January 20, 2025
The President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia are set to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to 24, with a bilateral meeting likely to take place. Additionally, a trilateral meeting involving Mr. Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, may also be on the agenda. Notably, these potential discussions coincide with the pending Motion No. 24.4259, “Peace Forum for Nagorno-Karabakh: Enabling the Return of Armenians,” which has already been approved by the Swiss National Council and is now under review by the Council of States. It is also worth noting that the Azerbaijani president’s entry into Swiss territory occurs just a few days after the commencement of sham trials in Baku against the leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh—a blatant violation of international law and human rights principles, and a clear indication of the lack of genuine intent to achieve peace with Armenia.
During the December 17, 2024 debate preceding the motion’s passage in the National Council, Mr. Cassis framed the peace process—and the return of the displaced people of Nagorno-Karabakh to their homeland—as issues solely for bilateral negotiation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This perspective, however, cannot justify dismissing or overlooking the appeals of 150,000 displaced individuals seeking assistance and third-party mediation.
While Azerbaijan claims to permit the return of displaced individuals, it has provided no evidence of mechanisms or guarantees to ensure that such returns are safe and dignified. Without these assurances, such assertions remain unsubstantiated. A safe and sustainable return requires robust measures to address security concerns, protect human rights, and improve economic conditions—none of which are currently included in the bilateral negotiations. Moreover, Azerbaijan has been resolute in its efforts to dismantle the OSCE Minsk Group, the only legitimate mediation platform for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
At the heart of this issue are the displaced individuals and families of Nagorno-Karabakh who wish to return to their homes. The right of return is clearly an issue between the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Azerbaijani government. As a nation renowned for its neutrality and humanitarian commitment, Switzerland can fill the critical gap and make a difference by initiating a dialogue focused on the rights and needs of the displaced, as envisioned by the motion currently pending in the Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation.
*The Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Nagorno-Karabakh was established by the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament and is currently based in Armenia.
Address: Nairi Zaryan Str., 17/2 building, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
E-mail: HQ@nkcommittee.org
