PDGS
Partnership for Democratic Governance and Security

REPORT 2000. SECURITY THROUGH COOPERATION

MESSAGE OF ADOLF OGI, FEDERAL COUNCILLOR

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Federal Council has adopted its report to the Federal Assembly on the Security Policy of Switzerland (Report 2000) for the elaboration of which the lead was with our Department. The chosen strategy, entitled "security through cooperation", assigns three missions to the armed forces, namely peace support and crisis management; area protection and defence; and prevention and management of existential dangers.

This report is the strategic basis for the reforms of the armed forces (Army XXI) and of civil protection. We plan to submit to parliament before the end of next year the documents for the necessary amendments of laws.

This is an ambitious objective, but there is reason for this urgency. The events of the last months in a region merely one flight-hour away from Switzerland confirm the necessity for action, as well as events in Switzerland that have required assistance by the armed forces. We owe it to our country to actively meet the challenges.

Army XXI and civil protection have an impact on the life of our country at all levels, within the political arena and outside. Therefore it is necessary to conduct the discussion on the re-orientation of Swiss security policy on a broad basis.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your interest. Security through cooperation begins at home.

Adolf Ogi
Federal Councillor


NEW SITUATION

The international situation has changed fundamentally over the last decade. The conventional military threat to Switzerland has decreased. At the same time, the range of other dangers and risks has expanded considerably. Today's security problems cut across borders. The current crises and conflicts in Europe confront many countries with the same challenges and they have a direct impact on Switzerland as well. The crises cannot be solved but by a joint effort. For this reason, greater security cooperation is imperative.


OUR PREVIOUS STRATEGY

The previous Swiss strategy of security policy aimed at security through autonomy. To a large extent it was based on worst-case assumptions (nuclear war) as criteria for the allocation of resources, and it was accepted that a heavy time burden was placed on the militia.

This orientation was appropriate to the circumstances of the Cold War but the changed situation calls for a new strategy.


THE NEW STRATEGY: SECURITY THROUGH COOPERATION

The new strategy of Swiss security policy is geared towards cooperation. Within Switzerland, emphasis is put on the best possible coordination of our own civilian and military instruments through comprehensive and flexible security cooperation.

Internationally, cooperation with friendly states and international security organizations will be expanded, as well as the Swiss commitment to enhancing peace.

Such a commitment reflects our own interests: it reduces the risk that Switzerland itself is affected by the consequences of instability and war.

The strategy of cooperation runs like a thread through all areas relating to security policy. The path to more security involves greater cooperation.


PART OF THE FRAMEWORK: NEUTRALITY

The law of neutrality leaves considerable freedom for manoeuvre to the neutral state. In the current political-military environment neutrality must be interpreted in an active way which expresses a spirit of solidarity. Neutrality does not prevent Switzerland from an active commitment to enhancing peace or from cooperation in military training. However, the law of neutrality prohibits military support of any warring parties.

For this reason even in peacetime, a neutral state cannot make any commitment to give military assistance in the event of war. Therefore, membership in NATO is not compatible with neutrality.


OUR NEW SECURITY POLICY...

Report 2000 on Security Policy analyses the changed situation, describes the objectives of Swiss security policy and derives from them our strategy: security through cooperation. This strategy determines, in turn, the missions of our security policy instruments.

...AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

The new strategy will have an effect on our security policy instruments, in particular on the armed forces and civil protection. The strategy calls for a reassessment of the relative importance of the missions of our armed forces. It also calls for a partial review of our compulsory service and will have an impact on our strategic leadership.


REASSESSMENT OF THE MISSIONS OF OUR ARMED FORCES

The new strategy demands that the previous three missions of the armed forces are evaluated anew.

Peace support and crisis management:
Compared to the former 'peace promotion' mission, the armed forces must expand their engagement in the trouble area itself. If necessary, it will also be possible to arm voluntary units employed for this purpose for their protection and the success of their mission.

Area protection and defence:
Compared to the former defence mission, cooperation with other armed forces will be increased, particularly in training.

Prevention and management of existential dangers:
Compared to its previous civil affairs support mission, the armed forces must be able to conduct several such operations simultaneously after a short preparation.


PRECONDITIONS FOR ACCOMPLISHING ARMED FORCES MISSIONS

Altogether the armed forces must be able to fulfil all three missions. Therefore, they must be multi-functional. The armed forces need graduated degrees of readiness. High readiness is necessary for some missions, but not for all. In view of a potential threat increase, the armed forces must also be capable of increasing their assets accordingly.

In order to better cooperate with other armed forces (e.g., in peace support operations), it will also be necessary to improve interoperability.


CIVIL PROTECTION

Civil protection includes various civilian means (e.g., fire brigades, civil defence, rescue services) to protect the population in the event of catastrophes, military threats or other emergencies. The responsibility lies with the cantons and municipalities. The federal authorities assist if the emergencies are of national magnitude.

Civil protection is primarily geared to coping with disasters. Preparations for unlikely events (e.g., nuclear war) have become less important.


COMPULSORY SERVICE

The militia system, universal conscription for military service and compulsory civil protection service will be maintained.

However, flexibility must be increased. Thus, the possibility of doing compulsory service within a single period will be introduced for certain functions. Another objective is earlier discharge from compulsory service. Moreover, citizens having fulfilled their military duty will not longer be obliged to serve in civil protection.

Finally, three variants for the future assignment of personnel to the armed forces and to civil protection have been submitted for discussion.


STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

Strategic leadership of the Federal Council will be strengthened. A newly created Security Steering Group will permanently assess the situation, identify risks and opportunities as early as possible and propose measures to the Federal Council.

The Security Steering Group will also be charged with the efficient coordination of our security policy instruments with a view to comprehensive and flexible security cooperation. At the same time, coordination of the intelligence services will be improved.


PUBLISHER

The Report 2000 on Swiss Security Policy is available in thre different versions and in
several languages:

Complete report :
65 pages
These documents can be obtained free of charge from:
Office central fédéral des imprimés et du matériel (OCFIM)
3003 Berne
Fax +41 (0)31 325 50 58

The complete report, as well as the summary leaflet, can also be accessed on the Internet:
http://www.vbs.admin.ch.

Publisher:
DDPS, General Secretariat, Office for Information Concepts
Web layout: Internet DDPS

Layout and Print : Jäggi Burson-Marsteller Berne/Zurich
Mulitcolor SA / Kündig Druck Zoug