PublishedAugust 21, 2022, 2:32 PM
War in UkraineChristoph Blocher describes Switzerland as a “warring party”
In a column published in regional newspapers, the UDC tribune accuses Bern of having “broken neutrality” and of contributing to the death of young Russian soldiers.
The moment chosen for this Blocherian attack would not be the result of chance (archive image).
AFP
Christoph Blocher delivered, last Thursday, a direct attack against the federal policy in the war in Ukraine, reports the “SonntagsZeitung” of the day. In a column entitled “Half-truth” (published in the “Winterthurer Zeitung” and other regional newspapers of which he is the editor), the former UDC federal councilor believes that Switzerland has “broken neutrality”. And that by supporting the arming of Ukraine by Western countries, it would be “a party to the war” which would contribute to “young Russian soldiers dying”. But nowhere does the Zurich man mention, among other war crimes, the documented rapes of Ukrainian women committed by Russian soldiers. Nor even the fact that it was Putin’s army that attacked Ukraine, notes the Sunday newspaper.
The timing of this Blocherian attack would not be a coincidence. According to the Sunday newspaper, this would be the prelude to the popular initiative that the tribune of the SVP intends to launch soon for the return of Switzerland to complete neutrality.
Strong reactions from the Ukrainian Embassy
The Ukrainian ambassador in Bern, Artem Rybchenko, reacted in an unusually immoderate way to the Blocherian chronicle, recalling that Ukraine was forced to defend the country and, ultimately, Europe. Ukrainian soldiers are protecting children, civilians and infrastructure “against terrorists”, he noted. “Mr Blocher has no connection with reality. I am quite willing to tell him personally.”
Distortion of history
The chronicle of the Zurich tribune also aroused indignation among the country’s politicians. Andrea Caroni (SG), vice-president of the PRD, deplores in the “SonntagsZeitung”: “Putin no longer needs a propaganda minister – the Blochers do it for free”, in reference to Magdalena Martullo-Blocher who had already called for peace negotiations with Vladimir Putin. For Philipp Matthias Bregy (VS), leader of the Center parliamentary group, Blocher senior “distorts the story and tells only half the truth by concealing the aggressor.”
Report on cooperative neutrality revealed by the “SonntagsBlick”
What does neutrality mean when Europe is at war? To answer the delicate question raised by the resumption of EU sanctions against Russia, Federal Councilor Ignacio Cassis had instructed his Department of Foreign Affairs to draft an updated report on neutrality. The “SonntagsBlick” was able to obtain the document which has not yet been made public.
Among the key points of the project: cooperative neutrality, an evolution of the status quo. It would thus remain prohibited to export armaments to belligerents. But in other areas, this newly understood neutrality would give Bern more freedom of action. In particular, Switzerland should be able to waive a re-export ban when exporting arms goods. Thus, partner countries, such as Germany, could deliver Swiss war material to Ukraine.
More coordination with EU and NATO
Cooperative neutrality would also give Bern the possibility of coordinating more with the European Union (EU) or NATO. And our country would thus show “its willingness to assume greater co-responsibility for security in Europe”. In addition to cooperative neutrality, the best variant according to the authors of the report, other possibilities would be: the status quo, ad hoc neutrality, full neutrality or NATO membership. The Federal Council will discuss this in a few weeks.
(ewe)