Erich Vontobel stands with the flag of Artsakh in front of the Swiss parliament on March 18, 2025. The Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno Karabakh is a parliamentary-backed diplomatic effort to facilitate dialogue between Azerbaijan and representatives of the displaced Armenian population. It seeks to convene an international peace forum under Swiss mediation to… Read more »
CSI made a statement on the displaced ethnic Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. un web tv Media Release GENEVA – In the nearly 22 months since Azerbaijan expelled 120,000 ethnic Armenians from their homeland in Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan has exhibited “flagrant disregard” for international law and the Convention… Read more »
The Swiss Peace Initiative will be presented on July 8 in Washington DC. Architect of the Capitol, Wikimedia Media Release Next week, CSI’s President John Eibner will join two Swiss members of parliament – Erich Vontobel and Lukas Reimann – and ex-Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian in Washington DC to present the Swiss Peace Initiative… Read more »
French President Macron expressed support for Armenian Premier Pashinyan. www.primeminister.am CSI statement CSI calls for release of imprisoned archbishops and respect for separation of church and state On June 29 French President Emmanuel Macron assured Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of his “solidarity” as he intensifies a wave of arrests and other coercive measures against the… Read more »
Swiss parliamentarians express support for Nagorno Karabakh during Azerbaijan’s blockade, February 27, 2023. csi Erich Vontobel and Stefan Müller-Altermatt In this piece, first published in the Tages Anzeiger, Swiss MPs Erich Vontobel and Stefan Müller-Altermatt react to the Swiss Federal Council’s claim that it cannot fulfill its obligation to hold a peace forum for… Read more »
The Christian Solidarity Podcast: Understanding the conflict in the Caucasus In this pilot episode of the Christian Solidarity Podcast, host Abi McDougal talks with CSI’s director of advocacy, Dr. Joel Veldkamp, about Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Armenian Christians from Nagorno Karabakh. They explore the historical context of the conflict, the implications of the Swiss… Read more »
Swiss Parliamentarian Erich Vontobel (left) and Sarkis Shahinian (Secretary General of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Switzerland-Armenia) at the founding meeting of the Committee “Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno-Karabakh.” Photo: CSI Media release CSI supports the Swiss sponsored peace negotiations between the Azerbaijani Government and representatives of the forcibly displaced Armenian Christian population of Nagorno… Read more »
Vardanyan, who was captured in 2023, has become a key face of the resistance against Azerbaijan while facing brutal conditions with his fellow Armenian prisoners in Baku. photo: free armenian prisoners In a moving appeal, David Vardanyan, son of imprisoned businessman Ruben Vardanyan, has called on US President Donald Trump to use his political influence… Read more »
Vartan Oskanian spoke about the right of return to Nagorno Karabakh at the launch of the Swiss Peace Initiative on May 26. facebook On May 26, a committee of 19 Swiss parliamentarians from across the political spectrum launched the Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno Karabakh in the Swiss capital, Bern. During… Read more »
Speakers at the launch of the Swiss Peace Initiative in Bern, left to right: Erich Vontobel, Sarkis Shahinian, Vartan Oskanian, Joel Veldkamp: csi – Switzerland urged to move ahead quickly with peace forum On May 26, a cross-party Swiss parliamentary committee launched the Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno Karabakh in the Swiss capital, Bern…. Read more »
