Baku’s Trophy Park simply encourages and celebrates hatred
Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth
Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
Tel: 0207 008 5000
The Lord Alton of Liverpool
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
www.gov.uk/fcdo
16 June 2021
Dear David,
Thank you for your email of 11 May about the opening of a ‘trophy park’ in Azerbaijan. I am replying as the Minister of State for responsible for Human Rights.
The UK Government is aware of the ‘trophy park’ that has recently been opened by President Aliyev in Baku following last year’s Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. During her visit to the region in February the Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas urged both the Armenian and Azerbaijani Governments to refrain from rhetoric and actions that may exacerbate the tensions. We will continue to raise our concerns with the appropriate Governments.
I want to assure you that the UK Government will support the Government of Armenia as it recovers from last year’s conflict. We shall continue to encourage both parties to engage in substantive negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to find a peaceful, sustainable and fully negotiated settlement.
Yours sincerely,
LORD (TARIQ) AHMAD OF WIMBLEDON
Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth
Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
