The initiative follows the adoption of Motion 24.4259 on March 18 2025 by the Swiss Council of States (upper body of the Swiss Parliament) which called for the establishment of such a forum to “facilitate an open dialogue between Azerbaijan and representatives of the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, conducted under international supervision or in the presence of internationally relevant actors, in order to negotiate the safe and collective return of the historically resident Armenian population”.
Accordingly, on May 26th, a cross-party committee of 19 parliamentarians will be launched in Bern, with an inaugural event scheduled to take place in the morning. The event will feature presentations from National Councilor Erich Vontobel (EDU, Zurich) and National Councilor Stefan Müller-Altermatt (The Center Party, Solothurn)., as well as Vartan Oskanian, the former foreign minister of Armenia and current Chairman of the Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Nagorno Karabakh, Vardan Tadevosyan, the Director of the Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center (formerly in Nagorno Karabakh), Sarkis Shahinian, the Gen. Sec. of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Switzerland-Armenia, and Dr. Joel Veldkamp, CSI’s Director for Public Advocacy.
The crucial mission of the committee aligns with the fundamental rights and security concerns of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh, who were forcibly displaced following Azerbaijan’s aggression in September 2023. The cross-party coalition of parliamentarians who support this initiative demonstrates the overwhelming support for the right of return of Artsakh Armenians to their ancestral homeland and the urgent necessity for international partners to mediate and guarantee their safety.
The EAFJD emphasizes the critical importance of ensuring that any dialogue is conducted under robust international supervision, with the presence of relevant international actors, to guarantee a fair and equitable process. The voices and rights of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh must be central to any negotiations regarding their future.
“The forced exodus of the 120,000 Armenians from their ancestral homeland in Nagorno Karabakh was a devastating affront to the rule of law and human dignity,” stated EAFJD President Kaspar Karampetian.
“We commend the Swiss Parliament for recognizing the gravity of this situation and for taking concrete steps to promote a just and lasting resolution that prioritizes the safe return and fundamental rights of the Armenian population. I would like to also extend a heartfelt thank you and congratulations to the 19 members of the committee that will be launched on Monday and wish them success in their efforts.
We further call for other European nations to follow the example of the Swiss Parliament and take part of this initiative and mediate on behalf of the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh and ensure their continued existence to live in safety and with dignity”.
On behalf of the EAFJD, we express our sincere gratitude to the Swiss parliamentarians for their commitment to this vital cause and look forward to the successful launch of the initiative on May 26th.
