Cassis is still understood here

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Working where others go on holiday: this is especially true for the new Swiss Vatican Embassy. The property is a seven minute walk from the Vatican. Senegal is also a guest in the house. And if you ring the bell at the top, you will arrive at guest rooms that you can rent: “Roof top St. Peter”.

Switzerland is also available for rent from the Vatican. The building is owned by the Dicastery for Evangelization. The authority of the Vatican used to be called “Propaganda Fide” and spread the faith. Switzerland pays the Vatican 54,000 euros in rent every year.

It is an important date for Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis (62). as a federal councillor. Like Tessin. As a Catholic. The last embassy he opened: the one in Minsk (2020). In Belarus dictator Lukashenko rules with an iron hand. Little glamour, lots of problems.

In Rome it is exactly the other way around. On Thursday evening, the Swiss Guard and the Swiss Embassy jointly invite you to the Court of Honor of the Swiss Guard. The diplomatic corps is enthusiastic.

Similar diplomacy to Switzerland, less international pressure

The diplomacy of the Holy See is very similar to Swiss neutrality. Ignazio Cassis quotes Pope Francis at the opening of the message. In a recent interview with Ticino television, he said that Swiss neutrality means “no distilled water, no constant hand washing”.

What does the Pope mean by that? “Something very positive,” says diplomacy expert Jörg Ernesti. It is true that Vatican foreign policy speaks more of impartiality than of neutrality. In the end, Switzerland and the Holy See followed a similar diplomatic strategy: “The Pope is above the parties because he sees himself as a moral voice. But he is not neutral when human rights are violated. And he strives for balance and mediation.”

In contrast to the diplomacy of the Holy See, Swiss diplomacy is under pressure. NATO member states mainly believe that the Confederation is doing too little for Ukraine. The Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash (54), is also critical of Switzerland’s policy. For example, war material for the Ukraine, which Berlin is not allowed to supply because of Bern. Or with the oligarch task force, of which Switzerland does not want to join.

Neutrality does not meet with rejection everywhere

Is the Pope the only one who understands Switzerland? Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis disagrees: “Most countries in the world, including Western countries, understand Switzerland’s neutrality.”

Ignazio Cassis also found understanding ears with the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (69). Tajani makes it clear: the world needs neutral countries like Switzerland to resolve conflicts.

Ignazio Cassis later says none of this comes as a surprise to him. There is a double reality: “A media reality and a diplomatic reality.” In the diplomatic reality, it is clear: “Switzerland’s uniqueness is in the interest of the world and the world community.”

Source:Blick