Peticija adresuota:
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.
Priežastis
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:
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.
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Background interview:
