Interviews

SWITZERLAND: COMPLEX, NEUTRAL, STABLE  

The Swiss Confederation, located right at the crossroads of Western Europe, never fails to evoke controversy because of the seeming complexity of its institutional, cultural and social make-up. Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Georg Zubler, discusses some of these and Switzerland's relations with Ghana.  

THE WORLD DIPLOMAT: Switzerland is passionate about its neutrality. What is the rationale behind this policy and how has it worked in practice?

Georg Zubler: The policy of neutrality is, in fact, a significant factor in Swiss foreign and security policy. But neutrality has never been an objective in itself, but an instrument for safeguarding the security, the inner peace and the independence of the country. For this reason the policy of neutrality has known different interpretations and pragmatic applications. In fact, without neutrality Switzerland would probably never have survived as a nation. Switzerland is a country brought together by a common will, but it does not possess the unifying force of a common culture or language. Switzerland is situated at the crossroads of three great European cultures: French, German and Italian.

National cohesion is, therefore, not to be taken for granted. As long ago as 1815 the Congress of Vienna in 1815 recognised Swiss neutrality as an important factor in the balance of power in Europe and when in 1929 and 1938 the League of Nations concluded that Swiss permanent neutrality was justified in the interest of general peace, it probably had in mind the services that a neutral country could provide to the international community.  It is obvious that with a tradition of more than three centuries - Swiss neutrality was first officially announced in 1674 - this policy has a cultural dimension that contributes to the Swiss identity as do direct democracy and federalism.

However, with the end of the cold war, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the re-emergence of the UN's collective security system, the emergence of the European Union as the most important defining factor in Europe and the reunification of Germany, the significance of these historical sources of Swiss neutrality has fundamentally changed. The previously competing European powers are today working peacefully together in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual community. Never before has Switzerland been so little different from its European environment. The probability of war among states in Europe is practically non-existent today and, in any case, the indirect effects of modern warfare would not stop at the borders of a neutral state. As a neutral country, Switzerland has voluntarily and permanently renounced the use of military power and does not have to contend with a colonial or imperial past. These make Switzerland a credible defender of international law, of human and humanitarian rights, a country that no one can suspect of having a hidden agenda.   

T.W.D.: Even though Switzerland has, for several decades hosted the headquarters of the largest number of UN agencies, she became a member of the UN only in 2002 and is not a member of the European Union, even though she is surrounded by EU member countries. What is the reason for keeping out of membership of these and other international organisations?

G. Zubler: It is true that Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations only in September 2002, after a positive vote by its electorate. The first proposal by the Government to join the UN was rejected by the Swiss electorate in March 1986. Nevertheless, for many years before becoming a UN member, Switzerland was already a member of nearly all the important, specialised UN agencies such as the FAO, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and UNIDO. Switzerland has also played an active part in the work of numerous other UN bodies such as the High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), UNICEF, UNDP and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Even as a non-member, Switzerland has been contributing personnel (military, civil police and electoral observers, disarmament specialists and medical units), logistics and financial support towards UN peace-keeping. We have always been grateful that Geneva is a seat of the UN. We know the importance of international law, particularly for a small state with few instruments of power and we know that the UN ultimately represents the indispensable attempt to contain power through law. 

A similar dilemma with even more serious potential consequences has to do with the European Union. The leading role and growing attraction of the EU in Europe make it easily the most important foreign partner of our country. More than 900,000 EU nationals live in Switzerland, constituting about 12% of the population; and about 360,000 Swiss live in the EU. Whether we like it or not, Switzerland cannot avoid being directly influenced by developments in, and decisions taken by, the EU.

More and more often, in order to safeguard its economic interests, Switzerland has had to follow decisions and developments in the Union, but without the chance to participate in its decisions. All this may speak in favour of full membership. The Swiss Government is, therefore, to present a report by 2007, setting out the advantages and disadvantages of our future relations with the EU, taking into account internal developments and reforms in the Union and the ever growing number of member states.  

T.W.D.: Switzerland has of late come under fire for the way its banking system is perceived to be providing a safe haven for money apparently stolen by leaders and other officials of poor countries. What steps is your country taking to check the persistence of this image?

G. Zubler: Switzerland is one of the preferred international financial centres, because of its efficiency and the stable political and economic environment. It is in Switzerland's general interest that this financial centre is not only stable and efficient but also recognised for its integrity. Swiss law, has, therefore, always provided comprehensive measures to counter the abuse of Swiss financial institutions by criminals.

In particular, Swiss banks are obliged to clearly identify, and establish the identity of the beneficiary (Know Your Customer). The law further requires that a financial intermediary which knows or suspects that assets may derive from criminal or terrorist sources must immediately inform the authorities and also block such assets. Swiss law on money laundering applies also to insurance companies, securities dealers, gambling clubs, fiduciaries, asset managers, investment fund managers, precious metals dealers, money transfer agencies, etc.

As for misappropriated public funds held in the Swiss financial system by foreign heads of state and other politically exposed persons, it is clearly neither in the interest of the country nor its financial sector to accommodate them. As shown in the case of former Nigerian President, Sani Abacha, assets of this nature are usually scattered around several financial centres and banks with an international network of branches. Switzerland actively supports states of origin in their efforts to find, block and repatriate illegally acquired assets.

In fact, Switzerland is one of the few countries which have taken measures to prevent, block and return assets embezzled by politically exposed persons and is the only country that has so far repatriated any such funds. The perception of absolute banking ecrecy in Switzerland providing a safe haven for any assets of dubious origin is a myth.       [back]       

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