'The problem is,' she told Swissinfo on Friday, 'that everyone remembers cases like Abacha, and it will be hard to convince the international community that our banks and financial intermediaries are really vigilant now. I think it will take many years to clean up our image. I'm afraid our reputation is founded on old stories.'

However, Ms Balleyguier hit out at claims made by the UK Chancellor Gordon Brown, who recently claimed that Switzerland may have acted as a conduit for substantial amounts of terrorist funds, arguing that to claim such things without proof was unfair.

Her predecessor, Mr Huber, left under something of a cloud earlier this year, alleging that he had not received either the political or financial support necessary to do his job. However, Ms Balleyguier believes that the events of September 11th have 'changed the agenda', and is confident that she will receive all the back-up she requires. 'I asked specifically for extra staff and I got them,' she explained. 'And I have been promised the support I need, right up the the Finance Minister himself, if necessary.'

Despite the recent controversies and difficulties experienced by the Money Laundering Control Authority, Dina Balleyguier professes that she is looking forward to the challenge, and believes that attitudes, particularly among the smaller financial institutions which are unused to government scrutiny, will change under her reign. 'They will just have to get used to it,' she observed bluntly.