EAFJD welcomes Swiss Parliament`s Motion to launch  Peace Forum for  Nagorno-Karabakh

ArmInfo. The European Office of "Hay Dat" (EAFJD) welcomes the Swiss Parliament's Motion to launch a Peace Forum on Nagorno-Karabakh. In a statement received by  ArmInfo, the EAFJD recalls that on March 18 the Council of States-the  upper house of the Swiss Federal Assembly-adopted Motion No. 24.4259  titled "Peace Forum for Nagorno-Karabakh:  Enabling the Return of  Armenians."  

The Armenian community organization noted that this motion, initially  passed by the National Council, the lower chamber of the Swiss  Federal  requires the establishment of an international forum by the  Swiss Government to facilitate and promote the right of return of the  forcibly displaced indigenous Armenian population of  Nagorno-Karabakh. "This motion, which was introduced to the  parliament by the Foreign Relations Committee of the Swiss National  Council, calls for a direct, open dialogue between Armenian  representatives and Azerbaijani authorities and affirms the  undeniable responsibility of the international community in providing  guarantees for the safe return of the displaced persons to their  historical homeland.  Crucially, in addition to inviting   representatives of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh directly, the  motion's justification explicitly states that Nagorno-Karabakh has  been emptied  of its Armenian population since  Azerbaijan's military  actions in September 2023, citing documented ethnic cleansing," the  EAFJD statement reads. 

The Armenian organization also noted that the adopted document  emphasizes that direct threats and military operations by the  Azerbaijani authorities had spread fear and forced the Armenian  population to leave their homeland within a few days. "This decision  enforces the Swiss government to establish an international forum  between representatives of Azerbaijan and the Armenians of Nagorno-  Karabakh/Artsakh, which will promote the right of return of Artsakh  Armenians under international security guarantees to ensure their  protection," the statement continued. "I congratulate the Swiss  Council of States for ratifying the initiative that  accepted  previously by the Swiss National Council. Now it is time for the  Swiss government to fully enact the provisions of this decision and  promote the safe and unhindered return of Armenian civilians from  Artsakh to their homeland. The establishment of such a forum, which  will facilitate the right of return under international protection  guarantees, is not only a victory for the Armenian people, but also a  triumph for all those who fight for justice and peace," EAFJD  President Kaspar Karampetian concluded.