Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of civilians who have lost their lives since 1 June as a result of unidentified Armenian land mines in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
During her visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan in February the Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas highlighted UK concern over the large amount of unexploded ordnance across the region. We understand from Azerbaijani government reports that as of 9 June 2021, 27 Azerbaijanis have been killed and over 100 injured by explosive remnants of war. We are deeply concerned by this ongoing loss of civilian life.
The UK Government continues to urge both countries, most recently at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 3 June, to work together to ensure that humanitarian organisations have unimpeded access to the region and that de-mining maps are urgently provided to ensure the safety of civilians.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implementation of the agreement to end military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region; and, in particular, what progress has been made with (1) identifying, and (2) removing, land mines in that region.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas has been in regular contact with the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers since the outbreak of hostilities in September. During recent visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan she encouraged both sides to abide by the 10 November trilateral peace deal and settle all outstanding matters through talks under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group. The UK Government is aware of the significant dangers posed by large numbers of unexploded ordnance in the region. We continue to evaluate what support we might provide Armenia and Azerbaijan to take forward their removal.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much is being spent by the British Embassy in Dublin on the provision of advice to UK driving licence holders about applying for Irish driving licences before 31 December; which media sources they are paying to advertise this advice; and which other British embassies are expending funds to provide similar advice in other EU nations.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Cabinet Office regularly publishes expenditure, broken down by supplier, on a monthly rolling basis on GOV.UK, including expenditure on the cross-government Transition public information campaign.
As part of this major campaign, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is running a strand of activity focused on UK nationals who live and work in EU and EFTA countries. The campaign focuses on four key actions UK nationals may need to take around residency applications or registrations, healthcare provision, passport validity and driving licences. The messages are tailored for each country so that UK nationals are aware of the actions that may apply to them. Communications centre on digital channels, radio, print media and a range of outreach events run by embassies locally. All activity signposts UK nationals to GOV.UK with specific information for each country.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) missile attacks on the Azeri town of Barda, and (2) who was responsible for those attacks; and what representations they have made to the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia about such attacks.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK Government is aware of reports of attacks on Barda although we have not yet made an assessment on responsibility. The Minister for the European Neighbourhood spoke to the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers on 28 October. She urged both parties to abide by the humanitarian ceasefires and condemned the continued targeting of civilian settlements and infrastructure.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the missile attack on 11 October on Ganja was a breach of the agreed ceasefire in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; how many civilians were killed; and to whom they have made representations about this attack.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
We are deeply concerned by reported breaches by both sides of the humanitarian ceasefire. The Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas raised her concerns over the attacks on both Stepanakert and Ganja with the Armenian Charge d'Affaires in London on 13 October and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov on 15 October, clearly stating that civilian casualties are unacceptable. Reporting suggests that 10 civilians were killed and 35 injured during the attack on Ganja. We will continue to make representations to both parties regarding the need to urgently cease attacks against civilian settlements.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they recognise the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the nation of Azerbaijan.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
We consider that the Basic Principles for a settlement proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs provide the basis for a reasonable compromise in this regard, taking due account of the relevant OSCE principles governing relations between member-states. This includes the return of territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control and future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of refugees from the Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1990.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK Government does not have an official figure for the number of displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh since 1990.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any restrictions on UK residents in Northern Cyprus travelling across the border into the Republic of Cyprus; and whether UK residents in Northern Cyprus will be able to travel across the border into the Republic of Cyprus after Brexit.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Prime Minister has been consistently clear that safeguarding the rights of British nationals living in the EU after Brexit is a priority. We welcomed the commitments and action taken by the Republic of Cyprus government to safeguard the rights of British citizens in the event of a no deal. The British High Commission in Nicosia continues to work closely with the Republic of Cyprus on the detail of these arrangements. Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, British nationals across the whole island of Cyprus can continue to exercise freedom of movement until the end of the transition period. In the event of a no deal, British nationals should still be able to cross the Green Line. The EU's Green Line regulations allow non-EU nationals to cross the line provided they have a valid travel document, and if required, a valid visa for the Republic. The Republic of Cyprus government is clear that travellers who enter Cyprus via an illegal port of entry are in breach of the national law.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether Russia has, in the past 12 months, further increased the area of Georgia which it controls; whether there are EU observers on the temporary border between Georgia and that part of Georgia occupied by Russia; and what representations they have made to Russia in the past 12 months about encroachments.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
EU Observers (EU Monitoring Mission) patrol the Abkhaz and South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Lines (ABLs) on a daily basis but are not permitted by the de facto authorities or Russian forces to cross over into non Tbilisi Administered Territory, despite it being part of their mandate. There are 12 British nationals working in the EUMM (nine funded by Her Majesty's Government, three by the EU). The British Embassy in Tbilisi receive regular briefings from the EUMM about the situation on the ground. The EUMM has reported an increase in ‘borderisation’ activity such as fencing and signage along the ABLs over the last few months, which we believe run contrary to international efforts to find a sustainable solution.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of which other 27 Member States in the European Union have conscription into their military forces.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No assessment has been made of which other 27 Member States in the European Union have conscription into their military forces.