Azerbaijan: Arms Allegations (Hansard, 10 February 1994)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)
My Lords, officials are continuing to investigate the allegations published in the Independent. We have no evidence that British mercenaries are fighting for Azerbaijan or that British arms have been supplied to that country. We continue to support the CSCE arms embargo and in no way condone the supply of arms or mercenaries to either side.

§ Baroness Cox
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. It is encouraging that the investigation is continuing because there is still anxiety about allegations of British involvement in that tragic conflict. Is my noble friend aware that this is a particularly sensitive issue as many Armenians believe that Britain has been favouring Azerbaijan, having, for example, an embassy in Baku but not in Yerevan? Is she also aware of the distress caused to the Armenians by the appalling effects of five-year long blockades imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey and a recent escalation of military offences by Azerbaijan against the Armenians of Karabakh, involving many Mujahedin mercenaries? Can my noble friend therefore reassure the House that Britain is doing everything it can, and may even step up its initiatives through the CSCE and other channels, to prevail upon Azerbaijan that it should desist from its long-standing violation of human rights against the Armenian people?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I can assure my noble friend, as I sought to do in our debate on 28th October last, that the United Kingdom adopts a totally even-handed approach to the terrible conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. We are aware of the problems caused by the effective blockade of economic routes via some neighbouring countries. Humanitarian aid is getting through, and a British NGO—MERLIN—has been active in support of my noble friend's efforts through Christian Solidarity International. A resolution of the dispute is urgent; otherwise we cannot ease the problems of the blockade. Little progress has been made in the CSCE talks, the next round of which has still to be scheduled. I understand that diplomatic efforts are continuing behind the scenes and that the new Swedish 1690 negotiator, Jan Eliasson, hopes to be able to start work very quickly. We hope that there will then be a peace plan to which everyone can sign up.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, do the directors of a United Kingdom company have a duty to ensure that overseas subsidiaries of that company observe the embargo? Do British people or organisations have a duty to refrain from assisting in the supply of mercenaries or arms by a foreign organisation?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I believe that I am right in saying that it depends upon the law of the land in which the subsidiary operates. I believe that there is a moral duty on a British company. We sincerely hope that no one will supply either arms or mercenaries to either side of this conflict, or to any other.

§ Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone
My Lords, am I right or wrong in thinking that the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870 would render the conduct of these mercenaries, if any, an offence? If so, should not the fact be widely known?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, we hope that all persons who may have been tempted to involve themselves in such activities will desist from doing so. I am not certain of the legal point which my noble and learned friend raises, but if there is any evidence of illegal activity, which I believe this to be, it should be passed to the police authorities for further investigation.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, bearing in mind that some of us on both sides of this House belong to the British-Armenian Parliamentary Group and to a larger outside group and that we meet people from Armenia often, and bearing in mind also that there are many Armenian people in London, will the Government do everything they can—I am sure they will—to prevent further affliction being imposed on the people of Armenia? The Government have a good record on these issues and I hope that they will maintain it. I shall be happy if the noble Baroness can tell the House that the Government will do anything they can to help the Armenian people.

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, we have been discussing these very matters this week with President Ter-Petrossian who is visiting this country as a guest of the Government. The President has held meetings with the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. He has had an audience with Her Majesty the Queen, and I gave him dinner on Tuesday when we had a long and fruitful discussion about further Armenian support.

§ Lord Hylton
My Lords, is it not the case that both Iran and Turkey have refused requests for military help from Azerbaijan? Does that not speak well of the CSCE embargo, and should it not be made much more widely known?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord that it should be made much more widely known. I hope that he is right in what he says about both Turkey and Iran.

§ Lord Beloff
My Lords, did the discussions this week to which my noble friend referred include the question of British representation in Armenia? Secondly, are Her Majesty's Government inclined to try to persuade the Russians to put forward a similar peace plan to the CSCE because, as I understand it, the fact that two such peace plans are in circulation is an excuse for postponing a settlement?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, to answer my noble friend's second question first, I believe that the Russian Government can play a positive role in mediating a solution. However, all efforts must be in close liaison with CSCE efforts. In that way there will not be competing peace plans which might ditch both of them. In answer to my noble friend's question about representation, the President of Armenia did not raise the matter with me. I cannot answer for my colleagues. However, I know that our ambassador in Moscow, who is accredited to Armenia and Georgia, undertakes regular trips to the region. Great appreciation of his efforts was expressed to me on Tuesday.

§ Lord Archer of Sandwell
My Lords, does the noble Baroness appreciate that, rightly or wrongly, the question mark relates to the Government's impartiality since there is United Kingdom representation in Azerbaijan? What is the distinction between that situation and the situation in Armenia?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, when the decision was taken it was thought that the connection between Moscow and Yerevan would be a good deal easier to manage than that with Baku. I understand the anxiety expressed by the noble Lord. It may seem a one-sided matter, but I can assure him that that is certainly not intended. I know that the matter is being kept under review.

§ Lord Pearson of Rannoch
My Lords, while I congratulate my noble friend on the even-handed approach which the Government attempt to take in a tragic conflict, does she agree that Armenia's principal mistake in this terrible story is that it has not discovered oil?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, the situation in the Transcaucasus might be even more vexed if more oil were found. However, since oil represents wealth to these nations which so badly need to build up their economies, we have to hope that they will find oil one day.