Swiss government reaffirms it deals only with Baku and Yerevan on peace process

Switzerland has once again made clear that it supports the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and does not recognize any separate political entity in Karabakh.

The issue was raised on June 15 during the “Question Time for the Government” in the Swiss parliament. MP Erich Fontobel asked Swiss Vice President and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis about the status of his proposed “Peace Forum for Nagorno-Karabakh”.

In response, Cassis said that both Azerbaijan and Armenia had from the very beginning considered the organization of such a forum inappropriate. According to him, this position was also confirmed during Switzerland’s political consultations with both countries in April.

The Swiss official emphasized that Bern does not recognize “Nagorno-Karabakh” as a state entity and supports efforts aimed at normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Fontobel then argued that people directly affected by the conflict, including Armenians who left Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region, should also be involved in the peace process.

Cassis responded by stressing that Switzerland conducts official relations only with sovereign states in line with international law and diplomatic practice. He noted that establishing direct political contacts with third parties could be interpreted as interference in the internal affairs of other states and would not serve Switzerland’s interests.

The exchange showed that Bern is not prepared to support formats that bypass Azerbaijan and Armenia or create parallel political tracks around the peace process.

Switzerland’s position is therefore clear: any contribution to peace in the South Caucasus must respect international law, state sovereignty and the direct bilateral framework between Baku and Yerevan.