Swiss Upper House backs peace forum for Artsakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - On March 18, the Upper House of the Swiss Federal Assembly, the Council of States, approved project No. 24.4259, titled "Peace Forum for Nagorno-Karabakh: Ensuring the Possibility of Armenians’ Return."

In December 2024, the lower house of parliament, the National Council, adopted a similar resolution urging the Swiss government to initiate an international peace conference on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The initiative was supported by 29 out of 46 members, backing the proposal to establish a special platform for dialogue between representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan under Swiss auspices, according to Artsakh Union.

The project aims to ensure the safe, organized, and dignified return of forcibly displaced Armenians to their historical homeland. The Council of States' decision follows the National Council's approval of the same proposal on December 17, 2024.

With both chambers’ approval, project No. 24.4259 gains legal status, obligating the Federal Council to implement it. The initiative's rapporteur in the Council of States was Tiana Angelina Moser (Green Liberal Party / Zurich), while in the National Council, it was proposed and presented by Erich von Tobel (Swiss People's Party / Zurich).

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack on Artsakh, subjecting the region to heavy artillery fire. The following day, on September 20, the authorities of Artsakh accepted a ceasefire proposal mediated by Russian peacekeepers, agreeing to Baku’s terms, including the disarmament of the Artsakh Defense Army and the dissolution of the Republic of Artsakh. By September 24, a forced exodus of Armenians from Artsakh began, with over 100,000 people fleeing to Armenia. Reports indicate that only around 20 Armenians remain in Artsakh. On September 28, Artsakh's President Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree on the dissolution of the republic, which took effect on January 1, 2024.