The Swiss authorities rejected the proposal to re-export weapons to Ukraine
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After a lengthy debate on Monday, the Council of the Cantons (Small Chamber of the Swiss Federal Assembly) rejected the request of the representative of the Liberals, Thierry Burkart, to allow the re-export of Swiss weapons to Ukraine. In particular, Burkart proposed lifting the ban on the re-export of military equipment to countries that adhere to Swiss values and have an export control regime comparable to that of Switzerland.
He cited the example of countries such as Germany, Spain and Denmark, which have already applied to Switzerland for permission to re-export, but received a negative response. In turn, Switzerland’s Western partner countries are annoyed by this position.
The majority of the members of the Commission on Security Policy of the Council of Cantons voted against Burkart’s proposal, pointing to the need to make the necessary amendments to the legislation through a parliamentary initiative. In addition, some members of the Council of States expressed their principled opposition to lifting the re-export ban, as they saw it as a threat to Switzerland’s reputation as a neutral intermediary state.
As a result, 23 parliamentarians voted against Burkart’s motion, 18 voted in favor of this initiative and two more abstained.
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