‘Pro Switzerland’ wants to prevent transfer of Swiss ammunition Parliament wants to reform pension funds – despite Berset’s warning

The parliament is currently working on a possible compromise so that Swiss-made arms and ammunition can still be passed to Ukraine. The Security Policy Committee of the National Council has made a proposal that transfer would be possible in some cases.

In particular, countries that have an export control regime similar to Switzerland’s should be allowed to pass on weapons if the UN Security Council or a two-thirds majority of the UN General Assembly has determined that the recipient country has been attacked in violation of international law . In the case of Ukraine, that would already be the case. For example, Germany is likely to pass on tank ammunition from Switzerland. Switzerland is still unable to directly supply arms to parties in the conflict.

Evolved from the Auns

But now there is already a strong headwind. The “Pro Switzerland” movement announced on Tuesday that it would fight “any softening” of the War Material Act with referendums, as Stephan Rietiker, chairman of “Pro Switzerland”, explained to the media. “Pro Switzerland” is a young club, but a powerful one. The group that emerged from the merger of the “Action for an independent and neutral Switzerland” (AUNS) together with the association “No to Creeping EU Accession” and the “Business Association against EU Accession” now counts “25,000 members », as Rietiker said.

For reasons of neutrality, “Pro Switzerland” is against arms deliveries. A possible retroactive effect of the law would “make Switzerland utterly ridiculous and an unpredictable and incredible country,” as Walter Wobmann, SVP National Councilor, explained. Switzerland thus endangers its neutrality and can then no longer perform its services as a neutral mediator, according to Wobmann.

‘Swiss ammunition will not decide the war’

In addition, Wobmann said, the countries that Switzerland bans from passing on arms and ammunition would “accept this decision”. The current debate is quite fraught, “a few boxes of Swiss-made ammunition will not decide the war in Ukraine.”

Stephan Rietiker also resolutely wants to defend himself against foreign pressure attempts. “Let’s be steadfast and stick to our beliefs,” Rietiker said. He and his organization would prefer to see Switzerland refrain from sanctions. If Switzerland takes over such a thing, it will become “a war party”. Switzerland has adopted many sanctions against Russia. According to Rietiker an “unheard of event”. Switzerland’s role has been “damaged”, the peace concepts now come “from Turkey, Brazil or China”.

At the negotiating table

The Russian offensive war was repeatedly condemned. He does not know what the future of Ukraine looks like, said the president of “Pro Switzerland”. He hopes for a “quick negotiated solution for the Ukrainian people,” Rietiker said. That would be the best and most effective way, according to him. If the war continued for several more years, there would not be much left of eastern Ukraine.

According to Rietiker, the neutrality initiative from the kitchen of former Federal Councilor Christoph Blocher, which was launched at exactly the right time like almost no other, was a topic time and time again, according to Rietiker. “Pro Switzerland” is one of the driving forces here. Both Rietiker and Wobmann stated that this was “on track”. (aargauerzeitung.ch)