In no other country have so many refugees from Ukraine arrived in recent weeks as in Poland. Since the beginning of the war there have been around two million. Federal President Ignazio Cassis traveled to Poland on Sunday and got an idea of the situation there. On Monday morning he met Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Warsaw.
In an interview with SRF News, Cassis provides information about the results of the meeting – and comments on the SVP’s criticism of his appearance at the Ukraine demonstration on Saturday on the Bundesplatz.
SRF News: What specific help does the Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki expect from Switzerland?
Ignazio Cassis: Poland’s first wish is actually arms deliveries. But that is not compatible with our neutrality. I explained that very clearly to Mateusz Morawiecki and he took note of it. Then, of course, the Polish head of government expects full support for the sanctions. I told him that we have not only fully supported them so far, but have even gone further.
Legend:
Federal President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis met Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Poland on Monday.
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The elements related to cryptocurrencies are already included in our law. The EU hasn’t gotten that far yet. Finally, Morawiecki expects great support from Switzerland, both diplomatic and humanitarian. At the border and ideally also in Ukraine itself, as soon as humanitarian corridors are possible.
The Federal Council wants to increase the financial aid to CHF 80 million. A quarter of this is to flow to the surrounding countries of Ukraine, which are currently taking in the most refugees. In Poland, a lot of people you talk to say it’s stingy. What are you saying to these people?
I can tell you that the CHF 80 million that the Federal Council has approved is only part of the aid. They are only added to the funds. I told the Polish Prime Minister that we are willing to release the CHF 320 million available as part of Switzerland’s second cohesion contribution very quickly. We can do that bilaterally very quickly. Morawiecki was very interested in it.
Added to this is the great solidarity of the Swiss population. Almost 84 million francs were collected in one week. So if you add it all up, you get good numbers.
The cohesion billion is money that has already been agreed, the decision was made a long time ago. In this situation, Poland expects the extraordinary from Western Europe and Switzerland.
Poland will be very satisfied if it actually gets the promised money.
Neutrality does not mean indifference. However, neutrality means that we cannot supply Poland with weapons.
Around 10,000 refugees from Ukraine have now arrived in Switzerland. The cantons expect up to 300,000 people. Is Switzerland ready for such an onslaught?
It’s a difficult question. Because we are not used to the migration of so many people seeking protection in such a short time. We have no empirical values to rely on here. We are currently preparing at top speed and are looking for solutions. The federal government does not even have 10,000 places for accommodation. The cantons and the federal government are jointly responsible for receiving and taking in the refugees and the corresponding preparations.
I would like to emphasize once again the great solidarity of the Swiss population. 50,000 places were made available. How long such a solution will last is an open question. The applicants have to commit themselves for three months. This time is over relatively quickly. So there are a lot of open questions. All we know is that we are willing to clarify these questions and prepare as best we can to receive these people.
Switzerland has joined the EU sanctions but remains neutral. How do you explain that to a country like Poland and its Prime Minister Morawiecki, who demands a lot more – including a clearer position reference.
He said it himself and apparently read my text in the media, which made me very happy: neutrality does not mean indifference. The assumption of sanctions is fully compatible with our neutrality. Neutrality does not mean that we cannot condemn a flagrant violation of international law. We must condemn this because it violates our values. However, neutrality means that we cannot supply Poland with weapons. I clearly pointed out this limit to Morawiecki.
If a President knocks on the door and wants to appear virtually in Switzerland because he cannot physically come – then it is my duty to open the door and welcome him.
Some of you were heavily criticized for your appearance on the Bundesplatz on Saturday, namely by the SVP. Where do you draw the line between neutrality and attitude?
It is now a matter of finding the right way to walk a tightrope. I have already said what neutrality means.
Legend:
President Cassis spoke at the rally against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and listened to the speech of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
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If a President knocks on the door and wants to appear virtually in Switzerland because he cannot physically come – then it is my duty to open the door and welcome him. That was the reason for my presence on the Bundesplatz on Saturday.
The interview was conducted by the Eastern Europe correspondents Roman Fillinger and Sarah Nowotny.