The UK Parliament website has published a written statement by Stephen Dowty, Minister of State for Europe and North America, on the lifting of the arms embargo on Azerbaijan and Armenia and the upgrading of relations with the two countries.
The statement says that significant developments have occurred in the South Caucasus, with historic progress in the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process.
"On 8 August, President Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Pashinyan of Armenia met at the Trilateral Peace Summit hosted by President Trump in Washington. The summit resulted in the initialing of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the signing of a joint declaration. This declaration included a joint call to dissolve the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and a commitment to ensure unhindered communication between Azerbaijan and its exclave of Nakhichevan, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia. The UK warmly welcomes the progress made by Armenia and Azerbaijan towards peace. These developments are a crucial moment in the efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region," the statement said.
The Secretary of State also stressed that, in line with this, the country has decided to elevate its bilateral relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan to the level of a strategic partnership.
"Given the significant progress made in advancing peace and the historic outcome of President Trump's recent summit in Washington, the UK believes that the rationale underlying the 1992 OSCE-recommended arms embargo of 'all supplies of arms and ammunition to forces engaged in hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region' is no longer valid.
The UK will therefore fully lift the arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan. This decision will allow the UK to develop a security and defence partnership with both Armenia and Azerbaijan in a rapidly changing context and support their efforts to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity, including in response to conventional and hybrid threats from other states and non-state actors," the statement said.
The statement also said that the country will closely monitor the regional and domestic security situation in both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and that this is a favourable moment for establishing peace, security, and prosperity in the South Caucasus.
"The UK stands ready to work with both countries, the United States, the European Union, and other partners to play a constructive and active role in supporting these reforms, as well as in ensuring security and stability in the wider region," the statement concluded.
