Following the Bürgenstock Conference, they are once again committed to Ukraine: Federal President Viola Amherd and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.Bild: keystone
Ukraine is more mined than almost any other country in the world. Over 50 countries are currently meeting in Lausanne to discuss the problem. What the conference should bring and what happens afterwards.
17.10.2024, 08:0817.10.2024, 11:14
Julian Spörri, Lausanne / ch media
After the peace summit on the Bürgenstock and the reconstruction conference in Lugano shortly after the outbreak of war, Switzerland is organizing an international Ukraine meeting for the third time. On Thursday, Federal President Viola Amherd and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal opened the Ukraine Mine Action Conference in Lausanne. What you need to know about the two-day demining conference.
What is the conference about?
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has become one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. According to estimates, anti-tank mines, anti-personnel mines and unexploded bombs affect almost a quarter of the country’s area – an area three and a half times the size of Switzerland.
Where the war is far enough away, internationally supported mine clearance programs are running. Thanks to them, people should be able to return safely to their homes and work the fields again.
The aim of the Lausanne Conference is now to “address the crucial importance of mine clearance as a central component of social and economic reconstruction,” as the official wording of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) states.
The two-day meeting on the premises of the Lausanne Hotel Management School aims to improve coordination between governments, local partners and private actors. In addition, financing issues should be resolved and those directly affected should have their say.
Are concrete results to be expected?
It is planned that Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Swyrydenko will announce a roadmap for mine clearance in Ukraine on Thursday afternoon – the “Lausanne Call for Action”.
It is also possible for individual countries to use the stage for announcements. As CH Media made public last Saturday, Switzerland will officially announce in Lausanne the purchase of three demining robots for Ukraine – for a total cost of five million francs.
This is what the GCS-200 mine clearing robot looks like, which the federal government is buying from the Schwyz company Global Clearance Solutions.Image: zvg
However, that is just a drop in the ocean. According to the United Nations, more than $34 billion (CHF 29.3 billion) will be needed to decontaminate Ukraine. The UN Development Program presented two proposed solutions on Tuesday: demining could be linked to efforts for sustainable agriculture and the installation of solar systems. These ideas are now being discussed in Lausanne.
How is Switzerland involved?
The Federal Council has discovered the field of humanitarian demining because, in contrast to arms deliveries to Ukraine, there are no neutrality policy pitfalls lurking here. In total, his commitment in this area will cost 100 million francs for the years 2024 to 2027. Switzerland supported mine clearance in Ukraine in 2022 and 2023 with a total amount of 15.2 million francs.
Both the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Mine Clearance (GICHD) and the Swiss Foundation for Mine Clearance (FSD) have been active in Ukraine for years and are supported by the federal government. The FSD Foundation has just received 30 million francs from the 100 million franc pot from the Swiss government for a project in Ukraine. Details will be communicated at the Lausanne conference.
Who is taking part?
Switzerland has invited all EU states as well as financial supporters of Ukraine and mine-affected countries from the Global South to the meeting. According to the list of participants published by the EDA, 52 countries accepted the invitation, including a dozen non-Western countries such as Chile, Libya, Nigeria and Qatar. The delegations of many countries are led by ambassadors – and therefore not at the highest level of government.
The USA will also be represented by an undersecretary of state. In addition to Switzerland and Ukraine, exceptions include three Eastern European countries: the foreign minister travels from Croatia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In addition to the governments, international organizations such as the United Nations as well as NGOs, science and companies also take part in the meeting.
What happens after the conference?
Nobody knows how long the war will last. It is clear that mine clearance will take years or decades in any case. The follow-up conference in Lausanne has already taken place. It will take place in Japan in 2025.
However, demining is only one part of the reconstruction of Ukraine – entire cities are in ruins. That’s why there are more conferences. In July 2022, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis gathered over 40 government members in Lugano to define the most important principles for reconstruction. Since then, follow-up conferences have taken place in London and Berlin. Next year we’re going to Rome. (aargauerzeitung.ch)
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