Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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179. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position of the Irish Government on the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the steps taken to condemn the actions of the Azerbaijani Government; the position that Ireland has taken in the EU and at the UN in relation to this conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37625/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has been consistent in calling for a cessation of hostilities and we welcome the agreement reached by Armenia and Azerbaijan to end the military conflict in and around Nagorno Karabakh. We hope that this deal leads to renewed efforts to settle the long-standing territorial dispute. Crucial details of the implementation of the nine-point deal remain unclear, but my Department is closely monitoring the situation and analysing the consequences of the conflict and the agreement.  

We remain deeply concerned for the humanitarian situation in the region, where hostilities have had a devastating impact on local civilian populations. The destruction of essential services during the conflict, including hospitals, and gas, water and electricity networks poses a serious risk to those in the region. Ensuring access for humanitarian organisations must be a top priority to avoid further catastrophe as we head into the winter months. Ireland and the EU will fully support efforts to help bring about a sustainable and lasting peace and we will continue to provide humanitarian assistance. In that regard, we note the key role that the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees will continue to play.

The reported use of Cluster Munitions in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict by both sides is a contravention of International Humanitarian Law and as such should be independently investigated. Ireland has repeatedly called for all states to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions as a matter of urgency and to destroy all stockpiles of cluster munitions.

Ireland supports a sustainable peace that is acceptable to all sides. As we know from our own history, this cannot be achieved overnight. It will require courage, compromise and confidence building on both sides with the support of the international community and this is the message we will continue to deliver in the EU and at the UN.