Referendum on whether to join the United Nations On March 3rd, Switzerland held a second referendum on joining the United Nations. 1986 Switzerland held a referendum on whether to join the United Nations, which was rejected by a 3/4 majority. At that time, the headline of a Swedish newspaper was "Are Swiss crazy?" Expressed the doubts of most countries in the world. However, Swiss nationals have their own reasons. They are worried that after joining the United Nations, Switzerland's neutrality, sovereign independence and direct democracy will be affected, and Switzerland will become a vassal of a big country, making it difficult to realize its own values and interests.
After the cold war, Switzerland's accession to the United Nations was put back on the agenda of the federal government. The goal of the Swiss government is to become a full member of the United Nations before 2003. In March 2000, 124700 people in Switzerland signed the initiative to join the United Nations. In 20011KLOC-0/0, the Swiss Parliament passed a resolution and decided to put the people's initiative to join the United Nations to a referendum. The federal government has repeatedly stressed that "the development of globalization has made the challenges faced by countries on many issues transcend national boundaries. Switzerland can no longer be isolated from the world, but should join the United Nations and work with other countries to find a solution to the crisis and fight terrorism. Only when a country participates in decision-making can it be said that it has real sovereignty. It is very important for the world to hear the voice of Switzerland. According to the Charter of the United Nations, the United Nations will not force its members to take part in any military action. Therefore, after joining the United Nations, Switzerland's neutral status will not change. "
In this context, the results of the Swiss referendum were calculated at around 5 pm on March 3 (the early morning of March 4, Beijing time). If the initiative to join the United Nations is passed, the Federal Foreign Minister will immediately hold a press conference, and the letter from the Swiss federal government to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Switzerland's application to join the United Nations will be officially dated and sent. This letter was published a few months ago. The latest opinion poll shows that 54% of Swiss citizens may agree, 17% oppose and 9% are still hesitating. Judging from the history of the Swiss referendum in the past, it is good that 40% to 50% of the 47 15000 voters voted.
The Times, the largest newspaper in French-speaking Switzerland, recently published an editorial entitled "Swiss Vote for themselves", arguing that Switzerland has not experienced such a "cruel" vote for many years. Even if the Swiss say "no" to joining the United Nations again, the earth will still turn, but ultimately it is Switzerland's external image and foreign policy that will be damaged. In the eyes of the world, Switzerland will be regarded as a closed and lonely country. Switzerland will have to continue to be an observer of the United Nations and act as a "folding chair", making it difficult to make a difference.
Actively participate in United Nations operations.
1945 When the United Nations was founded, Switzerland stayed out of it for fear of affecting its permanent neutrality policy. 1946, the United Nations signed an agreement to hand over the former headquarters of the League of Nations, the Palais des Nations in Geneva, to the United Nations, and decided to set up the European office of the United Nations here. It was renamed the United Nations Office at Geneva on 1966. From 65438 to 0948, Switzerland became an observer country of the United Nations, sent ambassadors to relevant United Nations agencies, and paid and donated 470 million Swiss francs to the United Nations every year. Today, the United Nations has 189 member countries, and only the Vatican and Switzerland are not members. More than 600 international conferences are held in Geneva every month, more than the United Nations Headquarters in new york. There are 19 international organizations in Geneva, 8 of which belong to the United Nations system. 148 countries have permanent representative offices in Geneva. There are more than 30,000 diplomats and United Nations civil servants working in Geneva, accounting for 7% of the population in Geneva. This brings direct income of 3 billion Swiss francs to Switzerland every year.
At the same time, Switzerland has actively participated in many United Nations operations. For example, according to the decision of the UN Security Council, Switzerland participated in the economic sanctions against Iraq during the 1990 Gulf crisis; During the Bosnia-Herzegovina War and the Kosovo War, Switzerland agreed to the transit of aircraft transporting military personnel and materials of international peacekeeping forces, but rejected NATO's request for the transit of its military materials; After the "9. 1 1" incident, Swiss Foreign Minister Des immediately stated that there is no "neutrality" in dealing with terrorism; Not long ago, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that American humanitarian aid planes would be allowed to fly over its airspace, but planes carrying out military missions still had to detour. As Switzerland is not a full member of the United Nations, it has neither decision-making power nor the right to vote and stand for election in the United Nations. For decades, I have deeply felt that it is difficult to exert influence on many issues involving my own interests.
Neutrality is "the foundation of the country"
Why does Switzerland, a small country with a large population and a small land, repeatedly "isolate itself" and refuse to enter the "international family"? First of all, most Swiss people are deeply rooted in the traditional neutrality, democracy and federalism left by their ancestors.
Nostalgia Most Swiss believe that the principle of "permanent neutrality" and its position are sacred and inviolable, and they have lived peacefully on this principle for more than 65,438+080 years.
The word "neutral country" comes from Latin, which means "neither you nor him". The French interpretation of a neutral country is that "a country is called a neutral country when it does not participate in any warring parties in the war".
Switzerland pursues the policy of "permanent armed neutrality", which is an independent choice made by Switzerland according to its national conditions, history and tradition. Switzerland is located in the center of Europe, bordering Germany, France, Italy and other countries. From 1 1 century to 1648, Switzerland was under the rule of the Roman Empire. 1200 the opening of St. oyamaguchi made Switzerland, which was crossing the Alps, a battleground for aristocratic lords. There are many records of resisting foreign aggression in Swiss history. Swiss mountaineers are famous for their bravery and good fighting skills, and many countries are willing to recruit Swiss as mercenaries to fight for them. After Switzerland was neutral, only the guards who stood guard for the Vatican were kept.
In a battle near Milan in 15 15, Switzerland was defeated by France. 15 16, Switzerland and France concluded a "permanent peace" treaty, which was the embryonic form of Switzerland's neutral policy. Switzerland remained neutral in the "Thirty Years' War" that broke out in Europe in 16 18. 1798, Napoleon invaded Switzerland, forcing Switzerland to give up its neutral policy of 16. Switzerland became the battlefield of the German-Austrian-Russian struggle. The country was looted and the people suffered from war taxes. 18 15, Switzerland took part in the battle against Napoleon, which was the last time Switzerland fought abroad. At the Vienna Conference held on March 20th of the same year, major European powers assured Switzerland that they recognized its "permanent neutrality". 1907 Switzerland signed a legal convention on neutrality at the Hague Peace Conference.
1907, The Hague Convention stipulated the rights and obligations of neutral countries in war in writing for the first time. According to the convention, the most important right of a neutral country is to ensure the inviolability of its territory. The convention stipulates that the main obligations of neutral countries are: not to participate in war; Guarantee the self-defense of neutral countries; Ensure equal treatment of warring parties in the export of war materials; Not providing mercenaries to warring parties; It is forbidden for warring parties to use their own territory. Switzerland remained neutral in both world wars. After the war, the Nazi gold case and Switzerland's attitude towards Jewish immigrants cast a shadow over Switzerland's neutrality. Nevertheless, Switzerland survived two world wars, which is mainly due to its "armed neutrality" policy.
Switzerland has maintained a militia army since it pursued the policy of neutrality. According to the constitution, healthy male citizens between the ages of 20 and 42, regardless of occupation or position, must perform military service, and those who cannot perform military service for some reason must pay alternative tax; After the age of 42, he was incorporated into the civil defense and trained to be 52 years old. To this day, every household in Switzerland has underground air defense facilities that can prevent atomic bombs. Switzerland's neutrality policy determines that the purpose of this "armed neutrality" is limited to self-defense. For Switzerland, a small landlocked country surrounded by big powers, only neutrality can guarantee its sovereign independence and territorial integrity, so Switzerland's neutrality has become an important pillar of its foreign policy.
Since 18 15, Switzerland's "permanent neutrality" status was recognized by international law, there has been no war in Switzerland for more than 180 years, which has created a long-term peaceful and stable environment for the development of Swiss economy.
In addition to Switzerland, Europe has four neutral countries in the traditional sense: Sweden, Finland, Austria and Ireland. The purpose and characteristics of their choice of neutral countries are similar to those of Switzerland. Among them, Austria 1955 has indicated that its neutrality follows the "Swiss model"; Ireland's neutrality aims to gain more space for international activities. Unlike Switzerland, these four neutral countries are all members of the United Nations and the European Union. The five neutral countries have different attitudes towards joining NATO: Finland thinks it can be considered, Austria thinks it can be considered in the medium term, Sweden says it is not on the agenda, and Switzerland and Ireland both say it will not be considered.