ANCA Welcomes Trump Administration’s Commitment to Return of Artsakh Refugees

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed the Trump Administration’s commitment to ensuring the return of Artsakh refugees, the release of Armenian hostages, and the protection of sacred sites.

This move comes within the framework of a direct adherence to international law and the pursuit of a just and lasting peace in the region.

Citing international precedents, the message stressed that “the right of populations displaced by war to return to their homes is a fundamental principle of international law.” It also referenced a ruling by the International Court of Justice in December 2023 that obliges Azerbaijan to guarantee the safe return of the Armenian residents of Artsakh.

The Trump Administration further declared its commitment to encouraging both governments [Yerevan and Baku] to ensure the return of Armenians to (Artsakh) Nagorno-Karabakh as part of a sustainable peace.

In response to months of sustained pressure from the Armenian-American bloc and continuous advocacy by Armenian-Americans, the Trump–Vance Administration last week announced, in an unprecedented step, that the United States is actively encouraging both Yerevan and Baku to guarantee “the return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh,” according to the ANCA.

The Trump–Vance letter, dated September 25, 2025, which set forth this new policy, was signed by Paul D. Guagliagnon of the State Department’s Bureau of Legislative Affairs. The letter noted that the United States “is closely monitoring the trials of Armenian detainees in Azerbaijan,” and further revealed, in a previously undisclosed step, that “U.S. Embassy officials in Baku attend court proceedings whenever possible.” Guagliagnon concluded by affirming that the State Department continues to “urge the Azerbaijani government to protect Armenian heritage sites in Nagorno-Karabakh.”

Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly in Armenia, stated: “We welcome the commitments made by the Trump–Vance Administration in response to a bipartisan letter signed by 87 members of the Armenian Caucus, and we are already working with our allies in Congress, our coalition partners, and community activists to translate these commitments into concrete actions.” He added: “The hard-fought progress we have made on each of these fronts, Artsakh refugees, Armenian hostages, and churches, is a tribute to our collective resilience and steadfast determination in the face of Yerevan’s indifference and Azerbaijan’s fierce opposition.”

The letter from the Congressional Armenian Caucus, led by Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D–New Jersey), Gus Bilirakis (R–Florida), Brad Sherman (D–California), and David Valadao (R–California), emphasized: “We urge you to engage all parties in this unresolved conflict to ensure the safe, protected, and dignified collective return of forcibly displaced Armenians to their ancestral homeland of Nagorno-Karabakh.”

The Armenian Caucus letter specifically urged the U.S. administration to support the Swiss Peace Initiative on Nagorno-Karabakh— a diplomatic measure adopted by the Swiss Parliament aimed at “establishing an international negotiation platform to mediate the safe, secure, and internationally guaranteed return of Armenians.” The Swiss initiative was prominently discussed during a congressional briefing on July 10, attended by more than 200 Capitol Hill staffers, human rights advocates, and policy experts.