“Neutral, not indifferent”
Swiss President defends no to arms deliveries
03/12/2023, 6:20 p.m
Ukraine is running out of ammunition fighting the Russian invasion. Switzerland could deliver them on a larger scale, but refuses, citing its neutrality. President Berset defends the decision. He also criticizes a “war frenzy in certain circles”.
Swiss President Alain Berset has defended the ban on the supply of Swiss arms to Ukraine. “Swiss weapons must not be used in wars,” Berset told the weekly newspaper “NZZ am Sonntag”. The position of the Swiss government on this is “clear” and also corresponds to his personal position.
In view of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, a discussion about Switzerland’s traditional strict neutrality has flared up. Although the country has joined the EU sanctions against Moscow, it does not want to give up its negative stance on arms deliveries to war zones, despite pressure from Kiev and its western allies.
The Alpine republic continues to prohibit other countries from supplying armaments produced in Switzerland from their armaments stocks to Ukraine. Warfare is “not part of the Swiss DNA,” emphasized the social democratic politician.
Berset pleads for mediation in Ukraine
Corresponding requests from Germany, Spain and Denmark were therefore rejected. These decisions were based “on our commitment to peace, to humanitarian law, to mediation where possible,” said Berset. Regarding the German request, the Federal President said in the interview: “It is striking that the German request for re-export was sent to Switzerland just when the discussion within Germany regarding the transfer of its own weapons was stuck.”
Neutrality does not mean indifference, stressed Berset. Switzerland is making its contribution to peace in Europe. “To claim that Europe’s self-defense depends on the re-export of arms from Switzerland and to demand that we disregard our existing law does not seem appropriate to me,” he criticized. “Precisely because we are neutral and do not allow weapons to be transferred to war zones, we can do a great deal for this continent.”
Berset criticized that he felt “this war frenzy in certain circles today”. He was “very worried” about that. “Because this feeling is based on a short-term view,” added Berset. He did not specify who his criticism was directed against. There are several initiatives in the Swiss Parliament aimed at relaxing the ban on the re-export of Swiss weapons. It may be months before a decision is made.