He flew to Azerbaijan: Nik Gugger is there firsthand in India

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Nik Gugger (53) comes by – but doesn’t always come in. Recently, the Zurich EPP National Council wanted to travel to Azerbaijan as an official election observer, but the regime denied him entry: the police held him for three hours, confiscated his passport and put him on the next plane to Turkey. It is said that it was a vote in the Council of Europe that blacklisted Gugger.

Just over a month later, Gugger flies around the world again – and this time he is welcomed with open arms. He was the only Swiss parliamentarian who was allowed to accompany the high-profile delegation led by Economy Minister Guy Parmelin (64) and State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda (59), who flew to Delhi, India, to sign the free trade agreement.

Gugger was born in Udupi, India, the son of a widow, which was taboo in Indian society at the time, and subsequently adopted by a Swiss couple who worked for the evangelical aid organization Witch in India.

Dual citizen and bridge builder

Although Gugger does not speak Hindi, he is very well connected as chairman of the Switzerland-India Parliamentary Group and other activities in India. He says he was able to play a bridge-building role in the negotiations, which were not always easy. “In recognition of this, Minister Parmelin of Economic Affairs invited me to sign, for which I am very grateful.”

And so Gugger was able to be there when Parmelin signed the contract. A historic moment for Gugger: “This free trade agreement is the first between India and Europe. To be there and see the signature after seventeen years of negotiations is truly historic.”

Source:Blick