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As a neutral country, Switzerland must not allow itself to be drawn into taking sides in conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, believes Christoph Blocher. For the former Federal Councilor, this is what happened with the participation in economic sanctions.
Whoever participates in economic sanctions is a belligerent, argues the Zurich resident in an interview published Monday in the NZZ. In the event of armed conflict, Switzerland’s policy is to cap trade at the current level. It does not go beyond the normal current so as not to favor any of the belligerents, he adds. By participating in the sanctions, Switzerland is now at war, believes the UDC tribune.
He adds that everything must now be done to quickly put an end to this terrible war. As a neutral country, Switzerland could have made a special contribution, but it let this chance slip away, said Mr Blocher. For him, when Federal Councilors Viola Amherd and Ignazio Cassis talk about a change of era, they are only covering up their own weaknesses.
The Federal Council insists on the particular case but the message should be that Switzerland, as a peaceful country, acts on the basis of permanent neutrality, as required by the Federal Constitution, underlines the Zurich resident. This time, participation in the war has been decided, he judges, adding that we can only hope that it happens without too much damage.
The majority of the Federal Council and Parliament gave in to internal and external pressure, he notes. And to note that the worse the world is, the more important neutrality is. Non-intervention is not only a way to protect oneself, it also makes good offices possible.