April, 2003

'Global problems require global solutions. We fall together or we succeed together'
Interview with Joseph Deiss, Minister of Economic Affairs of Switzerland

Interviewed by Sawsan Hussein

Joseph Deiss, former Swiss minister of foreign affairs, was appointed to the ministry of economic affairs in January 2003. He played a pivotal role in convincing the Swiss people to vote in favour of joining the United Nations - an event that took place on 10 September 2002. His credentials in both the academic and political fields are impressive.

He has a BA in economic and social studies from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and a PhD from King's College Cambridge. He taught economics at the University of Fribourg, then became dean of the university's faculty of social and economic studies. He has written extensively, and his two-part book A Manual of Political Economy is considered a major reference in the study of political economy.

He began his political career in 1991 when he joined the Swiss Christian Democratic Party, becoming its president in 1992. He was manager of two major Swiss banks between 1996 and 1999, when he was chosen as foreign minister. The following summarises some of his views expressed in an interview conducted on the occasion of Switzerland joining the UN, -prior to the outbreak of the US-Iraqi crisis-.

On Switzerland's membership in the UN:

Switzerland will not lose its neutrality by joining the United Nations as implementing sanctions imposed against any state by the UN does not qualify as 'taking sides' in a conflict. Switzerland has applied all the sanctions imposed by the international community through the UN, even before it became a member. The objectives of Swiss foreign policy - the establishment of international peace and cooperation, protecting the environment, eradicating poverty and supporting development and humanitarian aid - can all be better fulfilled through Swiss membership in the UN. This provides a legitimate institutional framework through which to solve international crises.

Humanity today faces many challenges - terrorism, organised crime, new epidemic diseases, in addition to conflicts and tension throughout the world. It is our duty to deal with these problems and safeguard the future for coming generations. Today, more than ever, this needs to be a group effort; no one country, no matter how rich or powerful, can achieve this on its own. Global problems require global solutions. We fall together or we succeed together.

Sustainable development:

In the Johannesburg conference on sustainable development in August 2002, Switzerland emphasised the need for specific targets, mechanisms and commitment to advance international cooperation in this respect. There is no lack of vision, technology or material resources to deal with this issue in the modern world; there is, however, a lack of will, of collective decisive action. Although the problems we face today are enormous, our ability to overcome them is far better than it was 10 years ago. The question is, can individual interests be overcome in favour of long-term global objectives?

Globalisation:

Economic globalisation must proceed hand in hand with a profound political dialogue. In the global village in which we live, dialogue between neighbours is essential. States must be able to work together without giving up the sources of their internal strength and solidarity. Switzerland supports the effort to reduce the information gap between countries of the North and the South.

The European Union:

Switzerland is not at this point ready to join the European Union, although this is a long-term objective of the Swiss government. There are bilateral negotiations with the EU in many areas, and the Swiss people have voted to approve a number of preliminary agreements in this respect.

The Swiss economy:

The Swiss economy is rapidly becoming integrated into the international economy. Switzerland is one of the most important commercial countries and has large investments abroad, estimated at $224 billion in 2000. It plays an active role in international economic organisations, and is a founding member of the European Free Trade Association -EFTA-. Although globalisation has produced some competition for Switzerland, it is still a major international financial centre.

In order for Switzerland to safeguard its position as a financial centre, it cannot allow its financial institutions to be abused by terrorists, organised crime or any suspect dealings. Switzerland takes immediate steps against any such activities that are discovered, and provides complete judicial assistance to the agencies involved in investigating them.

Human Rights:

The war against terrorism must be conducted with respect for human rights and liberties. Terrorist acts against civilians degrade humanity. They must be confronted with total respect for the 'sword of the law.'

The Middle East:

I would like to see a bigger commitment on the part of the UN to the problems of the Middle East. Switzerland supports all efforts to reach a settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and is trying to help in finding a mechanism through which dialogue between all parties can take place. We believe there can be no lasting peace without respect for the basic legal and human rights of all civilians.