Last Thursday President Viktor Yushchenko made a two-day visit to Switzerland, which recognized Ukraine’s independence in 1991. Today this country belongs to the top ten investors in Ukraine’s economy. Since 2005 our country has been represented in Bern on the level of the Acting Ambassador, which has, no doubt, affected the development of the highest-level bilateral contacts. In 2008 an Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador was appointed to Switzerland as befits the international diplomatic protocol.
On the eve of Yushchenko’s official visit to Switzerland, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Micheline Calmy-Rey, kindly agreed to answer The Day’s questions on Switzerland’s foreign and national policy and Ukraine-Switzerland relations.
This is the second official visit of Ukraine’s president to your country in 17 years of Ukraine’s independence. The Ukrainian president visited Bern for the first time in March 1996. What keeps the relations between our countries from developing more rapidly?
“The visit of Ukraine’s president has symbolic meaning. It is a great honor for us to welcome the president of Ukraine in Switzerland, and we are glad that Mr. Yushchenko will visit five Swiss cantons. I highly value the fact that last year Ukraine decided to appoint a new ambassador to Switzerland, which made our bilateral relations considerably more active.”
After your visit to Kyiv in June 2005 and meeting with President Yushchenko, the intergovernmental contacts between our states have intensified. In your opinion, what are the prospects for the relations between Switzerland and Ukraine?
“In autumn 2008 our countries have resumed political consultations. Switzerland and Ukraine have certain features in common. Our countries are not members of either European Union or NATO. As a result, both countries have topics to exchange their opinions about during political discussions.
“Our trade and economic relations are also prospering. Last year our exports to Ukraine increased by 17 percent, while imports grew by 21 percent. In the end of 2007 direct investments from Switzerland exceeded a billion francs and helped create over 18,000 jobs in Ukraine. Your country’s entry into World Trade Organization helped improve the framework conditions and prospects for concluding a free trade agreement. There is great potential in this direction.
“I see an important prospect in developing of those special relations that have been established between our countries thanks to the Swiss cooperation program with Ukraine. Switzerland has become the leading donor agency for the decentralization of local authorities, i.e., in the aspect of making local authorities more independent in their management of local affairs. In this sphere Switzerland shares its experience, accumulated knowledge, and achievements, because we are a federative state guided by the principle of direct democracy: our citizens directly participate in the country’s political decision-making.
“I should also emphasize that our relations in the sphere of science and culture have been stepped up after the signing of the trainee exchange agreement, which went into force in October 2008. I attach a great importance to direct human contact, because it creates connections between people that later become a foundation for the development of strong relations.”
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member countries have offered Ukraine to launch negotiations on developing a free trade agreement. The first round of negotiations took place on April 21-22 in Kyiv. What is Switzerland’s stand on this question as a EFTA member?
“We are very much interested in signing a free trade agreement with Ukraine. Your country is a promising market with a great potential for development.
“Free trade agreements of this kind provide certain conditions and a certain degree of safety for the investors, The first round of negotiations has already taken place and it was very constructive.”
As Switzerland’s minister of foreign affairs, you promote an active foreign policy. However, since 1515 Switzerland has been a de facto neutral state. How are these two vastly different principles combined? What is the “status” of Switzerland’s neutrality today?
“You are speaking about ‘vastly different’ principles, although they are not, in fact, different. Switzerland chose to keep a neutrality status after the Battle of Marignano in 1515: the Swiss should not launch any military attacks on other countries — only defend their country from possible aggressors.
“This principle, which has been consistently developed in the following centuries, was for that time a very bold signal — this was a message of peace. Today Switzerland should be active in order to remain true to this message of peace. We cannot be content with inaction; we need to defend the welfare and security of our citizens. For this to happen the country has to be safe, and Switzerland is indeed this type of country.
“Switzerland has the status of permanent neutrality, which forbids it from taking part in any military alliances like NATO, because their principles may call for its member countries to be involved in military conflicts. However, neutrality does not mean indifference: we express our viewpoint. For example, when international legal norms are violated, Switzerland states openly about this, regardless of what these violations are and were they were committed.”
Doesn’t neutrality cost too much for the country, considering that your current system of defense demands that Swiss citizens aged between 20 and 50 serve in the army?
“Switzerland uses the principle of military neutrality as an instrument of its security. At the same time, our army is formed according to a militia system, i.e., everybody takes part in the defense of the state. Like any country in Europe and in the whole world, our country aims at defending the safety of our citizens.”
In your opinion, what is the prospect of the collective security system in Europe after France’s recent return to NATO?
“As I have already noted, Switzerland is not going to enter the NATO military bloc. The entire complex of questions linked to the prospect of the European system of collective security is on the agenda of the negotiations within the framework of the OSCE. The architecture of European security will depend to a large extent on the cooperation between the OSCE, NATO, and the European Union, as well as on their ability to coordinate efforts to resolve all the problems connected with the security on the European continent.”
Since 2000 Switzerland has been a mediator in 20 peacekeeping processes in more than 15 countries of the world. Today Switzerland represents Russia’s interests in Georgia, and recently it has become a mediator between Turkey and Armenia. What interest does your small country have in being a mediator in conflict situations?
“This is a tribute of gratitude to Switzerland for its safety and the ability to lead negotiations and carry out its foreign policy. Our everyday program is anything but secret. Switzerland defends its interests via dialogue. Our country is in demand for its good services in resolving international conflicts owing to its competence and solid reputation. Today we are representing US interests in Iran and Cuba, Russia’s interests in Georgia and Georgia’s interests in Russia.”
Switzerland is the only country in the world that has a system of direct democracy. Could you provide more detail?
“The citizens of Switzerland take pride of its political institutions, because they are in many respects unique. The Swiss people can have a direct influence on the political life of the country: it has a right for people’s initiative and referendums. People’s initiative means that the Swiss may offer to include in the Constitution or a law any proposals they deem desirable and then make the parliament and the government put them into force. The Swiss people may also express its opinion via referendums, which enables it to cancel decisions of the government and the parliament.”
The special feature of the Swiss democracy is that the people is constantly in control of its elected officials. At least four times a year Swiss citizens receive ballots from the Confederation, canton, or community. How does participation in referendums and people’s initiatives affect the consciousness of the Swiss?
“The citizens of Switzerland are regularly invited to express their opinion and adopt their own position. If you enter a caf in Geneva or Zurich in the period of budget approval or at the time of the nationwide survey, people will be discussing these topics, arguing, and showing that they are very well-informed about the issue in question.
“The new voting methods — via mail or over the Internet — make it to a large extent easier for the population to express its will. The aim of the direct democracy system is to make the citizens responsible for the future of their country. But if they don’t want to take part in voting or express their will, they will be responsible for this, too. As a result, the policy of the government is under constant scrutiny until it is time to vote again.”
