ONU – Cassis defends Switzerland’s candidacy for the Security Council

Switzerland’s candidacy for the UN Security Council in 2023 and 2024 has entered its “final phase”. For the 75th anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations, Ignazio Cassis unveiled on Friday in Geneva the slogan “A plus for peace” that Switzerland wants to embody.

After nine years of candidacy, “we will redouble our efforts” to defend it on the international scene and it “will become more visible in the next two years,” said the federal adviser. The slogan unveiled Friday should have been revealed in New York, but the pandemic forced to review these plans.

The next official launch will take place in October in the American city, UN headquarters, in the presence of the President of the Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga and Mr. Cassis. The rest of the sequence must still be articulated by the Federal Council, including the scenario of a promotion of this candidacy at the G20 summit in November in Saudi Arabia, if it takes place, to promote this candidacy. “We will use all the possibilities available to us,” Cassis told Keystone-ATS.

For the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Switzerland can bring “his long experience in terms of good offices”. But also its stability and neutrality, which Mr. Cassis repeats that it is not, according to the Federal Council, contradictory with a seat on the Security Council.

Role of facilitator

To those who doubt it, including within his own party, he affirms that “there is not a single theme that is unanimous” in Switzerland. In the press on Friday, he believed that “the benefits are more important than the risks.” It does not exclude that Switzerland could find itself in delicate situations, but the Federal Council could deal with it if necessary. Switzerland could then abstain from voting. According to him, this scenario would be rarely, if ever, necessary.

Malta and Switzerland are candidates for the two seats of the European regional bloc in the June 2022 election. The 10 non-permanent members of the UN executive body must “facilitate dialogue” amid political tensions between the big five powers within the UN executive body, says Cassis. He is convinced that Switzerland can help on this issue.

Berne wants to highlight “its well-established profile at the UN” with its commitment to humanitarian aid and peace, but also to sustainable development and innovation. “We want to be a plus for peace,” added Cassis, referring to the slogan after hundreds of proposals received from employees in his department.

“Pride” in international Geneva

Switzerland is concerned about the current situation of multilateralism, targeted by several states, but considers that it is still essential but must be adapted. Without naming one, he notes that “no country can face global challenges alone”. He also noted that the reforms initiated by Secretary General Antonio Guterres “are going in the right direction”.

In Geneva, he also came to affirm the Swiss “pride” for international Geneva and praised the collaboration with his entities during the pandemic. He is less worried than a few years ago about those who would like to attract UN agencies.

The crisis will probably further expand the use of digital technology for international meetings, a situation favorable to the environment, says the federal adviser. He wants to make Geneva a world center on digital governance.

(ATS / NXP)

Posted: Jun 26, 2020, 6:13 p.m.–