According to Federal President Guy Parmelin, the trip to the 76th UN General Assembly in New York was worth it. In his first speech to the State Assembly as Federal President, he chose a somewhat personal style and showed what Switzerland has to offer within the UN framework.
When it comes to climate change, coping with the Covid 19 crisis and securing sustainable food systems, the help of Switzerland with its skills in organization and education is needed, said Parmelin on Wednesday morning (local time) in front of media representatives in New York.
The Minister of Economic Affairs stressed that it was necessary to work together on an international level in order to get out of the Covid crisis. Protectionism hampered the world economy. This was seen from the beginning of the pandemic.
“First the masks were the problem, then the breathing equipment that everyone wanted to buy, then the distribution of the vaccines – this shows that the international supply chain must not be interrupted, otherwise everyone will have a problem,” said the Federal President. One of Switzerland’s trumps is that it is highly specialized and therefore sometimes has a decisive element in the supply chain.
Meeting with Colombia’s head of state
Parmelin also used his stay at the UN headquarters for bilateral meetings, for example with Colombian President Iván Duque. Switzerland is making a “historic” contribution to the peace process in Colombia and is also helping the country economically.
The Federal Council also met the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. The political situation in the south-east European landlocked country is still very fragile after the elections. Switzerland plans to support the former Soviet country economically and with educational programs. Around a third of the young population is leaving Moldova, which has dramatic consequences.
Covid measures «in the general interest»
When asked about the role of the Federal Council in the Covid crisis, Parmelin said he had the impression that the Federal Council had always had the general interest in mind. But it was sometimes difficult to keep the balance between health, economy and freedom.
“The Federal Council has always made its decisions in the general interest, and he wants to return to normal as quickly as possible, but only if he is sure that there will be no relapse,” said Parmelin, who left New York on Wednesday evening Switzerland wanted to fly back.
Candidate for the Security Council on the way
Parmelin was accompanied by Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis at the UN in New York. The Foreign Minister campaigned for Switzerland to sit on the UN Security Council in 2023 and 2024. The prospects are good: Only Malta and Switzerland are eligible for the two vacancies in the group of Western European and other countries; there are opposing candidates so far none.
Cassis also took part in a conference on the peace process in Libya. Elections are to take place there on December 24th. “These elections are indispensable for the further peace process in Libya,” said the foreign minister.
Together with his Swedish counterpart Ann Linde, Cassis chaired a donor conference for Yemen. The peacebuilding processes are not really moving forward there at the moment, said Cassis. Humanitarian aid remains the most important concern for the country affected by the civil war.
–
