UK hails progress towards normalisation with Armenia, Azerbaijan's support to Ukraine

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly urged Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov to build on the recent renewed momentum of peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The sides met at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London on June 21 as part of the 5th UK-Azerbaijan Strategic Dialogue, Caliber.Az reports, citing the UK government’s press service.

The Foreign Secretary welcomed recent progress towards reaching a peaceful settlement to the long-standing conflict with Armenia, as well as Azerbaijan’s support for Ukraine through the provision of vital humanitarian aid, including delivering power generators, water pumps and medical supplies.

He also stated that the signing of a historic settlement agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is possible.

According to his Twitter post, the official London supports prosperity, peace and security in the South Caucasus.

Təşəkkür edirəm @Bayramov_Jeyhun for your humanitarian support for Ukraine.

The UK supports prosperity, peace and security in the South Caucasus. A historic peace agreement with Armenia is within reach.

— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) June 22, 2023

Additionally, as part of the dialogue, UK Minister for Europe Leo Docherty hosted Foreign Minister Bayramov in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on June 20 to discuss opportunities for greater collaboration in security, trade and cultural links.

As the largest foreign investor in Azerbaijan, Minister Docherty underlined the UK’s unique position to support Azerbaijan’s economic diversification and promote its energy transition process, which will enable Azerbaijan to tap into its renewable energy potential.

The UK’s leading role in the field of demining in the liberated territories was highlighted as a prime example of the UK’s commitment to peace in the region and shows how UK expertise is supporting Azerbaijan.

Recognising the destabilising behaviour of Iran and Russia, the minister repeated the UK’s offer to support Azerbaijan to improve its cybersecurity and strengthen its resilience against hybrid threats.

Minister Docherty underlined that the UK stands ready to support progress on human rights, which are essential for a successful and prosperous Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile, British Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fergus Auld said that the British government highly appreciates the participation of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in the conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine.

"I welcome Azerbaijan's intention to increase aid to Ukraine in demining and other vital areas," the envoy wrote on Twitter.

🇬🇧 höküməti @Bayramov_Jeyhun -un #UkraineRecoveryConference-da iştirak etməsini yüksək qiymətləndirir. 🇦🇿 -nın Ukraynaya Rusiyanın işğalı ilə mübarizəsinə dəstək üçün minalardan təmizləmə və digər həyatı əhəmiyyətli sahələrdə yardımı artıracağını elan etməsini alqışlayıram. https://t.co/RqQxzpaNIp

— FergusAuldFCDO (@FergusAuldFCDO) June 22, 2023

In the first visit to the UK by an Azerbaijani foreign minister in over 10 years, the dialogue builds on Minister Docherty’s visit to Baku in February, where he signed a memorandum of understanding to provide support to prevent illegal migrants and narcotics from entering Europe, delivering on the prime minister’s priorities.

The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) 2023, is jointly held by the UK and Ukraine in London as a continuation of the cycle of annual events with the last one conducted jointly with Switzerland in Lugano.

The previous edition of the conference, held for the first time during the ongoing war in Ukraine, launched the Lugano Principles, which laid the foundation for the reconstruction process of Ukraine and united the world in its efforts.

URC 2023 focuses on mobilising international support for Ukraine's economic and social stabilisation and recovery from the effects of war, including through emergency assistance for immediate needs and financing private sector participation in the reconstruction process.