The upper house of the Swiss Federal Assembly, known as the Council of States, on Tuesday adopted a motion calling on the Switzerland authors to convene a effort titled, “Peace Forum for Nagorno-Karabakh: Enabling the Return of Armenians,” the legislature’s press service reported.
With 29 of its 46 members voting in favor, the Council endorsed the initiative urging Swiss authorities to establish a dedicated forum for dialogue between representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. The aim of this Swiss-led effort is to facilitate the safe, collective, and dignified return of the displaced Armenian population to their ancestral homeland.
The Council of States’ decision follows the earlier approval of the same motion by the National Council, the lower house of Parliament, on December 17, 2024. With both chambers now in agreement, the motion becomes law, obligating the Federal Council to proceed with its implementation.
Deputy Tiana Angelina Moser (Green Liberal Party / Zurich) served as the rapporteur in the Council of States, while the original author and rapporteur in the National Council was Deputy Erich Vontobel (Swiss People’s Party / Zurich). This marks the first time both houses have passed a decision on an Armenian issue.
“The right of return for displaced peoples is a cornerstone of international law, supported by numerous legal precedents and international declarations. In particular, the International Court of Justice’s ruling of November 2023 and the European Parliament’s resolutions from March and October 2024 reaffirm this principle, calling on Azerbaijan to enable the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to return home safely and with dignity,” the Swiss Federal Assembly said.
“By initiating this Peace Forum, Switzerland reaffirms its commitment to humanitarian dialogue, international law, and constructive diplomacy in support of long-term peace in the South Caucasus,” it added in a statement.
Artsakh authorities, who are currently in exile in Armenia, announced last week that they would urge Switzerland to hold such a forum, as it will be an international mechanism that will not only address the right to return of Artsakh Armenians to their homeland, but will also sign a spotlight on the sham trials of Artsakh leaders currently underway in Baku.
