Switzerland didn't sign Friends of Peace communiqué: Swiss Ambassador
Photo: Switzerland did not sign the communiqué on the peace initiative of China and Brazil (Getty Images)
Switzerland's Ambassador to Ukraine, Félix Baumann an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, stated that Switzerland's position on the peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine has not changed. The country did not sign the communiqué after the meeting held by China and Brazil regarding the Friends of Peace initiative, but was only an observer.
"I think there was some misunderstanding here. First of all, Switzerland did not join or sign any communiqué after the meeting held by China and Brazil last week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Secondly, we were at the meeting, but only as observers. And thirdly, an important point: Switzerland has not changed its position," Baumann said.
According to him, Switzerland's position "remains clear: any solution in response to Russia's full-scale military aggression against Ukraine must fully respect international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and, in particular, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine."
However, in Switzerland's view, the ambassador added that all peace plans "that respect these fundamental principles should be considered."
"And this is exactly what we saw in the final communiqué of the First Global Peace Summit on Ukraine in June, which took place in Switzerland. This summit was built on previous discussions based on the Ukrainian peace formula and other peace proposals that align with international law and the UN Charter," Baumann noted.
He explained that, in accordance with this position, the Swiss Foreign Ministry decided to participate as an observer in the meeting initiated by China and Brazil.
In addition, according to the diplomat, this decision was made because Switzerland believes it is "important to talk about peace when there is a war that causes immense suffering and loss of life."
"And this is the same thing we did in June in Bürgenstock when we gathered a wide range of countries to discuss the prospects for a peace process. But Switzerland's position has not changed. And nothing should be decided about Ukraine without Ukraine," the ambassador added.
Friends of Peace
On September 27, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that China, together with the countries of the Global South, wanted to create a Friends of Peace platform. It will be aimed at the so-called political settlement of the war in Ukraine.
Fifteen countries, including Turkey, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Zambia, and Kenya, have already joined this initiative.
Later, it became known that Switzerland also supported the "peace initiative" of China and Brazil.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that they "cannot understand the logic" of Switzerland's decision.
