IN THE NEWS -March 9, 2002: Switzerland Joins UN
By Caty Weaver
This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program, IN THE NEWS.
Last Sunday, Switzerland voted to join the United Nations. If approved by the U-N, Switzerland would become
the one -hundred ninetieth member of the world organization.
More than fifty-four percent of the Swiss voters supported the proposal. Forty -five percent voted against it. The
proposal also had to be approved by a majority of Swiss states, called cantons. The result of that vote was much
closer. It passed twelve cantons to eleven.
This was not the first time Swiss voters had considered U-N membership. In Nineteen-Eighty-Six, seventy-five
percent of voters rejected a proposal that Switzerland join the organization.
However, the Swiss government campaigned intensely for U-N membership this time. Industries and trade
unions also fought for the proposal’s approval. They argued that Switzerland could not have an influential voice
in world issues unless it became a U-N member.
Political experts say the terrorist attacks in the United States September eleventh probably increased support for
the proposal. Experts say the attacks may have changed the way the Swiss felt about their country and how world
events might affect it.
Switzerland has a long history of being strongly independent and neutral in world issues. Opponents to U-N
membership noted that tradition often in their campaign.
Wealthy businessman Christopher Blocher directed the campaign against joining the U-N. He is a leader of the
nationalist Swiss People ’s Party. Mister Blocher argued that Switzerland would lose neutrality and freedom in
joining the U-N membership. His campaign warned that Swiss soldiers would be forced to take part in
peacekeeping operations. He also said Switzerland could be forced to join in economic restrictions and similar
actions against other countries.
Swiss government officials are celebrating the vote. Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss called Switzerland the winner
of the election. He said the time has come for Switzerland to have responsibilities within the U-N system and to
be able to defend its interests in the international community.
Switzerland now is an observer to the U-N. It is a member of several U -N agencies such as the World Health
Organization. It already gives about three-hundred-million dollars yearly to U-N agencies. And Switzerland is the
home of the U-N headquarters in Europe.
Now, Switzerland will officially ask U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan if it may join as a full member. The
request will go before the U-N Security Council and then to the General Assembly. If the request is approved, as
expected, Vatican City will become the only state that is not a member of the world organization.
This VOA Special English program IN THE NEWS was written by Caty Weaver. This is Steve Ember.
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