Switzerland finds its voice

The Swiss people voted yes to joining the UN

By Emma Jane Kirby The BBC's correspondent in Geneva

More than 55 years after the UN Charter was drawn up, Switzerland is finally to fly its national flag alongside those of the other 189 UN member states.

It is, as Monday's Le Temps says, "a very small step for the United Nations but a big step for Switzerland."

Now we can take part in where the future of the world is determined

Kaspar Villiger, Swiss President

UN officials heralded Switzerland's accession as "an expression of faith and commitment to the work and ideals of the organisation," and promised that Switzerland would provide a "vivid example of what the United Nations stands for - a tolerant, peaceful and multicultural society built on democratic values."

But in reality, it is unlikely that this small Alpine nation of just 7.3 million people is really going to be much noticed in the delegates' hall.

Global future

But for the Swiss themselves, so cautious in the field of international politics, so sceptical of global alliances, it is their first big performance on the worldwide stage.

Swiss TV bulletins and radio newscasts are still showing a smiling Kaspar Villiger, the Swiss president who has long wanted Switzerland to join the UN.

"Now we can take part in where the future of the world is determined," he says grandly, on the hour, every hour.

"The referendum is over, it's time to close ranks now and unite in defending these unique values that Switzerland holds."

Closing ranks is going to be a hard call though for the right wing UDC, or Swiss People's Party.

The party fought tirelessly to persuade the Swiss that joining the UN would compromise the treasured Swiss neutrality and would result in Switzerland's independence melting away under the Security Council superpowers.

Thirteen years ago, it was a pushover for the UDC - at the 1986 referendum on joining the UN, 75% of voters said no and not one single canton, or region, voted through the initiative.

Opposition to entry

So does this defeat signal the waning power of the People's Party and of its leader, Christoph Blocher, Switzerland`s most controversial politician?

Yves Bichsel, UDC party spokesman in Bern, laughed: "Look, we were the only Swiss party that was against this vote. We were the only party that stood up and said Switzerland should not join the United Nations.

Christoph Blocher's People's Party was against joining the UN

"The government wanted to join, the economists told Switzerland it should join, the media encouraged Switzerland to join. We were completely alone in our views. Yes, we lost the referendum, but we still got 45% of the vote."

The UDC won't fight the decision to join the UN - that would be to question the very heart of the beloved system of direct democracy which Switzerland`s political life turns upon. But Yves Bichsel said a close eye will be kept on Swiss relations with the UN.

"The government tells us that UN membership will cost us an extra 60 to 70 million Swiss francs per year - let's hope this doesn't suddenly become 100 million Swiss francs or 120 million Swiss francs," he said.

"It wouldn't be the first time the government has made us promises before a referendum and forgotten them straight afterwards."

Next step the EU?

An editorial in Le Temps heralds the Swiss people for at last "giving Switzerland a voice and the right to speak out."

Switzerland is still not exactly a protagonist in the dramas of international politics, but it has at last got a speaking part.

Joining Europe would mean many changes on a national level for the Swiss people, and they just don`t want that

Yves Bichsel, UDC

So will this taste of prominence perhaps act as a rehearsal for joining other alliances that have so far been studiously avoided? Could UN membership pave the way to Switzerland signing up to the EU?

"Absolutely not," says Yves Bichsel. "The tight result of yesterday's referendum shows us that Switzerland is still basically cautious about joining big alliances."

"Joining Europe would mean many changes on a national level for the Swiss people, and they just don't want that.

"The UDC will continue to fight against the government in its campaign to bring Switzerland in to the European Union."