Author: Lora Blanc – 16/12/2024
Neutrality in action
In an era of intense conflicts and wars, in the growing polarization of the world, the concept of neutrality takes on special significance, requiring deep reflection. On the International Day of Neutrality, December 12, a conference was held in the Mansion Dufour, the legendary Swiss General to launch the Geneva Centre for Neutrality initiative.
Opening the event, Katy Cojuhari, co-founder of the Geneva Centre for Neutrality, noted that “in this mad world, neutrality can be a balanced position, a pro-peace position, and guarantee of stability, prosperity, and development of the country. The history of Switzerland can serve as an example.”
The vice president of the center, Nicolas Ramseier, emphasized that since 2022, there has been a strong polarization of the world, and an increase in the number of conflicts: in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, and now in Syria. “This forces us to rethink the idea of neutrality, whether in Austria, Moldova, and of course, what worries me most, in Switzerland… Is neutrality an excuse, a cover, a defense to be passive in the face of crime, or is it a tool to create space for dialogue and peacebuilding?.. Our center will organize conferences and attract top-notch specialists to hold debates, develop ideas in the field of neutrality, and do analytics. A special focus will be on security and economic sustainability, the ability to counter disinformation, and have a certain economic stability. We will also work in humanitarian activities and cultural diplomacy.“
The conference, brilliantly moderated by Romain Clivaz, a journalist of Le Temps, included Ruth Dreifuss, former President of Switzerland and former Federal Councilor, Myret Zaki, a well-known journalist and analyst, Paul Widmer, former Swiss Ambassador and writer, and Thomas Mayr-Harting, former Austrian Ambassador and former Executive Director of the European External Action Service. Ruth Dreifuss began the conference by recalling that Switzerland’s neutrality was recognized, or almost imposed, by the allies of the anti-Napoleonic alliance at the Vienna Congress in 1815, and was accepted by the Swiss population and the Swiss authorities as an important principle of foreign policy. “During the First World War, Switzerland was very divided: French-speaking Switzerland was very close to supporting the French, and German-speaking Switzerland was close to supporting Germany. And therefore, neutrality also became a principle of domestic policy – to prevent the split of a country with three cultural areas. The principle of neutrality itself has been recognized in international law since the beginning of the XXth century and, in fact, is the protection of a neutral state from any attempt to involve it in a war, to invade it” – Ruth Dreifuss said.
Former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss thinks it is important to realize that the reputation of neutrality is not in the past and that Switzerland still has it at the international level: “Switzerland has everything to gain from maintaining neutrality, from this intervention in favor of humanitarian and international law. It can well succeed by declaring its tradition of neutrality and support for international law, which dominates for Confederation today… Some organizations in Geneva play an important unofficial role in peace mediation. I would say that official Switzerland seems to be less involved. Is it because there is a deficit of neutrality, or because there is a deficit of the will to help and perform this peacekeeping function? In my opinion, the second hypothesis is more likely“.
According to Miret Zaki, a well-known Swiss journalist and analyst: “there is a big conceptual gap in which Switzerland is trying to redefine dynamic, active, and flexible neutrality. To be neutral today, you have to be sovereign. We have to protect sovereignty, we need to have a certain stock of values, and we need to be able to say that we are talking to everyone. And if we want to resolve the conflict, it has to be here, because we will ensure equal treatment for everyone… But it looks like our neutrality is in trouble.” Myret Zaki thinks that the arrival of D. Trump will bring the prospect of a lull in the war between Russia and Ukraine that could make one think that Switzerland could return to forms of neutrality, and the external pressure could ease.
At the same time, former Austrian Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Hunting believes that war has returned to Europe and territorial defense is necessary. All this opens up an active discussion with NATO within the framework of the Partnership for Peace. “The Peace Partnership is a particularly flexible structure that does not contain any obligation to become a member of NATO, but which is, in any case, important for a country like Austria, and I think for Switzerland too, in order to have the interoperability that is necessary in a military context. And that is why we are doing this within the framework of the Partnership for Peace, which, in my view, is fully compatible with the neutrality of Austria, and also, in my view, with the neutrality of Switzerland,” – Thomas Mayr-Hunting expressed his opinion.
Former Swiss ambassador Paul Widmer, author of a book on Swiss identity thinks differently and considered that Switzerland should respect the principles of neutrality, which is one of the fundamental pillars of Confederation, like direct democracy and federalism, “which must remain permanent, despite external circumstances, which can change. We have already seen the Burgenstock conference: the majority probably believes that Switzerland no longer seems to be an ideal mediator in peace processes… If we talk about neutrality, we should ask the question: are the principles on which neutrality is based acceptable and good or not? I think that the answer can be 100% yes”, – Paul Widmer said.
During the intellectual break, guests of the event: diplomats, officials, politicians, and experts enjoyed the musical performance by Victoria Ramseier, singing acapella Caruso. Closing the conference, former Swiss Ambassador Jean-Daniel Ruch, President of the Geneva Centre for Neutrality, emphasized the importance of the debate on neutrality for Switzerland and the potential role of neutral countries in today’s polarized world.