continue to stand up for securing peace for the people of Artsakh.

You can read the text of the House of Lords debate on the Hansard website, which provides official reports of all Parliamentary debates: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2023-01-17/debates/6053D7C5-A554-45F4-AE6F-DE8509CD0801/Nagorno-Karabakh

You can also watch the full debate here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kjNv5bwsrY&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fen.armradio.am%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title

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Lord Alton is one of many parliamentarians who supports Artsakh and urges Azerbaijan to open the corridor.

2. The House of Commons discussion of the blockade of Artsakh (24 January 2023)

A very important Westminster Hall debate took place in the House of Commons on 24 January 2023 on the closure of the Lachin (Berdzor) Corridor and the humanitarian situation in Artsakh. The debate was requested and led by Tim Loughton MP, Chairman of the APPG for Armenia.

The time allocated to the debate was 1.5 hours. Through the efforts of ANC UK, the Armenian Embassy to the United Kingdom and Tim Loughton MP, 13 MPs participated in the debate from the Armenian side. Despite misleading emails from Azerbaijan’s Embassy and their APPG, their side was represented by one MP only, who has been accused of spreading Azeri propaganda. The House of Commons and House of Lords debates, together with all the letters sent by parliamentarians to the Foreign Secretary, demonstrate the fact that our support is growing in numbers in both Houses of Parliament, with a greater interest in Armenia and Artsakh.

The main messages from our side in the House of Commons were to encourage the UK Government to:

Condemn Azerbaijan for its blockade of Artsakh
Introduce relevant sanctions in respect of Azerbaijan
Provide humanitarian aid to Artsakh
Help the Armenian nation which is clearly targeted by Azerbaijan and stop ethnic cleansing from happening, with history repeating itself
Address the lack of response by the UK Government
Use the leverage the UK Government has because of its large trade investments in Azerbaijan to put pressure to lift the blockade
Support the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh

As a result, the Foreign Secretary’s representative, David Rutley (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs), was put under immense pressure by the MPs for the UK Government to act promptly in respect of the blockade of Artsakh. He stated the following:

“Our message is simple: the Lachin corridor must reopen. We call on Azerbaijan to do that. Substantive peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan are needed to resolve this and other matters, and they must continue in earnest, as they are the only means of bringing a lasting peace to the region…

As was set out in this debate, and as hon. Members know well, the Lachin corridor is a narrow strip of land that provides a lifeline for the people living in Nagorno-Karabakh, enabling food and goods to enter from Armenia. Since 13 December, it has been closed by Azerbaijani demonstrators, who are preventing not only food and goods from moving freely, but in some cases the individuals who live there. The 2020 ceasefire statement agreed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia places responsibilities on both countries. All parties should act in good faith and for the benefit of the civilians of Nagorno-Karabakh. That includes enabling the unimpeded use of the Lachin corridor. Territorial disputes should never harm civilians…

The United Kingdom has not been a passive actor. We have not just watched the situation. We have engaged extensively and have acted. The Start Fund, which is administered by the Start Network, a UK charity made up of multiple NGOs, to which the UK is a major donor, has allocated £350,000 to support those affected by the closure of the corridor. Officials continue to monitor the situation and, through their extensive engagements with humanitarian actors, keep under review the need for further humanitarian assistance.”

We sincerely thank Tim Loughton, Judith Cummins, John Spellar, Jessica Morden, Giles Watling, Jim Shannon, Sir John Whittingdale, Carol Monaghan, Chris Law, Dr Rupa Huq, Martyn Day and Stephen Doughty for participating in the debate.

You can read the full text of the House of Commons debate here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2023-01-24/debates/B6665EA2-0487-4DD5-8FAD-52C81A74FC4D/details

You can also watch the full debate here: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/519c46f7-f542-4ae0-936d-e50f1b0416f8

3. Questions sent by MPs and Peers regarding the blockade of Artsakh

Rupa Huq MP questioned the Foreign Secretary on the blockade of Artsakh during Question Time on 31 January.
- You can watch her question here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHf5fSDBR5U
Lord Bishop of Southwark posed the following questions:
- Question: “has the government undertaken, or plan to undertake, a Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability (JACS) assessment of the blockade of the Lachin corridor to underpin the UK National Security Council Strategy for Nagorno-Karabakh?”
- Answer (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon): “A Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability (JACS) for the South Caucasus region completed in early 2022. It recommended that the UK Government act, where it can, to address regional drivers of conflict in the South Caucasus and exploit opportunities for greater regional dialogue and cooperation. In line with this recommendation, the UK is spending £1 million on conflict-related programming in Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2022-23 through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has no plans to undertake a new JACS for the region in the near future, but we continue to monitor the situation closely.”
- Question: “what representations they have made to the government of Azerbaijan regarding ending the blockade of the Lachin corridor that links Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia?”
- Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: “The Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty MP, issued a statement highlighting the importance of re-opening the Lachin corridor on 13 December and our Ambassadors in the region and other senior UK officials have reinforced this message with key interlocutors, including representatives of the Azerbaijani Government. The United Kingdom also called for early resolution of this issue in our interventions in Vienna at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe on 15 December and in New York at the UN Security Council on 20 December.”
- Question: “what assessment they have made of the impact of the blockade of the Lachin corridor since 12 December 2022 on the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh; and what humanitarian assistance they are providing in response?”
- Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: “The UK Government has made clear that the closure of the Lachin corridor risks severe humanitarian consequences, particularly during winter. Officials have met with humanitarian agencies, including the ICRC, to discuss the situation. The START FUND, to which the UK is a significant donor, has allocated £350,000 to support those affected by the closure of the Lachin Corridor. UK officials remain in touch with humanitarian partners to monitor the situation. The Minister for Europe issued a statement highlighting the importance of re-opening the Lachin corridor on 13 December and our Ambassadors in the region and other senior UK officials have reinforced this message with key interlocutors. We also called for an early resolution to this issue in our interventions in Vienna at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe on 15 December and in New York at the UN Security Council on 20 December.”
Marquess of Lothian:
- Question: “what assessment they have made of the current humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, following the blocking of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan-backed protesters?”
- Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: “ UK Government has made clear that the closure of the Lachin corridor risks severe humanitarian consequences, particularly during winter. Officials have met with humanitarian agencies, including the ICRC, to discuss the situation. The Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty issued a statement highlighting the importance of re-opening the Lachin corridor on 13 December and our Ambassadors in the region and other senior UK officials have reinforced this message with key interlocutors. We also called for an early resolution to this issue in our interventions in Vienna at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe on 15 December and in New York at the UN Security Council on 20 December.”
Lord Alton of Liverpool:
- Question: “To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the remarks by Samantha Power, Administrator of USAID, who said that a “humanitarian catastrophe” is unfolding in Nagorno-Karabakh; and what steps they are taking urgently to enable NGOs and charities to fly humanitarian aid into the region.”
- Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: “The UK Government has been clear that the closure of the Lachin corridor risks severe humanitarian consequences, particularly during winter. Officials are in contact with humanitarian agencies, including the ICRC, about their assessment of the impact of the closure. The START FUND, to which the UK is a significant donor, has allocated £350,000 to support those affected by the closure of the Lachin Corridor. The Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty MP, issued a statement highlighting the importance of re-opening the Lachin corridor on 13 December and our Ambassadors in the region and other senior UK officials have reinforced this message with key interlocutors. We also called for early resolution of this issue in our interventions in Vienna at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe on 15 December and in New York at the UN Security Council on 20 December.”
- Question: “what assessment they have made of the risk of an Armenian genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh; and what steps they will take to reduce that risk.”
- Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: “The UK Government continues to monitor the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The UK Government has repeatedly urged the Armenian and Azerbaijani Governments to thoroughly investigate all allegations of war crimes and other atrocities in recent years. It is essential all allegations of mistreatment, abuse and summary killings are urgently and fully investigated by the appropriate authorities.”
Tim Loughton:
- Question: “To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will agree to meet a delegation of the all-party Parliamentary group on Armenia to discuss the continued blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.”
- Answer by Minister Leo Docherty: “I [Minister Docherty] can confirm I will meet with representatives from the APPG to discuss the ongoing closure of the Lachin Corridor and humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Hywel Williams:
- Question: “what recent assessment he has made of the availability of (a) food, (b) medicine and (c) energy supply in Nagorno Karabakh; and what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on recent developments and ensuring freedom and security of movement along the Lachin corridor?”
- Answer by Minister Leo Docherty: “The UK Government has made clear that the closure of the Lachin corridor risks severe humanitarian consequences, particularly during winter. I [Leo Docherty] spoke to Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan on 18 January where we agreed on the importance of the immediate re-opening of the Lachin Corridor and the need to ensure gas and electricity supplies into Nagorno-Karabakh are not switched off. UK officials, including our Ambassador in Baku, have engaged extensively with Azerbaijani counterparts. On 18 January officials spoke to the ICRC regarding the humanitarian situation, including the dwindling food and medical supplies, and will remain in contact in the coming weeks to share their assessment of the impact of the closure.”
Lord Bishop of St Albans:
- Question: “what representations they have made to the government of Azerbaijan regarding the blockade of Lachin Corridor between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh?”
- Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: “The UK Government has made clear that the closure of the Lachin corridor during winter risks severe humanitarian consequences. Officials are in contact with humanitarian agencies, including the ICRC, about their assessment of the impact of the closure and the Government is a significant donor to agencies providing assistance on the ground. The Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty issued a statement highlighting the importance of re-opening the Lachin corridor on 13 December and our Ambassadors in the region and other senior UK officials have reinforced this message with key interlocutors. We also called for early resolution of this issue in our interventions in Vienna at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on 15 December and in New York at the UN Security Council on 20 December, where I also discussed this with the Foreign Minister of Armenia.”
- Question: “what assessment they have made of the humanitarian impact of the blockade on Lachin Corridor between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh?”
- Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: “The UK Government has made clear that the closure of the Lachin corridor during winter risks severe humanitarian consequences. Officials are in contact with humanitarian agencies, including the ICRC, about their assessment of the impact of the closure and the Government is a significant donor to agencies providing assistance on the ground. The Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty issued a statement highlighting the importance of re-opening the Lachin corridor on 13 December and our Ambassadors in the region and other senior UK officials have reinforced this message with key interlocutors. We also called for early resolution of this issue in our interventions in Vienna at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on 15 December and in New York at the UN Security Council on 20 December, where I also discussed this with the Foreign Minister of Armenia.”

4. Media Coverage of our work

Our activities are being covered widely in the Armenian Press:
You can watch our latest interview with Yerkir.am here: https://yerkir.am/hy/article/2023/02/01/7029