Preparations are in full swing for the meeting of Joe Biden (78) and Vladimir Putin (68) on June 16 in Geneva. The summit will take place in the Villa “La Grange” and the Hôtel du Parc des Eaux-Vives. A worthy setting that still needs to be secured for the distinguished visit. Presidential Safe!
Numerous security guards are already on site. Everything has to work and go according to plan. The authorities work closely with one another to achieve this. As the canton announced on Friday, the Federal Office of Police, the Air Force and police corps from other cantons are involved.
Almost 1,000 additional police officers
Geneva, however, has experience with such occasions. The army secures the airspace over the city. The peak meeting between Biden and Putin will be just as historic as that of Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in November 1985, the canton government stated in front of the media.
In addition to the forces of the Geneva canton and city police, 900 additional police forces from other cantons are joining, as the Geneva police commander Monica Bonfanti explained. They also receive support from civil defense. There was little time left to open the dispositive.
The delegations of Biden and Putin each consist of 600 to 800 people, as it was said. All of these people are protected by international law and must be secured accordingly. The security measures relate to both on-site protection and protection in the event of a change of location. The media train for the summit consists of around 3,000 journalists.
Do without a car and prefer to use public transport
As it was said in front of the media, the authorities are trying to keep the disabilities for the population within limits. The area around the Geneva lake basin will be cordoned off on Wednesday from 4 a.m. to midnight. The immediate vicinity of the Hotel Intercontinental may not be entered from Tuesday (6 a.m.) to Thursday (6 a.m.).
This leads to major traffic delays. The population is called upon to reduce their mobility, for example by working from home. Citizens should refrain from using private vehicles and use public transport for unavoidable transport.
The Fedpol will, in consultation with the security services of the US and Russia, carry out a threat analysis over and over again during the entire period. Depending on the assessment, the security system is changed, and one always asks the question: How many police officers, vehicles and weapons have to be used?
One thing is clear: there is a tailor-made security plan for every guest at the meeting, including Federal President Guy Parmelin (61).
Air Force helps with surveillance
The Federal Council has restricted the airspace over Geneva for the summit of the two great powers. From June 15 to 17, the zone above the Place des Nations in Geneva will be restricted. According to the announcement, commercial flight operations at Geneva Airport are not affected.
In addition, the Air Force will strengthen the air police service and air surveillance. And the army is also on hand: A maximum of 1,000 army members from the assistance service is approved.
The population should stay at home if possible
Although the lead time was short, the authorities are confident. You are well prepared for the meeting. “The deadlines were short and the effort involved. But on the crucial day everything will be done to ensure that the meeting can be held in peace and the impact on the daily life of the population is as small as possible, ”said the Geneva police on Friday.
The State Council has urged the people of Geneva to work from home whenever possible. The entire Lake Geneva basin will be cordoned off during the summit.
The costs for the security disposition are shared between the federal government and the cantons. How exactly is not yet clear at this point in time. (jmh / SDA)