878 signatures
Collection finished
Petition is addressed to: Bundesversammlung
The Federal Council is requested to support Armenia as stated below:
Saveguarding of Supply
Switzerland demands the granting of unrestricted exchange of all goods and the liberty of people to freely move from and to the Nagorno-Karabakh region (enforcement of the decision of the International Court of Justice of 22.2.2023). This includes the permanent opening of the Lachin corridor, but also the opening of an air corridor.
Minority Status
Switzerland is committed to protecting the Armenian population living in Nagorno-Karabakh. This includes in particular the granting of minority status to the Armenian inhabitants of today's Nagorno-Karabakh region.
War Prevention
Following the agreed ceasefire, Switzerland is committed to ending the fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In particular, in addition to peacemaking measures, Switzerland is working in the UN Security Council to ensure that sanctions are communicated before any further escalation to keep Azerbaijan from attacking Nagorno-Karabakh or even Armenia.
Switzerland is thus reaffirming its humanitarian commitment. As a member of the Security Council, it should also stand up for a peaceful settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Reason
Justification
It is important to act quickly. The goal is to prevent ethnic cleansing or genocide. Since Dec. 12, 2022, the semi-autonomous enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh has been cut off from all supply routes. This blockade affected all access routes via roads, but also via air. Meanwhile, there were reports of the first deaths from starvation. A humanitarian catastrophe is looming for some 120,000 inhabitants. In response to the blockade, the International Court of Justice called for the opening of a supply corridor for goods and people as early as Feb. 22, 2023. However, the blockade has continued. Since Sept. 9, Azerbaijan has granted an aid transport for the Russian Red Cross and also allowed a convoy of aid and medical supplies to pass on Sept. 18. However, this is only barely enough to supply 120,000 inhabitants. A day later, Nagorno-Karabakh, in particular the town of Stepanakert, was bombed. There were deaths and injuries. Now, on September 20, 2023, a ceasefire occurred after the Armenian army agreed to disarm in the enclave. The pedition is submitted because of the still unknown and uncertain developments.
Sources:
- «Ein Völkermord am Rande Europas – und niemand greift ein?»; NZZ vom 8.9.202«Droht ein Genozid am Rande Europas?», Deutschlandfunk 17.8.202
- «Schweigen tötet», Gastbeitrag des Tages-Anzeiger vom 7.9.2023
- «Totenstille», die Zeit Online, 8.9.2023
- ·Entscheid des Internationalen Gerichtshof vom 22.2.2023
- «Konflikt zwischen Aserbaidschan und Armenien: Feuerpause in Nagorni Karabach vereinbart», NZZ vom 20.9.2023
- «Der aserbaidschanische Präsident Ilham Alijew erklärt den Militäreinsatz in Nagorni Karabach für beendet – die Bevölkerung steht vor einer ungewissen Zukunft», NZZ vom 20.9.2023
Securing peacemaking measures: In the South Caucasus, the situation is unstable despite the cease-fire. Azerbaijan has massed troops in the region in recent weeks. There have already been several military incursions into Armenian territory and numerous deaths on both sides. In widely available press reports in Azerbaijan and Turkey, Azerbaijan has made other territorial claims on Armenia in addition to the enclave.
For the first time, Switzerland, as a member of the Security Council, has the opportunity to raise the issue of the threat posed to Armenia by Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus. In particular, the Federal Council should advocate in the Security Council that potential sanctions be communicated before further acts of war. The signatories consider early communication as a way of preventing war. The world does not need another war.
Sources:
- «Aserbaidschan erhöht den Druck auf Armenien – es droht ein neuer Krieg», NZZ vom 7.9.2023
- «Drohender Angriff auf Arzach (Berg-Karabach)», Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker, 7.9.2023
- «Drohende Eskalation im Südkaukasus - Warum Armenien nicht von Russland loskommt», Der Spiegel, 13.9.2023
- «Kriegsgefahr zwischen Armenien und Aserbaidschan», IPG Journal, 11.9.2023
Background interview:
- Nadja Douglas, research associate at the Center for Eastern European and International Studies (ZOiS) in Berlin: "Aserbaidschan will im Schatten des Ukraine-Krieges Tatsachen schaffen", NTV Sept. 1, 2023
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Petition started:
09/23/2023
Petition ends:
12/20/2023
Region:
Switzerland
Topic:
Foreign affairs
News
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Eine besondere Sonntagsnachricht aus Armenien (1.10.2023)
on 01 Oct 2023Eine besondere Sonntagsnachricht aus Armenien
„Ich habe darüber nachgedacht, mein Haus anzuzünden, aber die Idee gefiel mir nicht – ich habe das Geschirr gespült und in die Regale gelegt. So wie ich auf Besucher warten würde. Dieses Jahr war die Ernte sehr gut. Die Türken werden sie essen. Ich hinterließ ihnen einen Brief, in dem ich ihnen schrieb, dass in diesem Haus ehrenhafte Menschen lebten, die mit Schweiss in den Gesichtern weggingen, um das Haus sauber zu halten. Ich bat sie noch, die Blumen zu gießen.»
... schrieb ein Flüchtling aus Arzach - Berg-Karabach an mir/uns bekannte Freunde in Jerevan.
Was für eine wunderbare Haltung inmitten von Leid und Not. -
Karabakh refugee: We saw things I can’t even describe - How can we live with Azerbaijanis after this?
on 26 Sep 2023
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