The Bishop of Coventry received the following written answers on 10th October 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the clashes along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan which began on 12 September; and what representations they have made to the governments of those countries in relation to (1) the exercise of restraint, and (2) the observation of agreements which ended the 2020 Nagorno–Karabakh war.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): The UK Government condemns the recent violence along the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In calls with the Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan and the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov on 15 and 17 September respectively, the Minister of State for Europe, Minister Docherty, reinforced the need for a cessation of hostilities and a return to substantive negotiations to settle all outstanding matters between the parties. The UK will continue to work with both parties in the coming months to support efforts to secure regional stability and security.
The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the assertion made, and (2) the evidence in support presented, by the government of Azerbaijan that the Armenian military has (a) laid landmines in Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory, and (b) made incursions into Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory, since the end of 2020.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government is aware of these assertions. In calls with Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov on 15 and 17 September respectively, the Minister of State for Europe, Minister Docherty, reinforced the need for a cessation of hostilities and a return to substantive negotiations to settle all outstanding matters between the parties.
The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact that arms sales from Turkey to Azerbaijan are having on stability in the South Caucasus.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government has not made a formal assessment of the impact that arms sales from Turkey to Azerbaijan have had on the stability of the South Caucasus. We continue to engage with the Government of Turkey on supporting international negotiation efforts to secure stability and security in the South Caucasus.
The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked His Majesty’s Government what conversations they have held, if any, with the government of Russia in relation to the prospects for peace and security in the South Caucasus.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK Government has suspended all engagement with the Russian authorities except on a very limited number of issues including the Ukraine crisis. As such, the UK Government currently has no plans to engage directly with the Government of Russia on the situation in the South Caucasus.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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