Amherd emphasizes fundamental values of Swiss foreign policy
Published: Wednesday, Jan 10th 2024, 17:10
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In Bern, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Viola Amherd, spoke to diplomats from all over the world to promote understanding for Switzerland's policy in connection with the war in Ukraine and other conflicts. Neutrality does not mean indifference, she emphasized.
The maxims of Swiss foreign policy remain the same, even if a different person holds the presidency every year, said the Defense Minister on Wednesday at the traditional New Year's reception for the diplomatic corps in the Federal Palace. The country represents its values on the international stage and seeks dialogue on this basis. "Neutral Switzerland is a party to many issues".
In view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the role of Switzerland is the subject of intense debate, said Amherd. Swiss security policy must enjoy broad legitimacy at home and meet with acceptance abroad: "This is not always easy."
From a Swiss perspective, it is of great importance that crimes in Ukraine do not go unpunished. "These are decisive signals for the future - far beyond the current war in Europe," said Amherd.
The President of the Swiss Confederation also warned that the international order was increasingly subject to a new bloc mentality. In this situation, countries such as Switzerland must commit to a functioning multilateral system under difficult conditions. This is because the return of power politics is torpedoing solutions.
Amherd cited Switzerland's relations with the European Union as a key foreign policy issue. Switzerland recognizes the EU as a great peace project - and pursues very similar goals to it on the international stage. At the same time, however, it was necessary to do some hard work and find answers to many sometimes very technical questions on bilateral relations.
Traditionally, the newly elected President of the Swiss Confederation receives the congratulations of the heads of mission in the federal capital in January.
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