Eighteen Swiss parliamentarians are demanding answers from President Guy Parmelin over the non-implementation of the Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno Karabakh. The resolution required that the Swiss government organize an international peace forum within a year of its March 2025 passage. That deadline expired seven months ago.
Official portrait of Swiss President Guy Parmelin. Swiss Federal Council
ZURICH / YEREVAN – One year and a half after the passage of the Motion 24.4259, the Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno Karabakh, Swiss lawmakers are demanding answers from President Guy Parmelin regarding his government’s “refusal” to implement the binding motion.
An open letter from National Councilors Erich Vontobel and Stefan Müller-Altermatt and co-signed by 16 fellow representatives expresses “great concern” over the ruling Federal Council’s justifications for its inaction.
The letter, sent on October 5, follows several unsatisfactory responses from the Federal Council to questions posed in parliament by supporters of the motion.
During question time on June 15, Foreign Minister Cassis claimed that he could not engage with representatives of the people of Nagorno Karabakh because of their non-state status.
In a formal interpellation, another parliamentarian pointed out to the Federal Council that Switzerland, in fact, regularly engages with non-state actors.
In its response to the interpellation on September 2, the Federal Council backtracked on that argument but maintained that it could not implement the motion because Azerbaijan and Armenia have rejected the peace forum.
“It is precisely here that a crucial gap remains in the Federal Council’s reasoning,” the letter states.
“Parliament did not mandate the Federal Council to facilitate a dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but rather a dialogue between Azerbaijan and the representatives of the Nagorno Karabakh Armenians.”
The signatories acknowledge that Switzerland cannot force Baku to the table, but they demand answers on the failure of the Federal Council to initiate dialogue with the elected representatives of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh.
The letter further demands the Federal Council adhere to Swiss law, should it deem the resolution’s mandate unfeasible.
“Parliamentary law provides a specific procedure: the Federal Council may request that the motion be struck from the agenda and must provide reasons for doing so,” it states.
Then, they emphasize, it would be up to the Federal Assembly – the two houses of the Swiss parliament – to make the final decision.
“We are aware that Switzerland cannot force Azerbaijan to participate in a peace forum. However, it does not follow that Switzerland must forgo its own diplomatic initiatives,” the letter states.
“Establishing contact with the elected representatives, ascertaining their willingness to engage in dialogue, offering good offices, conducting exploratory talks with international partners, and seeking suitable formats for discussion are steps that Switzerland can take on its own initiative.”
The letter further highlighted the critical nature of the matter, noting that more than 100,000 Armenians were forced to flee Nagorno Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijan’s military offensive in September 2023.
The International Court of Justice on November 17, 2023 ordered that Azerbaijan allow the Armenians who wish to return to do so safely, swiftly and without impediment.
