On March 18, a clear majority of the upper house of the Swiss parliament approved a motion to create a “peace forum” for Nagorno Karabakh. The motion aims to facilitate dialogue between Azerbaijan and representatives of Nagorno Karabakh regarding the safe return of approximately 120,000 Armenians expelled from their homeland. Christian Solidarity International (CSI) welcomes this groundbreaking decision.
On March 18, a clear majority of the upper house of the Swiss parliament approved a motion to create a “peace forum” for Nagorno-Karabakh. The motion aims to facilitate dialogue between Azerbaijan and representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh regarding the safe return of approximately 120,000 Armenians expelled from their homeland. Christian Solidarity International (CSI) welcomes this groundbreaking decision.
The vote by the Council of States follows an earlier vote by the Swiss parliament’s lower house, the National Council. Now that both houses of the parliament have approved the motion, the Swiss government is instructed to “organize an international peace forum on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” with the aim of facilitating “an open dialogue between Azerbaijan and representatives of the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian people…in order to negotiate the safe and collective return of the historically resident Armenian population.”
Joel Veldkamp, CSI’s director for public advocacy, commented, “For nearly five years, representatives of the people of Nagorno Karabakh have been completely absent from the Western-led ‘peace process’ for their region, an omission that contributed directly to their ethnic cleansing in September 2023. This step is long overdue, and we commend this Swiss Federal Assembly for its leadership on this issue.”
National Councillor Erich Vontobel, who initiated the motion, emphasized: “This is a significant moment, not only for the expelled people but also for Switzerland itself. We are showing that our country continues to stand for peace and justice. The protection of persecuted Christians is a key concern for the Swiss population and must be vigorously pursued by diplomacy.”
Since their forced expulsion by Azerbaijan in autumn 2023, refugees from Nagorno Karabakh have been living in Armenia without prospects. Many of them had placed great hopes in this motion.
National Councillor Stefan Müller-Altermatt, co-president of the Switzerland-Armenia Group, also welcomed the decision: “The adoption of the motion sends an important signal and gives Nagorno Karabakh Armenians renewed hope for return. We have gained many friends today.”
Just days before the vote, on March 13, hundreds of people expelled from Nagorno Karabakh gathered in front of the Swiss embassy in Yerevan to express their support for the motion. The emotional rally was attended by numerous families who have found refuge in Armenia since being victims of ethnic cleansing in September 2023. Many held posters with messages of hope and gratitude to Switzerland.
During the gathering, the acting president of the National Assembly of Nagorno Karabakh, Gagik Baghunts, presented the Swiss Embassy with a formal letter addressed to Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. He emphasized: “The people of Nagorno Karabakh do not seek conflict. We seek only the opportunity to return to our homeland under conditions that ensure our security, protect our rights, and uphold our dignity.”
The ombudsman of Nagorno Karabakh, Gegham Stepanyan, also addressed the Swiss Council of States directly, expressing confidence that they would acknowledge the fundamental right of the expelled people to return to their homeland.
“With today’s decision by the Council of States, Switzerland reaffirms its commitment to supporting the victims of ethnic cleansing from Karabakh. Now concrete steps must follow quickly,” explained Simon Brechbühl, the managing director of CSI-Switzerland.
The ball is now in the court of the Federal Council, the seven-member body which is the highest executive body in the Swiss government. It is responsible for organizing the peace forum and involving the relevant parties.
The adoption of the motion sends a clear message: ethnic cleansing and forced expulsion have no place in the international order of the 21st century.
