Armenian Side Seeks Clarification from UK Foreign Office: FT

The UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has come under fire for allegations of a diplomatic blunder. He claimed in his blog that Azerbaijan has “liberated” Nagorno-Karabakh. This was reported by the Financial Times.

The Armenian government has officially requested further clarifications from the UK following Lammy's statements, an Armenian official told FT.

Lammy made this statement on Monday in a new blog on Substack, where he plans to write longer articles on global issues and UK foreign policy.

“Azerbaijan has been able to liberate the territories lost in the early 1990s,” the post states. This comment by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has not been retracted or amended despite the wave of criticism.

FT notes that the Armenian side accuses Baku of ethnic cleansing, which is not reflected in the UK official’s post.

Various diplomats have criticized this statement. In return, the Foreign Ministry clarified that Lammy’s comment does not signify a change in the United Kingdom’s position regarding Nagorno-Karabakh.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Development stated that the Foreign Secretary supports the territorial integrity of both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

As a result of Azerbaijan's military aggression in Nagorno-Karabakh from September 19-20, 2023, Artsakh was depopulated, and 105,000 Armenians from Artsakh sought refuge in Armenia.