Incoming Swiss President says he will work towards eventual EU membership

The incoming President of Switzerland Flavio Cotti has said he will work to convince the Swiss people to approve membership of the European Union.

In an interview with a local daily newspaper Tribune de Geneve he defended Switzerland's isolationism during the early nineteen forties, when almost all of Europe was ruled by dictators.

But he said Europe had been transformed since then and Switzerland needed to be fully involved in decisions affecting the country's future.

He cited moves towards the creation of a single European currency, which he said could have a fundamental impact on the Swiss currency and economy.

Swiss moves to join the European Union were put on hold in 1992, after voters rejected a referendum, in support of membership of a loose European free trade agreement common the continent has undergone radical change in recentEurope he said had was under during the Second World War but said d he was convinced that Switzerlanbd's destiny inis vitalcountry to

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service