The anger in the West is great. There is no understanding abroad that the Bundesrat prohibits other states from passing on war material for reasons of neutrality. For example, Denmark was not allowed to sell Swiss Piranha-wheeled infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, Germany was not allowed to sell ammunition for Gepard tanks, and Spain was not allowed to sell anti-aircraft guns.
In recent weeks, the parties have outbid each other with suggestions on how indirect arms supplies to Ukraine could be made possible. However, none of the proposals seems to be able to secure a majority so far.
A new compromise should solve it
The security policy The National Council Committee therefore worked overtime on Tuesday. One came out parliamentary Initiative as a compromise between a push from FDP chairman Thierry Burkart (47) and a push from the SP.
For well-defined countries that have similar values to Switzerland, the current no-re-export ban can be limited to five years, provided the destination countries commit not to pass the weapons on to countries where human rights violations are serious. There must also be no risk that the armaments will be used against the civilian population. However, no automatism are allowed. As before, the countries must make an official request to Switzerland for transfer.
In addition, the country of destination may not be involved in a violent conflict. Cases in which the UN Security Council or the General Assembly, by a two-thirds majority, declare a war of aggression as contrary to international law must be excluded.
It is a sensitive state policy that individual regulations should even apply retroactively: if states bought weapons more than five years ago, they could apply for the transfer of weapons as soon as the new rules came into effect. But that could take months.
“Don’t Put Any Obstacles In Your Way”
“We have built in high hurdles based on international law that we can live with in a first phase,” says SP security politician Franziska Roth (56). “This is just not the time to shut everything down until we’ve tried it out.” Because there is war in Europe. And Switzerland has a duty of solidarity towards Ukraine and towards all states that provide more aid than our country. “We don’t want to put obstacles on these countries,” says Roth.
But even the latest move by the security politicians should not have an easy time in parliament when the spring session starts next week. For example, the SVP and the Greens are firmly against direct or indirect arms transfers to Ukraine. The SVP for neutrality, the Greens for pacifist reasons.
“Anyone who is against it will hardly be convinced now,” says Roth. And the SP is also divided. “So it remains difficult,” says the SP security politician. “We want to be able to say at least: we’ve tried everything.” However: Until the War Material Act is actually changed, it will be in Ukraine hardly more useful.
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.
