Switzerland seeks discussing Peace Summit with Russia and China

Switzerland intends to discuss the Peace Summit with Russia, as well as with China and other countries that did not participate in it, the Swiss Foreign Minister said.

Source: Ignazio Cassis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland; Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation, at the press conference following the results of the Summit, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine news agency 

Quote by Cassis: "We have a working embassy in Moscow, and every two weeks, we communicate with Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and we also have an intention to discuss the results of this conference with Russia."

Details: He also reported that Switzerland will hold a detailed discussion of the summit’s results with other countries "on whose doors we knocked but they did not come, like, for instance, China". Cassis noted that Beijing had suggested mutual support during the first stage but then said "no" after finding out that Russia couldn’t be involved at the first stage.

Cassis stated that China and Brazil can choose another approach, and this was also about seeking the way to unite these different approaches.

Cassis admitted the dilemma that most decisions, which had been adopted, could not be implemented without Russia. At the same time, Cassis stressed that it was for the sake of meeting Russia’s possible interests and building the path to peace that three topics for the first summit were chosen, namely nuclear security, trade security and liberation of the prisoners of war, as well as of thousands of children – rather than, for instance, the issue of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

With that, Swiss President Viola Amherd stated that despite the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, he can be present at further potential conferences and negotiations on peace in Ukraine, organised by Switzerland.

Asked whether Putin’s arrival in Switzerland can be organised taking into account the arrest warrant of the ICC for further negotiations and, perhaps, conference on the peace in Ukraine, Amherd said that it was possible.

"Yes, if the presence of a statesman is necessary for holding the conference, then an exception can be made. In case of the negotiations on peace in Ukraine and Russia this can be such an exception. But this decision must be adopted by the [Swiss – ed.] government," Amherd said.

The Swiss Foreign Minister agreed that it can be arranged.

"This is possible in accordance with our laws. Of course, we must do it jointly with the ICC, but as a host state, we can make an exception," he said.

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