President of the National Council Irène Kälin wants to travel to Kyiv with a council delegation in the next few days. What she hopes for and whether she is afraid of traveling to a war zone, tells the highest Swiss in an interview.
SRF News: What is the purpose of this trip to Ukraine?
Irène Kälin: I received an official invitation from the President of the Ukrainian Parliament, who obviously wants this sign of solidarity in Ukraine, which many personalities from the European context have already made before me. I’ve decided that’s the least I can do. In such a difficult situation, I go there to show him and the Ukrainians Swiss solidarity.
What can you bring to Ukraine other than this sign of solidarity?
That’s a good question, and it’s also a difficult one. Of course you would like to be able to bring something with you. But I’m not the one in our country who makes foreign policy. For this, the Federal President and Foreign Minister Cassis would have to go there.
I’m not responsible for foreign policy. Federal President Cassis would have to go there for this.
In fact, I can only confirm what we are already providing in terms of humanitarian supplies. We would also continue to be willing to offer our good offices so that peace negotiations could or should take place on Swiss soil. But otherwise I’m not the right person to make gifts or promises. The solidarity that I bring with me on site has to be enough at the moment.
Is a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky planned?
The program is still very volatile and I can’t say much about it yet. It is quite clear that I will meet the Speaker of the Parliament. I was invited by him and he is also my counterpart in Ukraine.
Are you really going to stand today?
I hope so, even though I have a lot of respect for this trip. I want to go and I hope we can go.
It’s a trip to a war zone. Do not be afraid?
In fact, I am not afraid for my own safety or the safety of my delegation. But as a person, who I will remain, behind my function, I have great respect. For my role, it’s easy to leave. I grew up in a very peaceful world. I’ve never been to a war zone. I’m pretty sure that will shake me somewhere and I have a lot of respect for that.
For you personally, is this trip compatible with Swiss neutrality?
It absolutely is, just as it is compatible with our neutrality that we have complied with the sanctions. I believe that the law of neutrality really does exist in the narrower sense. We continue to uphold that. We do not favor any war party.
It is also neutral to go on the ground and say that we are unconditionally on the side of international law.
But then there is also the active policy of neutrality. I think we must and should stand up for international law unconditionally. In Ukraine, international law is currently being swept away by force of arms and feet. And I think it is also neutral to go there and say that we are unconditionally on the side of international law.
War is always an information war. Aren’t you afraid that pictures of you could be misused for propaganda purposes in Ukraine?
Yes and no. I am aware that the Ukrainians may even be more interested in these pictures than I am. And nonetheless, I think these pictures are an expression of the fact that we stand together. Expression that we have the same values. They must now defend these values by force of arms. And so it’s not more than decent and right if I’m also in this picture and say you have our solidarity.
The conversation was led by Sabine Gorgé.