Monument Watch:. On December 16, 2024, the lower house of the Swiss parliament adopted a motion calling on the Swiss government to organize an international peace conference on Nagorno Karabakh, which will discuss the issue of the right of the expelled population of Artsakh to return safely to their homeland and the right to a dignified return (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK3DJlRVzXU).
It is noteworthy that the forced displacement of the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh is presented in the mediation not only as a humanitarian disaster, but also as an imperative to fight against deep regional crisis and injustice, which can simultaneously lay the foundation for stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The justification for the petition states that Nagorno-Karabakh was emptied of its Armenian population after Azerbaijan's last military advance in September 2023. "Fearing another genocide against Armenians in 1915, the historical population had to leave their homeland within a few days. Since then, the region has undergone documented ethnic cleansing. Armenian cultural heritage, such as churches, monasteries and cemeteries, are systematically destroyed or transformed with false documents under the name of "renovation", the text of the petition says (https://armenpress.am/en/article/1202426).
Despite the policies implemented by Azerbaijan, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh continue to maintain their right to return to their homeland under the security guarantees of the international community, to determine their own political future and to exercise democratic self-government (https://armenpress.am/en/article/1202426).
The right of return of displaced peoples is established by international law and diplomatic norms. This principle has been confirmed by numerous legal precedents and international resolutions, including the International Court of Justice's November 2023 and the European Parliament's March and October 2024 resolutions. (https://www.civilnet.am/en/news/809827/artsakh-peoples-right-of-return-why-swiss-parliaments-decision-is-important/?fbc lid=IwY2xjawHU5FFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdbA87tEWbT2YAy2rQdE86skLPspXDeF7DVpKR-kdsyo8WgbHonc9qq5Kg_aem_CQ-su5K7EEHF8NmFJ4d3eA).
In particular, on November 17, 2023, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Azerbaijan is obliged to ensure the "safe, unhindered and speedy return" of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh and to prevent future displacement through force or intimidation (ICJ, Doc. No. 180- 20231117-ORD-01-00-EN) In addition, the European Parliament adopted on March 12, 2024 resolution calling on Azerbaijan to open a comprehensive and transparent dialogue with the Armenians of Karabakh. The aim was to respect their rights, guarantee their safety and enable them to return to their homes under the international presence (Joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0163/2024, para. 14).
The text of the petition also states that Azerbaijan continues the systematic destruction of Armenian cultural, historical and community heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh. Monuments, churches, cemeteries and other symbols of Armenian identity are destroyed, altered and appropriated, severing the ties between the displaced and their homeland.
The resolution states that the return of Armenians to Nagorno Karabakh is not just a humanitarian obligation, but a strategic necessity for stability in the South Caucasus. History shows that peace built on the forced removal of an ethnic group is not really peace. Unresolved grievances become fertile ground for further violence and instability. If Azerbaijan is sincere in its claims of seeking peace and reconciliation, it must facilitate the return of the displaced population while preserving the cultural and historical integrity of the region.
The mediation also addresses the bilateral relations between Switzerland and Azerbaijan. "Taking into account the close cooperation between Switzerland and Azerbaijan in the field of energy policy, it is in the economic interests of the Swiss Confederation to establish stable peace in the region. This particularly includes the restoration of basic rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. The international peace forum organized by Switzerland can make a decisive contribution to the settlement of the conflict, enable the return of displaced persons and thereby contribute to the stabilization of the entire region. Switzerland has a unique opportunity to use its proven role as a neutral mediator to initiate a constructive dialogue between the conflicting parties.
