FDP leader Burkart demands re-export of war material “otherwise huge damage” Public prosecutor demands more than six years in prison for Hefenhofen-Bauer

Pressure is mounting on Switzerland to allow arms to be re-exported to Ukraine. “This concerns the re-export of Swiss arms and ammunition that are in the stocks of our European partners,” says the French ambassador Frédéric Journès in a double interview with the Dutch ambassador Hedda Samson in the “NZZ am Sonntag”.

Journès’ conclusion is clear: “If Switzerland blocks the supply of arms and ammunition, it also means that it prevents a European country from defending its own security.”

The two top diplomats are clear about their expectations. Even states that had not applied for re-export in Bern followed the debates in Bern closely, says Samson: “That could have implications for whether these countries will buy Swiss arms in the future. We are all looking closely.” Germany (tank munitions), Spain (anti-aircraft guns) and Denmark (piranha infantry fighting vehicles) had unsuccessfully applied to Switzerland to supply armaments they had purchased from Switzerland to Ukraine.

Two motions are received by the National Council and the Council of States

In our own country, things follow each other quickly. On Monday, the Council of States will discuss the motion of FDP chairman Thierry Burkart. And on Wednesday, the National Council will advise on the motion of the Security Policy Committee (SiK). These are the first two of half a dozen forays into this subject.

Burkart is demanding that Switzerland waive the no-re-export declaration “if the delivery is made to countries that live by our values ​​and have an export control regime similar to ours”.

The states that meet these requirements are listed in the War Material Ordinance. There are 25 countries, most of which belong to the EU, plus Argentina, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and the US. These countries should be “free to use the war materials obtained from Switzerland,” Burkart writes. They should all be able to supply weapons to Ukraine. In order to prevent direct indirect deliveries and thus circumvention of neutrality, according to Burkart’s proposal, a time commitment can be prescribed for own use.

The SiK motion wants to allow the transfer of weapons to a country at war like Ukraine if it makes use of the international law of self-defense. The Security Council or the UN General Assembly would have to declare a war of aggression illegal under international law by a two-thirds majority. This is the case with Ukraine.

“We have a serious problem”

FDP president Thierry Burkart is now going on the offensive. “Parliament would do well to send a signal to the Western world that it finally wants to solve the problem of the re-export of war materials,” he says. “We have a serious problem here that is getting bigger and bigger.” If the Parliament and the Bundesrat do not come to a solution, “the damage to our country compared to the Western partner countries will be enormous”.

Federal Councilor Viola Amherd learned at the Munich security conference how great the pressure from abroad is on Switzerland and the SiK of the Council of States during their visit to Brussels, where they visited representatives of the EU and NATO.

“The world understands that we are neutral and should not directly supply arms to a warring country,” says Burkart. “But what the world doesn’t understand is that we prohibit third countries from passing on weapons that we have purchased.”

Burkart advises parliament not to overexert itself. “It’s about two movements where you don’t have to correct every comma now. The details can still be adjusted in the subsequent legislative process.” It is crucial to refer them to the Federal Council. This gives them the power to develop a concept to solve the problem. “It would be good if the Federal Council took a leadership position.”

It is likely to be tight in Parliament for both motions. The SP supports the motion of the SiK of the National Council, says party leader Roger Nordmann. But not the Motion Burkarts. “It doesn’t help Ukraine, it just encourages general arms exports.”

Nordmann, however, hopes for the support of the FDP for the SiK’s motion. “It would be a bad sign for Ukraine if this motion fails on Wednesday,” he said. “The FDP agrees on the content. It would be a bizarre tactic for her to reject the motion because it doesn’t go far enough.”

Even without SP support, the Burkart motion has a chance in the Council of States. According to “Blick”, the majority of the middle state councilors want to agree, although the party leadership is rather negative. Together with the FDP it could be enough for a narrow majority. SVP and Greens reject both motions. (aargauerzeitung.ch)