MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Bern, 09.24.2024 – Address by Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) – Check against delivery
Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Dear colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank Slovenia for its initiative. It is crucial that this Council continues to reflect on ways to restore peace and end the Russian war against Ukraine. And this, in the presence of Ukraine; I welcome the presence of President Zelenskiy here.
I firmly believe in the importance of respecting the United Nations Charter, international humanitarian law, as well as the application of the Geneva Conventions, whose 75th anniversary we are celebrating this year.
And yet, despite all the tools established after World War II, we have not succeeded in silencing the guns. We have not been able to prevent countless civilians from suffering the consequences.
Ladies and Gentlemen
So far, this Council has not assumed its responsibility. After 1000 days of war, we still have not found a diplomatic solution.
Why are we unable to agree on the way forward to restore peace? Have we lost the common grammar of peace?
If I hold my position as Minister, it is because I believe in the power of politics in the service of the common good. Politics must always challenge the maxim of the strategist von Clausewitz that: “war is the mere continuation of politics by other means.” And the UN is politics.
Excellencies,
Making peace takes courage.
By organising the first Peace Summit in Ukraine last June, Switzerland had the audacity to place peace on the international agenda, and this in the midst of war.
Countries from five continents gathered near Lucerne to discuss three key issues essential to building peace: • Nuclear security; • Food security; and • The humanitarian dimension of the conflict.
The joint Bürgenstock communiqué, signed by a majority of participants representing the entire world, has helped to ease certain blockages revealed by the war in Ukraine and to restore a beginning of trust between us.
This first step towards peace must not be left without follow-up. It is now essential to continue this dialogue also with Russia.
Only pragmatic diplomacy can get us out of this impasse, which has already cost too many lives.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
While peace must be our priority, the reconstruction of Ukraine is also a collective responsibility. A lasting peace will also depend on well-prepared reconstruction. From the beginning of the conflict, Switzerland laid the foundations for this reconstruction with the Lugano Conference.
One of our priorities is humanitarian demining. We are currently investing $120 million to demine civilian and agricultural areas in Ukraine. The Ukraine Mine Action Conference, co-organized by Switzerland and Ukraine on October 17-18 in Switzerland, will discuss the needs and solutions for this action.
Ukraine is about to face its third winter of war. It is our duty to finally offer the Ukrainian people a spring of peace.
Thank you.
Address for inquiries
FDFA CommunicationFederal Palace West WingCH-3003 Bern, SwitzerlandTel. Press service: 41 58 460 55 55E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.chTwitter: @SwissMFA
Publisher
Federal Department of Foreign Affairshttps://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.