Alain Berset drew attention to the "long-term practice" of the country following the path of neutrality, recalling that Switzerland has a "different role compared to other states"GENEVA, January 26.
/tass/. Switzerland should not, by virtue of its neutrality, allow the re-export of Swiss weapons to Ukraine. This opinion was expressed on Wednesday evening in an interview with the RTS television company by the president of the country Alain Berset.
"Now is not the time to change the rules concerning the re-export [of weapons], and also not the time to change the rules defining neutrality," he said. "On the contrary, now is the time to remember our foundations, remain committed to them and find the right way for the country in this situation," Berset said.
The President urged "to be very, very careful" in the current international situation when deciding on the export and re-export of weapons. He drew attention to the country's "long-term practice" of following the path of neutrality, recalling that Switzerland "has a different role compared to other states." Berset made it clear that Switzerland's credibility is due, in particular, to the fact that it is the depositary of the Geneva Conventions and stands for the promotion of humanitarian law. "Abandoning this special role for the sake of arms exports," he stressed, will not have an impact on the situation on the battlefield. "A lot of weapons are exported to Ukraine, and it is not Switzerland that is crucial in this," he stated.
On Tuesday, the Commission on International Affairs of the National Council (the Grand Chamber of Parliament) called for amendments to the legislation that would pave the way for the lifting of the ban on the re-export of Swiss weapons to Ukraine. An acute discussion on this issue is expected at the plenary session of the Parliament. The largest political force in the country, the Swiss People's Party, which is part of the four-party government, opposes the lifting of the ban on the re-export of weapons.
In November last year, the Swiss government refused Germany's request to allow the re-export of ammunition for Gepard anti-aircraft self-propelled guns to Ukraine. Spain also did not receive permission for re-export. The Minister of Defense of the Kingdom, Margarita Robles, said on January 10, speaking to the Spanish ambassadors, that Switzerland does not allow certain military material to be sent from Spain to Ukraine, for the supply of which the consent of the manufacturing country is required.
At the same time, Switzerland, despite its neutral status, supported all nine packages of EU sanctions against Russia announced in connection with the special military operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. In March 2022, the Russian government approved a list of foreign states and territories that commit unfriendly actions against Russia, its companies and citizens. The Swiss Confederation is included in this list.
