ANCA welcomes Trump`s commitment to returning Artsakh refugees,  releasing Armenian hostages, protecting Christian holy sites

ArmInfo. In response to months of sustained Armenian Caucus pressure and relentless Armenian American advocacy, the Trump- Vance Administration, this past week - in an unprecedented move - announced that the United States is  actively encouraging both Yerevan and Baku to ensure "the return of  ethnic Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh," reported the Armenian National  Committee of America (ANCA).

The September 25, 2025 letter articulating this newly announced  Trump-Vance policy - signed by Paul D. Guaglianone of the State  Department's Bureau of Legislative Affairs - also explained that the  United States is "closely monitoring the trials of detained ethnic  Armenians in Azerbaijan, and - in a previously undisclosed move -  confirmed that "officials at U.S. Embassy Baku attend legal  proceedings whenever possible." Guaglianone closed by affirming that  the State Department continues "to call on the Azerbaijani government  to protect Armenian heritage sites in Nagorno-Karabakh."

"We welcome the commitments undertaken by the Trump-Vance  Administration in its response to a bipartisan letter signed by 87  members of the Armenian Caucus, and are already working with our  Congressional allies, coalition partners, and community activists to  translate these commitments into concrete action," said ANCA  Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Our hard-fought progress on each  of these fronts - Artsakh refugees, Armenian hostages, and Christian  churches - is a tribute to our collective resilience, our enduring  resolve in the face of Yerevan's indifference and Azerbaijan's  intense opposition."

The Congressional Armenian Caucus letter, spearheaded by co-chairs  Frank Pallone (D- NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and  David Valadao (R-CA), emphasized: "We urge you to engage all parties  in this unresolved conflict to ensure the collective, protected, and  dignified return of forcibly displaced Armenians to their indigenous  homeland of Nagorno Karabakh. Taking this action is in direct  accordance with international law and in pursuit of a just and  lasting peace in the region." The letter documents the consequences  of Azerbaijan's 2023 blockade and military assault on Artsakh, which  "forcibly displaced the region's entire Christian Armenian population  of 120,000 people." It further details how, following the assault,  Azerbaijan "engaged in the systematic destruction of Christian  Armenian cultural heritage sites," and conducted "the widespread  ransacking and demolition of civilian property, and public  infrastructure, in an attempt to deny the possibility of return."  Citing international precedents, the letter states: "The right of  populations displaced by war to return to their homes is a  fundamental principle of international law." It also references a  December 2023 International Court of Justice order compelling  Azerbaijan to ensure the safe and secure return of Artsakh's Armenian  population.

Over the past several months, Armenian American advocates and  supporters sent more than 100,000 emails and calls through ANCA  national, regional, and local platforms, urging legislators to  co-sign the letter. Additionally, ANCA's Leo Sarkisian and Maral  Melkonian Avetisyan summer interns visited over 400 Congressional  offices on a weekly basis, providing fact sheets and making the case  for a U.S.-backed right of return policy for Artsakh genocide  survivors. These priorities were also advanced during the ANCA's  September 2025 fly-in Advocacy Days.

The Armenian Caucus letter specifically urged the Administration to  support the Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno-Karabakh, a diplomatic  measure adopted by the Swiss Parliament to "establish an  international negotiation platform to mediate a safe, secure and  internationally guaranteed return of Armenians." The Swiss initiative  was prominently discussed during a standing-room-only Congressional  briefing on July 10th, which brought together over 200 Capitol Hill  staffers, human rights advocates, and policy experts. The event  featured remarks from Swiss Parliamentarians Erich Vontobel and Lukas  Reimann, Christian Solidarity International President Dr. John  Eibner, and former Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. Mark  Milosch, Republican Staff Director for Congressman Chris Smith  (R-NJ), the Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission opened  the event and ANCA Policy Director Alex Galitsky moderated a robust  question and answer session.

Joining Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ),  Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and David Valadao (R-CA)  in cosigning the letter were Representatives: Gabe Amo (D-RI), Jake  Auchincloss (D-MA), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA), Wesley Bell (D-MO),  Ami Bera (D-CA), Don Beyer (D-VA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Andre  Carson (D-IN), Greg Casar (D-TX), Sean Casten (D-IL), Joaquin Castro  (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Danny  Davis (D- IL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Dwight  Evans (D-PA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Charles Fleischmann (R-TN),  Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Vince Fong (R-CA), Valerie Foushee (D-NC),  Lois Frankel (D-FL), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy  Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Steven Horsford (D- NV), Jared  Huffman (D-CA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA),  Ro Khanna (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Nick  LaLota (R- NY), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), John Larson (D-CT), George  Latimer (D-NY), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Susie Lee (D-NV), Mike Levin  (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA),  Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Sarah McBride  (D-DE), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), James McGovern  (D-MA), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Grace Meng (D-NY), Dave Min (D-CA), Seth  Moulton (D-MA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC),  Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Scott  Peters (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia  Ramirez (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D- MD), Luz Rivas (D-CA), Linda Sanchez  (D-CA), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Lateefah  Simon (D-CA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Eric Swalwell  (D-CA), David Taylor (R-OH), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Mike Thompson  (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY),  Lori Trahan (D-MA), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), George Whitesides (D-CA),  and Nikema Williams (D-GA).