Switzerland in UN Security Council: Pascal Parisville – rts.ch “cautiously positive” assessment after 6 months

Since January 1, Switzerland has been a non-permanent member of the Security Council, the most important body of the UN. His mandate within the highest international circle will last until the end of 2024.

At the time of taking the stock after six months in this position, the holder of this balance in New York triggers a “cautiously positive” balance sheet. And Pascale Baeriswyl continues: “You have to see that this is a permanent body, we face conflicts twice a day, 52 weeks, all over the world. On a daily basis, our first goal is to ensure. International humanitarian law is guaranteed.”

Turbulent world

At the strategic level, members of the Security Council face global turmoil. So Switzerland is trying to offer new long-term solutions. “We have already been able to bring about contributions, for example climate protection,” says Pascal Parisville.

Switzerland is trying to contribute to climate protection

But, according to him, the most important contribution is “trying to stimulate this debate on the so-called New Agenda for Peace. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is going to publish the first paper, but to find the answers, it may take a long time.”

Russian veto on a humanitarian corridor in Syria

This week, the UN Security Council disagrees on expanding humanitarian aid mechanism in Syria Switzerland’s aim was to set up an aid corridor between Turkey and Syrian rebel areas, but that came up against a Russian veto.

>> Read More: “Humanitarian aid in Syria at risk” after Russia’s veto And UN slams ‘unacceptable’ conditions from Damascus on humanitarian aid in Syria

According to Pascale Baeriswyl, this failure is linked to the humanitarian, legal, security and geopolitical complexity of the region. “There are 4 million people who depend on this aid” in a region amid conflict “where there are regular strikes,” he lamented. In this area, interests are many and they divide the members of the Security Council.

In Syria, interests are many and they divide the members of the Security Council

“We worked hard to keep this paragraph. (…) A compromise was found, except for one delegation, which applies to most of the Security Council. So unfortunately, this resolution was not passed,” she said.

The Syrian government later opened the crossing “and it takes responsibility for its border”. The United Nations is now assessing the new situation to figure out how to deliver where it needs to go.

Not an “epic fail”.

The Swiss plan, which did not pass the curve, was criticized by Deputy Russian Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky on Twitter as an “epic failure of Switzerland”.

However, Pascal Parrisville refuses to speak of an epic defeat when “fourteen of the fifteen members are willing to accept a compromise.” The diplomat also notes that the Syrian file has been accessed for the fourth time since earlier this year. “In the past, we found solutions, and I hope we can modestly contribute to finding another one,” he says.

According to the Swiss representative to the UN, the failure of the resolution had nothing to do with the position of Switzerland, which is no longer considered a neutral country by Russia due to the war in Ukraine. “This resolution was vetoed last year, the year before both neutral and non-neutral countries introduced it. I don’t think it has anything to do with neutrality, but with strong geopolitical tensions.

Interview by Pietro Bugnon

Web adaptation: Miroslav Mares