Current status of Nagorno-Karabakh: United Kingdom's statement to the OSCE
UK Urges Peaceful Resolution and Humanitarian Aid for Nagorno-Karabakh
The United Kingdom has called for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, while expressing concern about the limited access to supplies for residents affected by the conflict before September's events.
In a statement, the UK government emphasised the importance of a diplomatic solution that fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. The resolution process should be achieved through dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, without specifying a timeline for the resolution.
While the UK's call for peace does not address the issue of humanitarian access or supplies for the affected residents, it strongly supports the efforts of the United Nations and other multilateral agencies to address the urgent humanitarian needs of those affected by the conflict. The UK welcomes Azerbaijan's cooperation with relevant international agencies.
The peace deal, which includes provisions for reintegration of Nagorno-Karabakh into Azerbaijan's governance framework, has made significant diplomatic progress. However, practical steps for safe return, security guarantees, and reintegration remain unresolved and contentious. Some displaced people may wish to return to their homes, but the implementation of the reintegration plan requires significant political will and practical security guarantees to be fully realised.
The UK encourages Azerbaijan to implement a reintegration plan, including the protection of rights and ability for displaced people to participate in civic and political life. The UK also encourages Azerbaijan to continue supporting efforts to address needs in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
In addition, the UK welcomes the access granted by Azerbaijani authorities to the Nagorno-Karabakh region for UN and other humanitarian actors. However, the UK is concerned about the limited access to supplies for residents affected by the conflict before September's events.
The UK advocates for a lasting settlement for the Nagorno-Karabakh region as a whole, emphasising the need for sustained international engagement, especially from the US and OSCE actors. The durability of the peace process depends on constitutional reforms in Armenia, protection of displaced Armenians’ rights, and the full implementation of humanitarian commitments.
[1] BBC News. (2025, September 1). Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia and Azerbaijan sign peace deal. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58205299
[2] The Guardian. (2025, September 1). Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan and Armenia sign peace deal ending six-week war. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/01/nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan-and-armenia-sign-peace-deal-ending-six-week-war
[3] The Economist. (2025, September 15). Nagorno-Karabakh: A new deal. [online] Available at: https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/09/15/nagorno-karabakh-a-new-deal
[4] Council on Foreign Relations. (2025, September 1). Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: What's Next? [online] Available at: https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/nagorno-karabakh-conflict-whats-next
[5] Human Rights Watch. (2025, December 15). Nagorno-Karabakh: Humanitarian Crisis Continues Despite Peace Agreement. [online] Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/15/nagorno-karabakh-humanitarian-crisis-continues-despite-peace-agreement
- The UK's advocacy for a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict extends beyond diplomacy, encompassing general news, politics, crime, and justice, as they emphasize the need for constitutional reforms, protection of displaced Armenians’ rights, and the full implementation of humanitarian commitments that address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
- The UK's encouragement for Azerbaijan to address the urgent humanitarian needs of Nagorno-Karabakh residents and provide access to supplies, coupled with their concern about the limited access to supplies for residents affected by the conflict before September's events, demonstrates a concurrent interest in both war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice.
