Vardan Oskanyan: Artsakh right of return remains central to lasting peace

Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan wrote on his Facebook page:
“In Strasbourg, Nikol Pashinyan once again tried to close the issue of Artsakh, declaring that the right of return is ‘closed,’ ‘unrealistic,’ and that those who raise it are obstructing the peace process. This is not only a self-serving position but also a dangerous distortion of reality.
To be clear, a few days ago the U.S. administration officially confirmed that the right of return for the Armenians of Artsakh is central to any just solution, while also emphasizing the importance of releasing Armenian political prisoners and preserving cultural heritage. Washington’s statement recorded a simple truth: there can be no lasting peace without the right of return. Rejecting this fact means denying the reality that the U.S. has already formally acknowledged.
Pashinyan’s concern is twofold. First, he has gone so deep into concessions and promises toward Azerbaijan that it seems impossible for him to bring the issue back onto the agenda.
Second, he fears that if the right of return enters the negotiation agenda, it could delay the signing of the ‘peace agreement’ he hopes to leverage in upcoming elections. In other words, one individual’s mistakes and political survival are placed above the rights of an entire people. However, real peace cannot be reduced to an election slogan and cannot be built on the basis of ethnic cleansing.
International support for the right of return is unwavering. The International Court of Justice has already obliged Azerbaijan to ensure the safe and unhindered return of the displaced. The European Parliament, France, Belgium, and Switzerland have also reaffirmed the same principle. Legislators and governments of major players clearly state: peace cannot be sustainable if it legitimizes the eradication of the native population.
The issue is not closed. It lives in international law, diplomatic resolutions, and in the minds of all those who seek genuine peace and justice.
In post-Pashinyan Armenia, I have no doubt that the right of return will return to the negotiating table with full support from international actors. Everyone understands that sustainable peace will come only the day the Armenians of Artsakh can return to their homes under conditions of security and dignity.”