Viola Amherd and Ignazio Cassis promote reforms in New York

The two federal advisers are in New York to address UN reforms and strengthen multilateralism.

The President of the Confederation Viola Amherd and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis are representing Switzerland this week at the high-level week that opens the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. The message from the two federal advisers to statesmen in New York: it is time to address the reforms of the UN and strengthen multilateralism.

At the UN meeting on Monday, Viola Amherd described the world as “increasingly characterized by inequality, democratic backlash and mistrust.” The same day, in New York, Ignazio Cassis expressed concerned about the global increase in the number of armed conflicts – 120 now, compared to almost two dozen 25 years ago – as a result of which millions of people are in need of humanitarian aid and protection.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that our national interests are not only determined by our common future,” said the President of the Confederation at the UN Futures Conference on Sunday.

The Security Council in focus

In her speech on Tuesday (around 5:30 p.m. Swiss time), Viola Amherd will also talk about Switzerland’s experiences as an elected member of the Security Council in 2023 and 2024. In an interview with the Keystone news agency- ATS, said the Swiss President. The Confederation praised the work of Swiss diplomats who are heavily involved in the Council for humanitarian aid and the protection of civilian populations.

The Valaisanne will take part in a meeting of the group on Wednesday on the subject of “leadership for peace”. For the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Security Council is a subject of special attention, because Switzerland will take over the presidency of the most powerful organization at the UN in October for a month.

The Federal Counselor will be present at the Security Council when the situation in Ukraine will be discussed on Tuesday afternoon (local time). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will also attend the meeting. It is not yet clear whether Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is also present at the UN, will attend the meeting.

Protect the humanitarian workers

Ignazio Cassis expressed concern in New York that UN staff have been more than a target of attacks over the past year. Last summer, Switzerland presented Security Council Resolution 2730 on the protection of humanitarian and UN workers, which was adopted with the support of 98 member states of the institution.

It reaffirms the duty of States and parties to conflict to respect and protect humanitarian and UN workers, including national and local workers, and condemns the attacks.

“Aid workers are a line of hope for millions of civilians around the world, who risk their lives every day to help and protect those affected. We need to better protect their ability to do this vital work,” said the Federal Counsel. (swell)