Back from Ukraine, Nathalie Loiseau, the former Minister for European Affairs and MEP had in an interview with Le Point had made an exit that went badly: “Facing Moscow, Europe must not be a big soft Switzerland” . An unflattering spade for Switzerland was not to the liking of the Swiss ambassador in Paris, Roberto Balzaretti. In a press release, he described the MEP’s remarks as “disparaging” and “unacceptable”.
Nathalie Loiseau said she was sorry on Sunday in front of the RTS camera. “If Swiss people were hit, I’m sorry, because that was neither the intention nor the purpose of this interview. This was done when I returned from Ukraine, with a journalist who was himself returning from Ukraine,” she explained.
“Switzerland is a permanent neutral state”
And to add: “Both of us had a concern and a desire to say to Europe: Watch What Happens and Take Action “. “What I said was that Switzerland is neutral and it’s their choice, I respect that very much. What I think is that in the crisis that Ukraine is going through, I don’t believe that the European Union can remain neutral,” she adds.
“Switzerland is a permanent neutral state. She renounces participating in wars, but that does not mean that she does not have an opinion, on the contrary. Switzerland is very credible in its role of builder of bridges and mediator between parties,” replied former Federal Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Micheline Calmy-Rey.
