Washington Document Says Nothing About The Main Affected Party of the Conflict, Beglaryan

The President of the Artsakh Union, Artak Beglaryan, spoke on September 29 in Geneva at an event related to the right of return of the Artsakh people, organized by the International Christian Solidarity organization during the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council. Swiss National Council members Erich Fontobel and Nikola Walder, along with internationally recognized lawyer Paul Williams, also addressed the event.

After the introduction by the representative from the hosting organization, Abi McDougall, the Swiss parliamentarians presented the essence and goals of the Swiss Peace Initiative. They noted that there cannot be stable and just peace in the region without the return of the Artsakh people. Paul Williams praised the significance of the initiative, emphasizing the necessity of clarifying key questions and conditions regarding the return in future phases.

Artak Beglaryan emphasized the desire of displaced Artsakh residents to return to Artsakh, highlighting the international community's support in that process. He stated that the legal grounds are entirely present, and only political will is needed to ensure the return.

The full text of Artak Beglaryan's speech is presented below:

“Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the International Christian Solidarity organization for organizing this event and to the Swiss lawmakers, particularly Erich Fontobel and Nikola Walder, for raising the voice of my people and humanity.

Today, I speak on behalf of a people who up until recently had lived for millennia on their ancestral land — the Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) — and who now face the gravest challenge to their existence.

What happened after the Azerbaijani aggression and partial ethnic cleansing in 2020? In 2023, the entire population of Artsakh was subjected to a blockade by Azerbaijan that lasted almost 10 months, followed by a military assault. As a consequence of that assault, around 120,000 people were forced to leave their homeland in less than a week.

Independent voices around the world, including the International Association of Genocide Scholars, the first prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, and the first special adviser of the UN on the prevention of genocide, Juan Méndez, classified these events as genocide. Freedom House, the European Parliament, and other entities referred to them as ethnic cleansing.

Our people wanted to remain and live peacefully on their land. However, Russian peacekeepers did not provide security guarantees, and the international community — particularly the UN Security Council — failed to act effectively to prevent mass crimes. Geopolitical competition overshadowed the fundamental duty to protect vulnerable civilian populations.

What do we want?

Today, our demand is clear and just, and it aligns with international law. We want to return to our homes. Not to return as scattered individuals under threat but as a community to lead a safe, dignified, united, peaceful, and sustainable life.

According to a recent survey conducted among Armenian refugees in Armenia, 87% wish to return to their homeland. This is not a political statement; it is a clear and measurable expression of the will of the people.

What are the grounds for the right of return?

Our right of return is not a matter of politics but of law. International conventions recognize the right of all displaced persons to return to their homes. In the specific case of Artsakh, on November 17, 2023, the International Court of Justice ordered Azerbaijan to ensure the immediate, safe, and unhindered return of the Armenians of Artsakh.

Furthermore, on October 11, 2023, 40 member states of the UN Human Rights Council, including Armenia and Switzerland, as well as three permanent members of the Security Council — France, the UK, and the USA — jointly called on Azerbaijan to create conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of those wishing to come back.

We also highly appreciate the Swiss Peace Initiative for Artsakh, based on the adopted decision No. 24.4259 in the Swiss Parliament, calling for the organization of an international peace forum on the Artsakh issue. This is the inclusive and neutral dialogue mechanism necessary for preparing a rights-based and genuine settlement. It is important to emphasize that this decision is legally binding for the Swiss government, and our people expect tangible progress in this direction.

The current situation:

Despite these strong legal and political grounds, regrettably, our people continue to be overlooked. Recently adopted documents, including the declaration and agreement signed on August 8 between Armenia and Azerbaijan with the mediation of Washington, speak of “peace,” yet say nothing about the rights, security, and future of the main affected party and direct participant in this conflict — the people of Artsakh.

Of course, it is good that certain issues of the conflict are being addressed in those documents. However, a peace process that does not address the affected community cannot be deemed comprehensive or sustainable. True peace must be inclusive and just, which means that the safe, collective, dignified, and sustainable return of our people must be at the center of any resolution.

Conditions for Return:

For the return to be meaningful and sustainable, the following conditions must be met:

• Strong and stable international security guarantees, including a mandate presence on the ground for the protection of the civilian population.
• Exclusion of Azerbaijan's genocidal control to prevent potential new crimes.
• Joint international and local administration to build trust, secure restoration, and guarantee human rights.
• Secure and reliable land and air access with Armenia.
• Demilitarization of Azerbaijan’s adjacent territories to create a genuine peace zone.
• Ending Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian policies that continuously foment crimes against Armenians.
• International efforts geared toward justice and genuine reconciliation to lay the foundations for lasting peace.

Before all these conditions are secured, a number of urgent actions need to be undertaken, including:

1. International monitoring of cultural heritage and property rights, as mandated by the International Court of Justice, to halt Azerbaijan’s continuing destruction and illegal settlements.
2. The international community must assist in preserving the identity, culture, and dignity of our displaced people living in Armenia until the return is enacted, as the preservation of today’s community is crucial for rebuilding tomorrow.
3. All Armenian hostages must be released from Azerbaijani prisons.
4. Specific international sanctions must be imposed on Azerbaijan and the Aliyev regime to demonstrate that mass crimes do not go unpunished.
5. An international mechanism and platform must be created for ensuring our rights and implementing the decisions of the International Court of Justice, as is being done within the framework of the Swiss Peace Initiative.
6. Legitimate representatives of the Artsakh people should be engaged in genuine dialogue and discussions via the mentioned international mechanism. Such representatives may include democratically elected legislators and/or individuals authorized by them.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

The right of return is not just about returning to territory; it is about the restoration of collective and individual rights of the people, their future, culture, and existence.

I lost my father and my eyesight due to the war in the 1990s. I lost my mother because of those tragedies. I was forcibly displaced from my homeland with my two children and barely escaped Azerbaijani abduction. Nonetheless, I harbor no hatred towards the Azerbaijani people; I hate the criminals. I still believe that it is possible to build real peace and reconciliation between Armenians and Azerbaijanis if the voices of all affected groups are heard and their rights are fully respected.

Therefore, we call on the Swiss government and the entire UN system to take clear steps to implement the binding decision of the International Court of Justice, support the Swiss Peace Initiative, and ensure that the outcome of this conflict is determined by justice rather than geopolitical interests.

The people of Artsakh are ready to return to their homeland. Now we need the world’s political will to make that return safe, dignified, unhindered, and sustainable.

Thank you.”