In the near future, Bern will consider another initiative that will help lift the ban on the transfer of Swiss weapons to Ukraine by third countries.
The Supreme Chamber of the Swiss Parliament rejected a proposal to abolish the re-export of weapons to Ukraine, produced by the confederation. This was reported on March 6 by the press service of the Swiss Federal Assembly.
Parliamentarians reportedly rejected a proposal by Liberal Thierry Burkart to soften the declaration banning re-exports. Germany, Spain and Denmark have asked to lift the ban on re-export, which was introduced in connection with Switzerland’s policy of neutrality.
According to the Federal Assembly, the proposal called for the repeal of the no-re-export declaration if military equipment is shipped to countries that adhere to Swiss values and have export controls comparable to that of Switzerland.
A majority of members of the Parliamentary Commission on Security Policy (SIK-S) recommended a “no” vote. At the same time, there is another initiative from the Parliament, which will be considered in the near future. It is proposed to adopt an export ban declaration. According to the proposal, the declaration could be canceled if the re-export of military equipment is related to a situation in which the UN Security Council or the UN General Assembly, by a majority, has determined that it is contrary to the prohibition on the use of force under international law.
It is noted that in a survey published in February by the Sotomo Institute, the majority of the Swiss population was in favor of relaxing the rules for the transfer of Swiss military materials. 55% believe that third countries should be allowed to supply Ukraine with Swiss-made weapons.
Recall, on February 15, it was reported that in Switzerland they came to the conclusion that they could not confiscate the frozen assets of Russia in favor of Ukraine, as this is contrary to the laws of the republic, but promised to continue to support Ukraine in other ways. At the same time, Bern allowed the confiscation of the frozen assets of the entourage of the fugitive Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in favor of Kyiv to begin.
Earlier, on February 7, Reuters reported that representatives of the Swiss defense industry believe that the legislative ban on the re-export of weapons harms trade.
