UK Statement in response to the joint statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries
Delivered by Ambassador Neil Bush at the OSCE Permanent Council, 11 December 2020.
Thank you Mr Chair.
The United Kingdom welcomes the 3 December statement by the Co-Chairs. We fully support their ongoing efforts towards securing a sustainable and fully negotiated settlement in relation to Nagorno-Karabakh. In agreeing to the existing ceasefire, we recognise that both sides had to take difficult decisions to ensure the safety and security of their people, and we urge all parties to support both Armenia and Azerbaijan in recovering from the conflict.
We urge all parties to abide by international humanitarian law and to ensure that all displaced persons are provided with necessary support and that all returns are safe, voluntary and dignified. We welcome the efforts of humanitarian agencies including the International Committee of the Red Cross and encourage all parties to continue to work with these agencies to support the displaced persons and provide much needed humanitarian support. We continue to support the efforts of the ICRC in ensuring the exchange of prisoners of war and urge all parties to ensure they prioritize this.
The UK will continue to support the efforts of the Minsk Group and its Co-Chairs. Finally, the UK echoes the calls from the Co-Chairs in their 3 December statement which whilst welcoming the progress made urges full implementation of all outstanding obligations. We encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan to receive the Co-Chairs in the coming weeks to resolve all outstanding issues.
Thank you Mr Chair.