Switzerland says no to Kyiv. He does not supply weapons to Ukraine, nor helmets, nor protective vests, even children’s sizes. But it sells fighter jet artillery shells to the autocratic desert state of Qatar.
The Qatari study of my colleague Fabian Eberhard is a lesson in Swiss hypocrisy. And it gives a deeper insight into the engine room in Bern. Because before the entire Federal Council gave the go-ahead for the supply of 27mm ammunition to the Persian Gulf region, there was a duel between the economic and foreign departments. The people of Guy Parmelin lobbied for the interests of the defense industry; It is not for nothing that the leading department is called the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, with an emphasis “for”. EDA Ignazio Cassis spoke out against the deal – in vain in the end – arguing precisely the unstable human rights situation in Qatar.
Our country likes to present itself as a defender of human rights. This was the last time on Wednesday when the Federal Council justified the non-delivery of weapons to Ukraine, firstly, by neutrality, and secondly, by “Switzerland’s special humanitarian role” in the world. But what does the Swiss Confederation and human rights really mean?
The first federal adviser who wanted to make human rights the guiding principle in Swiss politics was Pierre Aubert, Secretary of State from 1978 to 1987. the Vietnam War while working to restore human rights. “On the first day of his tenure as Federal Councilor, Pierre Aubert asked for a report on Switzerland’s increased commitment to human rights,” writes
historian Sasha Zala in the 2019 revised version of the Lexicon of the Federal Council.
This sounds very impressive. However, this attitude brought Ober numerous attacks from the enemy. The Minister of Justice Kurt Furgler especially complicated his life. Furgler’s criticism from the Federal Council reached the public through indiscretions—for example, his demand to “reveal all foreign policy and set clear guidelines”. This reinforced the negative image of the foreign secretary as a sentimental enthusiast so much that the old 1991 Federal Council Lexicon says: “Aubert probably didn’t have what it takes to be a politician.” It was thanks to the historian Zale, director of the Research Center for Swiss Diplomatic Documents, that he corrected this distorted picture.
Does this mean that human rights have also received the status they deserve in Bern? In 2022, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs published a brochure on, among other things, the topic “Business and Human Rights”. There you will find sentences such as: “Respect for human rights is essential for the sustainable development of the economy and society.”
The export of ammunition to Qatar proves that these are empty words and marketing slogans. When it comes down to it, human rights – as in the days of Pierre Aubert – have no priority outside the Foreign Office.
The question arises: is it really because of neutrality and noble humanitarian principles that the Federation Council refuses Ukraine even protective vests? Or maybe it’s more of a naive and cynical hope that Switzerland will be able to do business with Russia sooner rather than later?
Source: Blick
I am David Miller, a highly experienced news reporter and author for 24 Instant News. I specialize in opinion pieces and have written extensively on current events, politics, social issues, and more. My writing has been featured in major publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC News. I strive to be fair-minded while also producing thought-provoking content that encourages readers to engage with the topics I discuss.
