London, June 18, 2025 — In a significant show of international support, UK Members of Parliament Jim Shannon and Lord Alton of Liverpool issued a joint statement today on behalf of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB), endorsing the Swiss Peace Initiative on Nagorno-Karabakh.
The statement, representing the views of over 110 British parliamentarians who are members of the APPG, welcomed the Swiss-led effort to establish an international peace forum that would enable open dialogue between Azerbaijan and the forcibly displaced Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The UK parliamentarians stressed the need to ensure the right of return for Armenians displaced from the region, the protection of fundamental human rights—including freedom of religion as outlined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—and the safeguarding of Armenian cultural and spiritual heritage.
“The restoration of security, dignity, and stability for all communities in Nagorno-Karabakh is vital not only for humanitarian reasons but also for regional peace in an area of rising geopolitical and economic significance,” the statement read.
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The Swiss Peace Initiative was formally adopted by the Swiss Parliament earlier this year. It mandates the Swiss Federal Council to convene an international peace forum within one year, aimed at facilitating negotiations—under international supervision or with the involvement of globally relevant actors—on the safe and voluntary return of the historically resident Armenian population to Nagorno-Karabakh.
To support the implementation of this mandate, an inter-party parliamentary committee composed of 19 Swiss parliamentarians was formed on May 26, 2025, in Bern. This committee is charged with advancing the necessary international mechanisms to fulfill the objectives of the Swiss Parliament’s legally binding decision.
The UK statement adds to a growing chorus of international voices calling for durable and inclusive solutions to the longstanding crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Nagorno Karabakh warmly welcomes the statement issued on June 18, 2025, by UK parliamentarians Jim Shannon MP and Lord Alton of Liverpool, expressing support for the Swiss Peace Initiative on Nagorno Karabakh.
Jim Shannon is the Chair and Lord Alton is a Vice Chair of the UK’s All Party Parluamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief representing over 110 British parliamentarians.
In their statement, the UK parliamentarians endorsed the initiative’s goal of establishing an international peace forum that would enable open dialogue between Azerbaijan and the forcibly displaced Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh. They emphasized the importance of securing the right of return, protecting fundamental human rights—including freedom of religion as enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—and safeguarding Armenian cultural and spiritual heritage. The statement also underlined the value of restoring stability in a region of growing geopolitical and economic significance.
The Swiss Peace Initiative, formally adopted by the Swiss Parliament earlier this year, mandates the Swiss Federal Council to convene an international peace forum within one year. The purpose of this forum is to facilitate negotiations—under international supervision or in the presence of internationally relevant actors—on the safe and collective return of the historically resident Armenian population to Nagorno Karabakh.
To pursue the implementation of this initiative, an inter-party parliamentary committee composed of 19 Swiss parliamentarians was established on May 26, 2025, in Bern. This body is tasked with supporting the necessary international mechanisms to realize the goals of the Swiss Parliament’s legally binding decision.
The Committee views this growing international engagement as a vital step toward justice, accountability, and the restoration of the fundamental rights of the Armenian people of Nagorno Karabakh.
June. 20, 2025
