New Year Reception for the Diplomatic Corps
Bern, 11.01.2017 - Speech by Doris Leuthard, President of the Swiss Confederation, Berne, 11 January 2017
(Check against delivery)
Nuncio
Federal Councillor
President of the National Council
President of the Council of States
Excellencies
Ladies and gentlemen
- Mr Stahl, Mr Bischofberger: The first thing I must do is thank you for allowing us to hold our reception here in the Parliament Building today!
- And I must also thank you, Nuncio, as Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, for friendly wishes to start the New Year and for your words on the challenges we face.
Excellencies,
At the start of 2017, it is pleasing to note that further progress has been made in certain key aspects of humanity. For example, the numbers of people who live in conditions of extreme poverty has continued to fall and now lies at around 10 per cent of the world’s population. Never before has access to education, electricity or mobility been a reality for so many people as it is today. Nevertheless, terrorism, violence, poverty and climate change remain major challenges for the international community. Despite countless efforts, sometimes for years on end, war, terror and violence are part of the day-to-day lives of millions of people, and that is simply unacceptable. Even in Europe, we have had to face appalling attacks in recent weeks and months.
At the same, trends towards isolationism, fundamentalism and populism characterise today’s world. History teaches us that such phenomena go hand in hand with a decline in living standards and security. Countries with a high level of legal certainty, guaranteed ownership rights and good government leadership are generally more prosperous.
It is essential that we act together to meet all these challenges. Here I am thinking primarily of the violent conflicts in various parts of the world, climate change or the sluggish development of the global economy.
In its long history, Switzerland has regularly encountered times when individual groups of its people have either fought with each other or tried to isolate themselves from others. This has taught us firstly that a culture of reconciliation is needed. Secondly, we have recognised that in difficult times, we can only find solutions if we sit down together and try to seek compromises.
This is also what is needed at an international level. Every country has its history and its peculiarities, and globalisation challenges us all in very different ways, not always making everyone happy. The current trend towards isolationism is not the right answer though. Only through international exchanges will we be able to resolve conflicts and reduce poverty.
Excellencies,
All of us attending this New Year reception have jobs with special responsibilities and have the opportunity to make our own contributions to resolving conflicts and bringing greater stability. In many respects, the Paris Climate Agreement is a good example of how joint international policymaking can work. It is an enormous step forward – we have succeeded in defining a global problem and setting a common objective, but with a variety of national measures and ambitions. The Agreement takes account of the different stages of development that states have reached, allows time, but places an obligation on all countries, industrialised or developing states alike. There is still a long way to go before we achieve this goal.
In tackling migration, there are also indications that cooperation for the benefit of the people concerned can be improved. Major efforts are still required to combat violence and terrorism; but here again there are visible signs of better international cooperation.
The following priorities have been set for Swiss foreign policy:
- Switzerland is committed at a global level to economic and scientific progress, to peace and security. Another key national interest is the reinforcement of international law. We make these commitments because they correspond to our values, the ideals of democracy and freedom on which our federal state is based. More security, justice and freedom in the world leads to greater respect for human dignity and has a stabilising effect. We aim to continue to make our contribution.
- We want to continue to develop our relations with the European Union and its member states, and above all with our neighbours and most important partners. In December, Parliament voted to implement the immigration article in the Federal Constitution. The text adopted by Parliament respects the terms of the Agreement with the EU on the Free Movement of Persons while allowing national measures to be taken to ensure greater control over immigration. This should help to normalise relations in 2017.
- At an international level, it is essential that the countries of the world re-intensify efforts to become a global community. This requires established international institutions, and most of all the UN. It has a new Secretary General and we are all eager to see what priorities he will set. At the same time, individual countries must fulfil their obligations and, from time to time, they will have to accept that their individual wishes come second to those of the community. New national presidents will probably set their own priorities here too.
Excellencies,
2017 promises to be an exciting year. The current situation presents us with a range of challenges. The Internet brings us the latest news in a matter of seconds. Getting the right context, taking the right position, making the right analysis are more important than ever. I very much hope that the intensive international exchange that you have here in Switzerland, with each other as representatives of many different states and with the Swiss authorities, business leaders, academics, cultural and religious experts, will help us as we work together to find solutions. I would like to thank you and the countries you represent for your contributions and convey to you the sincerest wishes of the Federal Council and the Swiss People for peace, security and prosperity. Thank you!
Address for enquiries
Communication DETEC, +41 58 462 55 11
Publisher
General Secretariat of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications; General Secretariat DETEC
https://www.uvek.admin.ch/uvek/en/home.html
