Switzerland launches peace initiative for return of Karabakh Armenians

Switzerland launches peace initiative for return of Karabakh Armenians

What is happening in the South Caucasus? This question is currently not only affecting politics and diplomacy, but also numerous people who have fled the region and would like to return. There are currently efforts in Switzerland to set up a peace forum for the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians displaced by Azerbaijan. This was initiated by various Swiss parliamentarians, and support for the initiative is growing, as presseportal.ch reports.

National Councilor Erich Vontobel (EDU, ZH) has called on the federal government to take a more active role in creating an international peace forum. The goal: to promote an open dialogue between Azerbaijan and the representatives of the approximately 100,000 displaced Karabakh Armenians. In this context, Vontobel warned that Switzerland, as a depositary state of the Geneva Conventions, could not stand idly by. The Federal Council, on the other hand, is criticized by the Coalition Suisse Internationale (CSI) for its “despondent signals” regarding the implementation of parliamentary mandates.

Peace Forum: A ray of hope for the Rhinelanders?

The establishment of the “Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno-Karabakh” committee at the end of May 2025 by 19 members of the National and Council of States was seen as an important step to promote the return of the displaced population. The managing director of the CSI, Simon Brechbühl, emphasizes that the expulsion of Christian Armenians is not only a humanitarian matter, but also a matter of international law. The issue of return is a key concern not only for those affected by the conflict, but also for the entire international community.

Support for the Peace Forum transcends political camps. For example, National Councilor Nicolas Walder (Greens, GE) supported the motion, which must be submitted on September 19, 2024, and referred to the friendship with the Armenian population. In addition, Federal President Viola Amherd emphasized the need to protect the rights of returnees in accordance with international law, which further underlines the urgent calls for Switzerland's active participation in the negotiations.

Status quo and outlook

So far, Azerbaijan has shown no willingness to cooperate with the return of the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians. Brechbühl warns of a possible escalation if this is left unheeded. The expulsion of 120,000 Karabakh Armenians in the fall of 2023 is widely viewed as a serious violation of international humanitarian law. However, the majority of votes from the National Council shows that there is a will in Swiss politics to take responsibility and focus on peace and dialogue.

The Caucasus conflict, whose roots lie in Soviet nationality policy and arbitrary border demarcation, shows the failure of international organizations to act in a timely manner. This is precisely what makes the current initiative for the South Caucasus all the more important. If Switzerland creates a forum, this could be a first step towards a peaceful solution that takes the needs of the returnees into account. Political will and dialogue can ultimately build bridges that enable return and peace. It remains to be seen how these developments will pan out.