“Recognising Palestine is a symbolic and political act that can give hope”, said Cassis.
Keystone / Peter Klaunzer
For the Swiss government, the time has not yet come to officially recognise Palestine, said foreign minister Ignazio Cassis. The government is thus maintaining “the consistency of its line” and allowing Switzerland “to play a role that is different from the mainstream”, Cassis said.
The government has analysed the advantages and disadvantages of official recognition of Palestine, Cassis told Swiss public radio RTS on Wednesday evening. It wants to maintain consistency, that is, that it has a priori recognised Palestine with the recognition of a two-state solution. “The question is not if, but when”, said the foreign minister.
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“Recognising Palestine is a symbolic and political act that can give hope”, he added. “But it is better to keep this leverage available when the time comes: when a peace plan is on the table, so that we can give a major incentive.”
‘Different role from the mainstream’
This stance also allows Switzerland “to play a different role from the mainstream, a role that has always been Swiss, namely that of organising everything that needs to be done for this kind of discussion”, said Cassis. He added that, if Switzerland wants “to be useful to the world, the best solution is the one that the government has chosen”.
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Why Switzerland doesn’t recognise Palestine as a state
On Monday, several countries, including France, recognised the state of Palestine at the opening of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York.
‘Conditions must be met’
In New York, Karin Keller-Sutter, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, echoed Cassis’ comments.
“Switzerland’s position has always been consistent. We have always said that we are in favour of a two-state solution, with the 1967 borders”, said Keller-Sutter, explaining that this recognition could only take place if “certain measures are implemented”.
+ Petition for recognition of Palestine handed over in Bern
“There are conditions, such as the autonomy and self-determination of the Palestinian people or the security of the state of Israel, that must be met before an autonomous state can be recognised. This is also the position of the Swiss parliament”, she said.
Translated from French with DeepL/gw
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