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The export of arms-Initiative is

The population will not tolerate any arms exports in the civil war country is highly vulnerable to finally have a real say in the problematic exports, is convin

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The export of arms-Initiative is

The population will not tolerate any arms exports in the civil war country is highly vulnerable to finally have a real say in the problematic exports, is convinced the Committee of the so-called correction-Initiative. Now, you reported the state for the Initiative. Martin Landolt, Co-President of the Alliance against weapons exports, says: "The 100'000 people require a voice in arms exports. We hope the Council of States takes the unmistakable call of the people."

Large print

The Alliance is broad: it includes the parties BDP, GLP, EPP, Green, SP and the GSoA. They formed in the autumn as a reaction to the decision of the Federal Council, the loosened rules for arms exports. New Swiss arms should be able to export company weapons in civil war countries, when there is no reason to believe that the war material is used in the internal conflict.

The pressure from the Swiss defense industry-planned Change led to an Outcry in the population and a reaction of the parliamentarians. Even the Swiss Federal audit office wrote in the beginning of September in a report that spot checks were "in the present Form is unlikely to be effective".

The national Council adopted in the autumn session, a Motion of the BDP group, that, in future the Parliament on the criteria for the authorisation of arms exports. Only after the then economy back krebste Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann and wanted to reconsider the planned easing on arms exports. The turn of the Council of States who wanted to treat the Motion in the December session, but an extra loop has been inserted and until next week to decide is now.

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The Federal Council has in the last ten years, a politically highly controversial course. To the vote on a ban on war material exports, to take the Wind out of the sails of, he has compounded a year prior to the ballot, the rules for war material exports. In the vote fight to the GSoA-Initiative of the Federal Council, had assured going to be in the restrictive practice of detention. In 2009, the people has rejected this request, too bulky.

But just four years later, the government welcomed an easing of existing laws. In 2014, the Federal Council relaxed on behalf of the Parliament the rules again. Since then, Swiss arms companies, war material export in countries where human rights are violated. Arms exports to those countries are now prohibited only when "a high risk" that the Material is used for serious human rights violations. Before Export in countries such as Saudi Arabia, was strictly prohibited.

war-material exports make up only 0.15 percent of the total export volume in Switzerland. For many years, the share is declining. In 2017, this corresponded to just under 450 million Swiss francs. In the last 30 years, the number moved in each case to this value. Between 2008 and 2012, the exports exceeded the 700 million mark.

Interview: "We call on Yes Flat no absolute prohibition" The green-liberal national Council Beat (AG) is convinced that the Initiative reached the population at large resonance. (Photo: Keystone)

Why do you, as the bourgeois politicians in the weapons export initiative?
Citizens does not mean that the Business before any ethics and morals. To represent the opposite: A bourgeois policy, it means for me to carry responsibility. To society and to the economy. The signature collecting on the road has shown me that the concern is really supported by broad layers of the population.

the Initiative Is more than a means of pressure, for the attention of the Council of States, that this follows the national Council and criteria for the authorization of arms exports, transfers to the Parliament?
Yes, I assume that the large number of signatures is in this very short period of time more than just a means of pressure: It is a clear demand, the supply of weapons to States that respect human rights are repeatedly abused, and in countries that are in a civil war.

2009 failed a weapons export Initiative very clearly at the ballot box. Why do you expect now a better chance?
Because there is no absolute weapons export ban, but an Initiative that gives us an orderly, moral framework, when war material may be delivered and when. Actually, nothing other than what is decent to the world community as the Depositary state of the UN conventions.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 08.02.2019, 08:00 PM

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