Umstrittene Schweizer Sicherheitspolitik ... - ETH Zürich

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sub-strategic importance. At a certain point, they will have to be joined
by other nuclear weapons states. Britain has already sent positive signals.
France and China, too, should join, and at some point we should address
the universality of the regime. Though controversial decisions have been
taken, Israel, Pakistan, and North Korea should be carefully addressed.
I am very glad that in the case of Iran diplomacy prevails. It would be
unfair to speak much about Iran when discussing global security threats,
but it would be even less fair not to touch the subject at all. Iran may be
part of a very big international problem if it obtains nuclear weapons.
Yet it may also bring great international relief if we understand that Iran
is a reliable player and that, while developing nuclear technologies, it
does so only for peaceful purposes. We are not able to stop Iran here,
but we are able to have a dialogue with Iran without limiting the rights
of nations to use nuclear energy in a peaceful way. For that purpose, we
have very useful tools, in particular inspections and very strict control
through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). I must say
that I’m pleased to see the role Switzerland currently plays. I do believe
that the Swiss role may be critical. I know that the Swiss are modest and
that they tend to downplay the importance of what they are doing, but
Switzerland is important by being a player in the global financial system,
by being involved in the discussion on nuclear non-proliferation
and by understanding very well the principles and objectives of nuclear
non-proliferation.
In the last part of my presentation I would like to focus on Europe.
Most of the global threats I have listed are also relevant on a regional
level. With or without Schengen, they will knock the doors of all Europeans,
in the plains as well as high in the Alps. There is no way to hide
from them, and there is only one way to meet them: be not scared, but
be prepared, and well-informed.
Switzerland can and should do part of the home work by itself, without
waiting for others to act, without relying on other players and other
players’ good intentions. But the need for both a realistic and a costefficient
approach suggests European cooperative security mechanisms
are not ignored. However, they should be redesigned in order to meet
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