UK to Completely Lift Arms Embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan, Stephen Doughty Announces

On October 14, Stephen Doughty, the UK Minister of State for Europe and North America, announced that the UK would fully lift its arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan.

He noted that the UK warmly welcomes the progress made by Armenia and Azerbaijan towards peace, following the agreements reached during the Washington Peace Summit, initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, The Caspian Post reports citing Trend.

"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," he said.

Stephen Doughty further noted that the UK Government has decided to upgrade its bilateral relationships with both Armenia and Azerbaijan to a strategic partnership level.

"In recognition of their progress, and to support continued momentum towards peace, the UK Government has decided to upgrade its bilateral relationships with both Armenia and Azerbaijan to Strategic Partnerships. These partnerships will formalise cooperation in areas including trade, security, and defence, and will be underpinned by annual ministerial-level meetings to review progress," the minister added.