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Is Switzerland doing enough to help war-torn Ukraine? No, say the Western states. No, the SP thinks so too. “If the Federal Council does not want to contribute to the re-export of weapons, then it must at least provide strong support for the demining of Ukraine,” SP national councilor Roger Nordmann (50) emphasized to Blick.
There is very high international pressure on Switzerland to do more for Ukraine. The Federal Council should therefore not only send demining equipment to Ukraine, but also set up an international program to clear mines and unexploded bombs and then provide significant financial, human and material support.
Experts estimate that about 160,000 square kilometers are mined in Ukraine – four times the area of Switzerland. However, there are no reliable figures on this.
Express solidarity without compromising neutrality
With this request, the SP is running into open doors. First at the Federal Council. Now also at the Security Committee of the Council of States (SiK). Commission President Andrea Gmür (59, center) emphasizes that they “fully” support the issue.
For the Commission of the Council of States, the requirement is an effective means for Switzerland to participate in the sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine. In this way they can express their solidarity without endangering their neutrality. And Ukraine could benefit from the experience of several Swiss organizations.
Swiss companies should be given preference
Although the Council of States committee certainly recognizes the importance of taking local needs into account in Ukraine, it proposes, with ten votes against, one against and one abstention, to adapt the scheme so that Swiss companies are given priority in within the framework of such a programme.
“The majority of the Commission concluded that Parliament was repeatedly promised preferential treatment for Swiss companies in various areas, but this rarely actually happened,” President Gmür explained. “That is why the Commission wants to set an example here and really oblige the Federal Council.”
The National Council approved the initiative in December. The Council of States will probably consider this in the spring session.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
