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 Nagorno Karabakh.
In September 2023, Azerbaijan conquered the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. The army ruthlessly cracked down on the Armenian civilian population. Between 100,000 and 120,000 people fled. International organizations confirmed that this was ethnic cleansing. The world remained silent – including official Switzerland.
Parliament was unwilling to accept this. It instructed the Federal Council to organize a peace forum to facilitate dialogue between Azerbaijan and representatives of the Nagorno Karabakh Armenians under international supervision – with the aim of ensuring the safe return of the displaced persons.
Many people felt renewed hope. At the end of May, we joined forces with 17 other parliamentarians to form the cross-party committee “Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno Karabakh.”
Unilateral interpretation of international law
Last week, the Federal Council stated during question time that it could not hold the forum because Azerbaijan did not want to participate. In doing so, Switzerland is de facto accepting a dictatorship’s veto over a humanitarian mission.
The Federal Council also stated that the Swiss authorities’ contacts are only Armenia and Azerbaijan, not the Nagorno Karabakh Armenians.
The Federal Council is using Baku’s “no” as an excuse to disregard Parliament’s central mandate: to give the displaced people a say.
For years, the Federal Council has refused to talk to the Nagorno Karabakh Armenians, citing a lack of recognition. Yet until October 7, the FDFA even maintained contact with the terrorist organization Hamas. The Federal Council’s arguments are nonsensical. Switzerland is kowtowing to the Azerbaijani dictatorship and merely using international law as a pretext.
Azerbaijan exploits the global situation for its displacement policy
It is clear that anyone who systematically uses violence against a population loses the moral and legal legitimacy to their territory. Nagorno Karabakh declared its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union – like other republics – and was never part of Azerbaijan. It had a clearly defined territory and a democratically elected government. Even if this de facto state was not recognized by most countries, this does not justify attacking it and displacing its population. The FDFA is also aware of this.
Azerbaijan is exploiting the global situation to cement its policy of expulsion. Armenia fears an invasion and has therefore agreed to exclude the Nagorno Karabakh issue from the peace talks.
Switzerland enjoys a high reputation as the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions and a traditional mediator. Right now, we could make an important contribution to stabilization and justice. Instead, we are making ourselves Azerbaijan’s accomplices.
By turning a blind eye to ethnic cleansing, our foreign policy is undermining its own credibility. The final word has not yet been spoken – parliament must insist on the implementation of its mandate.
Erich Vontobel will speak at a Capitol Hill briefing on the Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno Karabakh, hosted by the Armenian National Committee of America on July 8, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm EDT at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. More information is available here.
