Swiss Government Launches 'Yes' Campaign For UN Membership

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

10 January 2002

In the run-up to the March 3 nationwide vote, the Swiss government has announced its desire for a 'yes' vote for UN entry, warning that Switzerland risks losing a lot of its international influence if it does not join now.

In 1986, the Swiss public rejected joining the United Nations by a three-to-one majority. However, the country's President, Kaspar Villiger, believes that times have changed. 'The time is ripe for Switzerland to become a member of the United Nations,' he explained, adding: 'If we are not a member, it is not to the detriment of the UN, but the detriment of Switzerland.'

Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss also lent his support to the 'yes' campaign, arguing: 'We already pay our dues to the UN. It's time for us to have a few rights as well.' Indeed, the Swiss are already members of the majority of UN agencies, and the country is one of the multilateral organisation's biggest contributors, despite the fact that it is present strictly in an observatory capacity.

Opponents of UN membership fear that joining will result in a loss of sovereignty and neutrality for Switzerland. However, the Foreign Minister countered these arguments by pointing out that the United Nations Security Council cannot force a member country to act contrary to its own policies. On the economic side, the Swiss Defense Minister, Samuel Schmid, pointed out, there is unlikely to be much change as a result of accession to the UN.

'For the last 10 years, this country has aligned itself on the economic sanctions decided by the UN,' he pointed out.

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