After controversial statements about arms delivery: Ruag boss Beck apologizes to staff

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Brigitte Beck, head of the federal armaments group Ruag, is under pressure. Her blunt statements about the war in Ukraine and the debate about arms transfers from Switzerland got her into trouble: Germany or Spain could also supply Swiss arms to Ukraine without Switzerland’s permission, she said during a panel discussion. The consequences are hardly to be feared.

The head of a federal company thus ignores the Swiss neutrality policy and the War Material Act.

Beck was reprimanded by Secretary of Defense Viola Amherd (60). “I would never get involved and give another country a recommendation on what to do,” the central federal councilor said of the SRF’s “Eco Talk” program. Switzerland also does not appreciate other countries telling us what to do.

Now Beck is crawling back. In a letter to employees, which is also available at Blick, she writes: “It is very important for me personally to apologize to the owner, the board of directors and you as employees for the controversy over the past few weeks. originated. .”

Of course, she thinks it’s important that RUAG “consistently and without exception act within the applicable political and legal framework,” Beck continues. “Ultimately, it’s about our performance for the army and the security of Switzerland.” She will work for that. The letter does not mention possible personal consequences.

In the beginning there was an interview

The story began with an interview with “CH Media”, which never materialized after Beck’s subsequent intervention and the threat of a lawsuit for damages. Ruag boss Beck would not have minced words in the conversation, but then did not want to know anything more about it.

But that is not everything. The Ruag boss publicly doubled down. At a panel on Swiss neutrality in Zurich, she called on Germany and Spain to supply Swiss weapons to Ukraine: “Germany or Spain, deliver this stuff to Ukraine.” Beck thought that there would hardly be any consequences if other states passed on armaments without Switzerland’s permission.

The Ruag leadership itself was also tense afterwards. The board of directors is “not happy with the current situation,” President Nicolas Perrin told “CH Media” – announcing internal clarifications.

Source:Blick