Security Council: for Joseph Deiss, the election of Switzerland “makes him gain in sovereignty”

Un moment historique pour notre pays: 20 years after joining the UN, #Switzerland 🇨🇭 is included in the #Security Council… https://t.co/9cI8LO1cxP

– ignaziocassis (@Ignazio Cassis)January 09, 2022

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■ The reaction of Joseph Deiss, former Federal Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time of joining the UN

“It’s a superb and magnificent score. Three feelings dominate as far as I am concerned: firstly, this is a historic event, for our multilateral foreign policy, for our country and for its presence in the world. We have taken a big step in the way we manage our foreign policy. This election is at least as important as the OSCE election in 1995, and our UN membership in 2002, of course.”

“My second reaction: it is a great honor for our country to receive such a demonstration of confidence which makes us gain in sovereignty. We are going to participate at the highest level in the destinies of our planet.”

“Thirdly, it is a great challenge, because all this is happening at the time of the war in Ukraine, the worst crisis that the UN has known since its foundation. Finally, on a personal level, I have peace of mind: it is the confirmation of what we announced at the time of our candidacy. All the horrors that we were told did not happen.”

■ The reaction of Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations

Switzerland’s election to the Security Council is hailed by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The latter sees it as “new proof of commitment to global peace and security”. “Switzerland has always been a beacon in the international community for its principled approach to peace and multilateralism,” Antonio Guterres’ spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told Keystone-ATS on Thursday.

■ The reaction of Raymond Loretan, Ambassador and former Consul General of Switzerland in New York

“Switzerland’s brilliant election to the Security Council demonstrates how much our country is valued in the UN after only 20 years of participation. Apart from its other objectives, Switzerland will have to continue working on the reform of the Security Council. In this, a neutral state with no hidden agenda will certainly benefit from more credibility.”

“The reform of the Security Council could for example concern the number of permanent members and the term of office of non-permanent members (such as Switzerland). This process cannot be finalized in two years – the duration of the Swiss mandate – but this period of time makes it possible to provide the necessary impetus and to steer the discussions in the right direction. It is not the size of the country that makes the difference, but the intelligence of the proposals and the know-how to move them forward.

“One could wonder if the number of permanent members of the Security Council should not be enlarged, and if the modalities of the right of veto should not be reviewed, which has shown its limits in the Ukrainian crisis. Furthermore, the UN must be much more present on the ground. His restraint in the current war, especially at the start of the conflict, highlights a problematic, even incomprehensible restraint.

■ The reaction of SVP President Marco Chiesa (TI)

“The Security Council decides on economic sanctions or military interventions against certain countries. Is it Switzerland’s role to participate in this? Exactly not. We are recognized as mediators between parties in conflict, and want to continue to be so. This will not be possible as a member of the Security Council.”

“We will be stuck between superpowers, with divergent self-interests. In addition, the mandate lasts only two years, which is far too short. Switzerland has no chance of influencing or reforming the way things work. You have to be a dreamer to pretend otherwise. This mandate will also be an alibi exercise because of the right of veto of the five permanent members. There is no advantage to be gained from this for Switzerland. We will be continuously under pressure because interventions are decided in two days.

■ The reaction of Green National Councilor Nicolas Walder (GE)

“If the vote is largely in favor of Switzerland, it is good that the international community does not see a problem with it occupying a seat on the Security Council because of its neutrality. Switzerland is absolutely right to join the Security Council, being neutral does not mean that we should not assume our responsibilities and not take a position, as the UDC says. To be neutral means not to participate in an armed conflict.”

On the effective weight of the Confederation, the member of the Foreign Policy Committee believes that “resolving the differences between the United States and China will not be possible for us. But as other comparable countries have done, Norway for example, Switzerland will be able to bring the more pragmatic view of small states, and also represent the fundamental interests of international law which protects small ones, let’s not forget. Small countries have a less utilitarian relationship to multilateralism. Switzerland clearly has a role to play, it is credible, with international Geneva, and as guardian of the Geneva conventions. Most countries are small, Switzerland can represent them.” Remains a “small flat on the approach of the Federal Council: the defense of international law and human rights is not displayed enough, it is too implied.”

■ Switzerland is elected to the United Nations Security Council with 187 votes

Of the 192 voting countries, two abstained, and three did not vote for Switzerland. With this result, Switzerland equals the record for a Western European country. Such a score was notably achieved by Germany. Mozambique, Japan, Ecuador and Malta are also elected.

■ The vote count is in progress

Several country representatives address the General Assembly. In the meantime, the scrutineers do their job of counting the votes. The result is expected in the next few minutes.

■ Ignazio Cassis has arrived in the General Assembly hall, the vote is open

■ «Dear ambassador, it’s time to go».

Ignazio Cassis was in a cautious but confident, and also jovial mood, Wednesday evening in front of the UN headquarters in New York. After an outdoor press conference with the Swiss media, he was to take part in another engagement. Taking the Swiss ambassador to the UN Pascale Baeriswyl by the arm with a smile, he then slipped in English that the time had come to leave. “Dear ambassador, it’s time to go,” he said.

■ More security for the governor than for Ignazio Cassis

Swiss President Ignazio Cassis arrived in New York by train from Washington on Wednesday afternoon. Without an escort convoy, in the middle of the city traffic to join the Swiss mission to the UN. He then spent several hours on this site to discuss with the collaborators.

In front of the building of several dozen floors, shortly before his departure, plainclothes bodyguards were posted, but not for Ignazio Cassis. “Ah, the Swiss president is here?” asked one of them. It just so happened that New York State Governor Kathy Hochul was working that day in her New York offices — instead of those in the state capital, Albany. These are established a few floors below the Swiss mission.

■ Ignazio Cassis: “It’s never a formality”

In front of the press on Wednesday evening in New York (Thursday morning in Switzerland), Ignazio Cassis remained cautious but confident. “It’s never a formality,” said the President of the Confederation. Five countries are candidates for five non-permanent seats on the Council. Switzerland is the only one to run with Malta for the two seats of the Western European bloc. To be elected, it is necessary to obtain at least two thirds of the voices of voting countries among the 193 States of the organization.

According to Ignazio Cassis, the result does not matter as long as it exceeds the number of votes required. However, he says he has “an idea” of who might not vote for Switzerland, without naming anyone. The crisis in Ukraine and the Swiss attitude on the sanctions against Moscow can play a role, he admitted.

■ 25 additional positions to represent Switzerland

The candidacy and then the probable mandate of Switzerland on the Security Council require 25 additional posts. Among these collaborators, a dozen joined the Swiss mission to the UN in New York. Most of the expenses are absorbed internally by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), but the additional cost is estimated at 5.3 million francs.

In total, the envelope between 2020 and 2025 should reach nearly 25 million francs, two thirds of which are financed by the FDFA. The Federal Department of Defense (DDPS) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) will also have to resort to additional resources.

■ One red seat to a blue seat

Switzerland will begin its term on the UN Security Council next January if elected on Thursday. But it will enter on October 1 in a provisional period. The presidents of the UN executive body are then supposed to relay to Switzerland all the important documents on its meetings. But “it will be necessary to see, certain States make retention” on certain files, explained to the ATS a person in charge of UNO, specialist of the Security Council. On the other hand, Switzerland will keep its red seat in the room until next January. It is only then that it will take place for two years on the blue seats where the 15 members are found, including the five permanent and the 10 non-permanent.

■ In the eyes of the SVP, “the death knell of Swiss neutrality”

SVP parliamentarians demonstrated Thursday morning on the Federal Square in Bern a few hours before the planned election of Switzerland to the UN Security Council. They held up a banner that read “Switzerland is definitely a party to the war”. For the party, this decision “will sound the death knell for Swiss neutrality”.