UK Parliament touches upon Karabakh conflict settlement

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS: The official London is concerned by the facts of the violation of the ceasefire regime on the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact and the current tension. Armenpress reports, citing the official website of the Parliament of the Great Britain that this was stated by the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Great Britain Mark Simmonds. “We continue to encourage Azerbaijan and Armenia to follow the Madrid principles, to exercise restraint, to avoid provocation and to redouble efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement based on the principles of refraining from the threat or use of force, territorial integrity and the people’s right to self-determination,” he said during the Tuesday debates on Nagorno Karabakh in the House of Commons, initiated by MP Stephen Pound.

The UK is concerned by the ongoing breach of the ceasefire along the line of contact as well as along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and strongly supports the work of the co-chairs of the Minsk group-led peace process.

The Minister also urged both sides to exercise restraint and assured the British government is committed to doing everything it can to foster efforts towards resolution of the conflict.“We consistently urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to work with the Minsk group to reduce tensions and create an environment conducive to a peaceful, long-lasting settlement,” he stated.

“The South Caucasus can be a crossroads for trade, transport and energy, linking China, central Asia, the Caspian Sea, Turkey, Europe and the Middle East.Given that potential, it is hugely disappointing that this conflict remains unresolved, not least as we approach the 20th anniversary of the ceasefire agreement this May,” he emphasized.