Asked by: Lord Sheikh (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the attempt to normalise relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia based on the five principles Azerbaijan recently offered to Armenia; and the role any non-cooperation from Armenia may have played in hindering such normalisation.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government welcomes the steps that Armenia and Azerbaijan are taking to normalise relations following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and is monitoring developments closely. In his meetings with the Azerbaijani and Armenian Ambassadors, on 29 and 31 March respectively, the Minister for Europe and North America, the Rt Hon. James Cleverly MP, reinforced the need for substantive negotiations without preconditions to secure a sustainable and peaceful settlement to the conflict. The UK Government will continue to encourage the parties to engage in negotiations to secure stability and security for region.
Asked by: Lord Sheikh (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, the Foreign Secretary has had with her Armenian counterpart concerning the release of data about Azerbaijanis who went missing during hostilities in the 1990s.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government continues to urge the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to settle all outstanding matters related to the conflict, including the return of the remains of the deceased from the 1990s and the return of prisoners of war from the most recent conflict. This was most recently raised by the Minister for Europe and North America, the Rt Hon. James Cleverly MP, in calls with the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers on 1 and 4 March respectively.
Asked by: Lord Sheikh (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reopen the diplomatic mission in Afghanistan; and what discussions they have had with the government of France concerning a joint mission.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We intend to re-establish a diplomatic presence in Kabul as soon as the security and political situation in Afghanistan allows, and are coordinating this effort with allies. We are in regular contact with the French Government.
Asked by: Lord Sheikh (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to provide official channels to support charities sending aid funding to Afghanistan.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
On 22 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2615 which added a humanitarian exception to the sanctions regime established by resolution 1988 (2011), enabling the provision of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. The UK government is now working as a priority to update the relevant UK legislation to implement this exception. The UK government continues to work closely with the UN and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to ensure that UK aid benefits Afghans in need while meeting our international obligations. We are providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan through the UN, NGOs and the Red Cross Movement on the ground, who are continuing to ensure vital aid reaches those who need it most. We have made the humanitarian situation and access a major subject of our engagement with the Taliban. We continue to monitor this closely.
Asked by: Lord Sheikh (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given in collaboration with the United Nations about granting an exemption from sanctions for humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan; and how they and international partners will monitor the effectiveness of any agreed resolutions.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
On 22 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2615 which added a humanitarian exception to the sanctions regime established by resolution 1988 (2011), enabling the provision of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. This resolution will help save lives, by ensuring that the 1988 sanctions regime poses no obstacle to the provision of humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs in Afghanistan. This directly responds to what the humanitarian community told us they needed. The UK government is now working as a priority to update the relevant UK legislation to implement this exception. The UN will report on the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan while the exception is in place.
Asked by: Lord Sheikh (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Armenia on sharing mining maps and data with the government of Azerbaijan to facilitate the process of de-mining.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Minister for Europe and Americas continues to raise with both Governments the importance of the return of all missing persons, the return of the remains of the deceased and the return of mine maps. She did so most recently in her meetings with the Armenian and Azerbaijani Ambassadors on 4 and 17 November respectively. We welcome the most recent returns of prisoners of war in exchange for mine maps. The UK continues to urge both Governments to settle all matters related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through negotiation under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Asked by: Lord Sheikh (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Armenia on sharing information with the government of Azerbaijan about Azerbaijanis who went missing during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Minister for Europe and Americas continues to raise with both Governments the importance of the return of all missing persons, the return of the remains of the deceased and the return of mine maps. She did so most recently in her meetings with the Armenian and Azerbaijani Ambassadors on 4 and 17 November respectively. We welcome the most recent returns of prisoners of war in exchange for mine maps. The UK continues to urge both Governments to settle all matters related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through negotiation under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group.