“Switzerland definitely has to refrain from cooperating with NATO”

Interview with National Councilor Luzi Stamm, SVP (Swiss People’s Party), Canton Aargau

Councilor Stamm, the Federal Councilor Burkhalter was at the NATO summit in Chicago and held a speech there. Did that surprise you?

National Councilor Luzi Stamm: No, not really, since the early 90s this has been the usual behavior of our Federal Council: they are internationalist, EU and NATO-friendly! Joining the Partnership for Peace (PfP) also falls in this category. Acting on his own authority several years ago, Federal Councilor Ogi promised that we would join in. As early as that, a cutting comment was that the difference between the NATO and PfP was as thin as a sheet of paper. At that time even a position paper of the FDP backed the view to join NATO. The trend in Bern has long been clear: it does not surprise me. Nevertheless, I do by no means approve of that.

In this context, we have to raise the question whether this is compatible with our neutrality.

A NATO membership is not. Basically, the people’s attitude is very different from that of the political leadership. The most recent poll showed that 83 percent of our population is against accession to the EU. Most of the political elite, however, have wanted for twenty years – at least until recently – to join the EU. It is the same with respect to neutrality. The majority of the Swiss people want to keep our neutrality.

How should Switzerland move on the international stage?

On the one hand, international cooperation is essential, with all countries, be it Libya, Iran or whoever. But it is a big difference whether we maintain contact in terms of cooperation or whether we express unilateral sympathy. We must be very careful that our government does not make symbolic gestures, especially in the Middle East. Demonstrative visits to one side in the conflict zones are always a mistake. Political cooperation in terms of contact is right; aligning oneself to one side or the other is a disaster with regard to neutrality policy.

Should Switzerland not refrain from NATO more decisively?

Yes, it should. Earlier, during the East-West conflict, there was great sympathy toward NATO and this was quite understandable. But according to the fundamental change of the NATO alliance under international law into an aggressive alliance, we need a clear dissociation. Since NATO has changed its purpose, Switzerland definitely has to refrain from cooperating with NATO.     •