"Politics means building a country, a Europe, a better world for future generations," said Didier Burkhalter, Vice-President of the Swiss Federal Council and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in his address to the Parliamentary Assembly.
"The Swiss recipe is a blend of liberalism, federalism and direct democracy, with its counterpart, a consensual political system," the Minister said, as the country prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary of Council of Europe membership. "In this context, promotion and protection of human rights, democracy, peace and rule of law are written into the very genetic heritage of our country", he added.
The Minister expressed the wish to see the populations not yet benefiting from these rights and freedoms enjoy them: Belarus, which he called upon to abolish capital punishment, Kosovo, and the territories affected by protracted, stalemated conflicts.
Mr Burkhalter ended his statement by recalling his country's commitment on the international stage. Switzerland will hold the Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2014, an opportunity to contribute still further to stability and prosperity, and will be a first-time candidate for the United Nations Security Council in 2022.
Read also:
Switzerland and the Council of Europe
"Politics means building a country, a Europe, a better world for future generations," said Didier Burkhalter, Vice-President of the Swiss Federal Council and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in his address to the Parliamentary Assembly.
"The Swiss recipe is a blend of liberalism, federalism and direct democracy, with its counterpart, a consensual political system," the Minister said, as the country prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary of Council of Europe membership. "In this context, promotion and protection of human rights, democracy, peace and rule of law are written into the very genetic heritage of our country", he added.
The Minister expressed the wish to see the populations not yet benefiting from these rights and freedoms enjoy them: Belarus, which he called upon to abolish capital punishment, Kosovo, and the territories affected by protracted, stalemated conflicts.
Mr Burkhalter ended his statement by recalling his country's commitment on the international stage. Switzerland will hold the Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2014, an opportunity to contribute still further to stability and prosperity, and will be a first-time candidate for the United Nations Security Council in 2022.
Read also:
Switzerland and the Council of Europe
