The United Kingdom warmly welcomes the progress made by Armenia and Azerbaijan on the path to peace, describing these developments as key to efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region, UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty said in an official statement.
The document notes that, in light of this progress and with the goal of supporting the peace process, the UK Government has decided to elevate its bilateral relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan to the level of Strategic Partnerships.
“Given the significant progress made in advancing peace, and the historic outcomes of the recent summit in Washington hosted by President Trump, the UK considers that the rationale underpinning the OSCE’s 1992 recommended arms embargo on “all deliveries of weapons and munitions to forces engaged in combat in the Nagorno-Karabakh area” has fallen away. The UK will therefore fully lift its arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the statement reads.
This decision will enable the UK’s security and defence partnerships with both Armenia and Azerbaijan to evolve in a rapidly changing context, and will allow the UK to support efforts to safeguard their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We will keep the regional and internal security situation of both Azerbaijan and Armenia under close review. We sincerely hope this is a moment of opportunity for 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 proactive role in supporting this transformation, and the security and stability of the wider region”, Doughty’s statement concludes.
