Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Azerbaijan about (1) the rights of Armenians, and (2) the protection of cultural sites, including monasteries and churches, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas spoke to Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov on 13 November welcoming the news that the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan had reached a peace deal. She noted that a peaceful settlement was essential to securing the stability of the region and the rights of all civilians. The protection of cultural heritage affected by conflict and acts of destruction is a priority for this Government. We will continue to raise these issues with Azerbaijan and Armenia. We did so most recently in a 17 November meeting between the British Ambassador to Azerbaijan and representatives of the Presidential Administration.