Azernews.Az

BAKU – A group of British lawmakers led by House of Lords member Caroline Cox on Wednesday reportedly visited the Armenia-occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan without Baku’s permission.

The representatives of the House of Commons and House of Lords were hosted by the leader of the self-proclaimed Nagorno Karabakh republic Bako Saakyan, Armenian media reported.

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov has said Baku was scrutinizing the issue.

"If the visit’s taking place is confirmed, those parliamentarians will be included in the Azerbaijani government’s black list," he said.

Regarding discussions on cooperation issues reportedly held during the lawmakers’ visit, Polukhov said they did not reflect Britain’s official position. "The House of Commons and the House of Lords do not represent the formal stance of the British government."

Armenian media claimed that the British MPs had discussed bilateral cooperation and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with the region’s separatist leadership.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a brutal war that ended with the signing of a fragile cease-fire in 1994. About 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory, including Nagorno Karabakh and seven surrounding regions, has been occupied by Armenian armed forces since the war. Peace talks, brokered by the United States, Russia and France, have largely accomplished no result so far.