As a Swiss diplomat, one of my tasks is to explain the realities and policies of my country.
Today marks the end of Switzerland’s month-long presidency of the United Nations Security Council. For that reason, let me try and explain a little about the twin strands of Switzerland’s foreign policy “DNA” – peace promotion and the protection of civilians in zones of armed conflict.
First, some background.
It has been repeatedly pointed out by historians that the Russian invasion of Ukraine represents a giant step backwards for Europe. Specifically, a return to the troubled history of the 19th century, a period of nationalism on steroids with the direct consequence of a series of wars on the European continent.
Wars were fought over the desire to obtain more land, historical grievances, and other reasons which now seem irrational to us in the 21st century.
Switzerland itself has not always been a peaceful country. Around the year 1500, Swiss Cantons were expanding into Northern Italy. My country was ravaged by several civil wars between Catholics and Protestants for a period of up to 300 years. The last of our civil wars dates back to 1847. The experience of 1847 led to a moment of deep reflection for the Swiss people and their political leadership. In 1848, the Swiss Confederation was born out of a civil war. It was then that the Swiss people set up inclusive federal institutions to build domestic peace. It is indeed an achievement for a diverse country like Switzerland that we have been able to live peacefully together ever since. But remember, we spent a long period on civil wars before we learned the hard lessons that enabled us to create the institutions that sustained 175 years of peaceful coexistence within our very diverse nation.
Switzerland’s history helps to explain the choice of the Swiss government’s priorities for our two-year term in the UNSC (2023/24) – building sustainable peace and protecting innocent civilians caught up in zones of armed conflict.
In the course of my three years here in India, I have learned that these priorities are also the same ones ingrained in ahimsa – the Indian religious and ethical principle of not causing harm to other living things.
It is only logical, then, that India, the land of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira, in whose teachings the non-violence values are rooted, is a natural partner when it comes to Swiss foreign policy priorities.
Switzerland has been active in pushing forward these principles:
On May 23, the President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset convened a UNSC open debate on the protection of civilians in zones of armed conflicts. Earlier, on May 3, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis while chairing a high-level open debate focusing on building mutual trust to promote sustainable peace, declared that “it is time for the Security Council to grasp its responsibilities and to reflect on its potential for action in the face of the increasing number of crises. It is time to refine our tools to restore confidence and consolidate a lasting peace.”
Just like Switzerland’s experience with civil war in 1847 triggered the thinking on a future of a peaceful Switzerland, the mounting number of wars, the return of a fully-fledged interstate war on Ukrainian soil and the geopolitical rivalry playing out all over the globe should be a moment of introspection for the world.
In 1848, Switzerland was able to imagine a peaceful country by crafting a new and inclusive constitution. In 1920, the League of Nations was founded in Geneva as an answer to World War I. In 1945, the global community was able to imagine a peaceful world with the founding of the United Nations. Why should our generation not be able to imagine a peaceful world?
It is in this light that we need to see the two open debates of the Security Council that Switzerland presided over in May in New York. Both had one objective – to kick-start a deep reflection by the UNSC members on a peaceful future for our planet.
There are evident convergences when it comes to Swiss and Indian foreign policy priorities. Both of which aim at peace promotion. My country firmly stands behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that this is “not an era of war”. In addition to that, peace and harmony are also integral to India’s G20 presidency vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the profound conviction that, at the end of the day, “the world is one family”.
At this historic moment, Switzerland and India together can contribute greatly to world peace – Switzerland as a non-permanent member of the Security Council in New York, and India by presiding over the G20.
Source: India Express