Date:24/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/24/stories/2005052401661500.htm

International

Switzerland not to "endorse any candidacy" for U.N. seat

Amit Baruah

Norms for Security Council expansion must be put in place first: President Schmid

BERNE (SWITZERLAND): Switzerland, which is traditionally neutral, will not "endorse any candidacy" for additional permanent seats in the United Nations' Security Council as long as the modalities of the Council's enlargement are not settled.

Swiss President Samuel Schmid, who cancelled an interview with a group of visiting Indian journalists due to commitments in Parliament, said in a written response to questions provided earlier that several models for the Council expansion had been "devised".

"We hope that U.N. member states will agree on a balanced model with larger support," Mr. Schmid said in remarks that came days ahead of President A.P. J. Abdul Kalam's visit to Switzerland which starts on May 25. Stressing that expansion of the Council should not be allowed to divide the international community, Mr. Schmid said expansion in itself was not enough.

"We must also improve the working methods of the U.N. Security Council, increase transparency and allow all member states to participate more in the work of the Security Council. We have presented concrete recommendations on the issue," he said.

Adding to the Swiss Government's views, Raimond Kunz, who deals with security policy in the Defence Ministry, said that Berne had no position on individual candidates such as India. However, he added that India represented one-sixth of humanity.

The President, whose job rotates among seven Federal Ministers and who also holds the Defence portfolio, said his country welcomed the formation of a transitional Cabinet in Iraq.

`Great importance'

"We hope that the cycle of violence will stop and the transition to democracy and the rule of law will be successful. At the same time, the respect of international law, including humanitarian law and human rights are of great importance," he maintained.

Referring to his visit as Defence Minister to India in 2004, Mr. Schmid said that "various security matters" and the possibilities of bilateral contacts had been discussed with his counterpart, Pranab Mukherjee.

Within the "partnership for peace" programme, Switzerland provided training opportunities to foreign participants, Mr. Schmid said. India was interested in protection against weapons of mass destruction and training in mountaineering techniques, he added. Switzerland was also planning to appoint a defence attaché in its New Delhi mission early next year.

On the Swiss approach to the Nuclear Suppliers' Group and its relationship with India, the President said it was "good" that the NSG had started a regular dialogue with countries outside the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), such as India.

"We recognise that India has appropriate export controls in place and has not been involved in the spread of nuclear technology," he said, adding that nuclear cooperation between NSG members and India "would remain limited" as they were bound by their obligations under the NPT and NSG guidelines.