02.11.2012

Yangon, 2. November 2012 - Anlässlich der Eröffnung der Schweizer Botschaft in Yangon, Myanmar - Es gilt das gesprochene Wort

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a very special pleasure and a great privilege for me and my wife to be here tonight on behalf of the Swiss federal government and to celebrate with you the opening of the Swiss Embassy in Myanmar. Thanks to this new window Switzerland and Myanmar will get to know and understand each other better.

Through this new door - a big and open door - we will facilitate and develop direct contacts between our two countries and our two societies – two countries which have had bilateral relations since 1956, which is for 56 years. This decision by the Swiss government to open an embassy will allow us to develop and to deepen these relations. A computer scientist would probably say that we are “upgrading” them: “bilateral relations 2.0”, with a new interface.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This decision was possible because the Swiss government is observing and welcomes very positive developments in Myanmar. Even if there are still problems and difficulties – which we should not ignore or underestimate – this country is moving towards democracy and new opportunities at a quick pace.

In Switzerland too, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity was a fundamental challenge at the time when  the federal state was created in 1848. However, the federal authorities decided to integrate this diversity into the new system so that what had once been a challenge, quickly turned into an opportunity and a strength for the whole country and all of its constituent communities. In this way, diversity favoured institution- and nation-building through dialogue, the protection of minorities and a system of checks and balances.

These institutions and this “spirit of Switzerland” brought us a very long period of internal peace and stability which is crucial for creating and sustaining economic development. Before becoming an island of prosperity and stability and a centre of innovation and competitiveness in the heart of Europe, Switzerland had to build federal and democratic institutions, ensure human rights protection, and establish peaceful and constructive relations between social partners.

2012 will indeed be remembered as an important year for our two countries. There is, of course, the opening of the Embassy here in Yangon. But the Swiss authorities in Bern are also pleased and honoured to have welcomed this year two very distinguished visitors from Myanmar:

- an important government minister, Aung Min and
- a very illustrious parliamentarian, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The message left by both visitors can be expressed in three important words: challenges, opportunities and hope.

The Swiss federal government has heard and understood the meaning of these words, and the opening of the Swiss Embassy here in Yangon can be seen in the light of these three important terms:

- Challenges 
- Opportunities
- Hope

Challenges: Many lie ahead, and they are being underlined by the current tensions in some regions. Switzerland expresses its serious concern at the latest outbreaks of violence between communities in Rakhine State. We call on all parties for an immediate end to the violence, urging the authorities to take all necessary action to protect civilians without delay. But there are also very encouraging moves in the areas of democracy, the economy and social development, as well as in terms of reconciliation and openness in many dimensions in Myanmar.

Switzerland wants to deepen the relationship between our two nations to overcome existing challenges. We want to support Myanmar and stand by its people on the long path ahead.

Opportunities: The opening of our Embassy is both an opportunity and an important step: cooperation between our two nations will be immensely increased. Doors will open and allow us to have more political, economic, cultural and social exchanges. This is an opportunity for both our countries, for all of us!

And finally hope: All of these developments create hope: hope for a better and brighter future. This is essential. With hope, courage and hard work a country or a society can overcome all obstacles and challenges and turn them into opportunities, master all its problems and turn them into strengths.

This is our wish for Myanmar’s future, and we are ready to help. In our efforts, the new Swiss Embassy will be a powerful tool.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the beginning of 2012, the Federal Council adopted its Foreign Policy Strategy for the years 2012 to 2015. It is based on principles which have proven their worth for Switzerland: permanent neutrality, universal relations, and the rule of law. But this is not enough in a changing world.

Switzerland also acknowledges its solidarity with the world and its share of responsibility for the future of our planet.
More than ever, Switzerland’s activities are inspired by the three key principles of neutrality, solidarity and responsibility.

One of the four axes of our Foreign Policy Strategy is oriented to our strategic partnerships. As a neutral, non-colonial but very export-oriented country, Switzerland developed its diplomatic, consular and trade network in the Asia-Pacific region with a presence in Sydney already in 1855, in Manila in 1862, and in Jakarta in 1863. Nowadays, Switzerland has very strong and friendly ties with all the Asian and Pacific countries, large and small. And today’s opening can be understood in the same tradition: it is a clear signal of the current and future importance of Myanmar.

Switzerland has been active in Myanmar for almost two decades already, notably through its humanitarian aid. An office of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation was established in Yangon some years ago. The new Embassy has been temporarily established in these premises.

In parallel, by increasing the size of our Embassy in Bangkok, we have prepared the opening of the Embassy here in Yangon. Currently, our Ambassador to Myanmar, who is also accredited in Laos and Cambodia, resides in Bangkok together with his family, his wife being the Ambassador of Switzerland to Thailand.
From tomorrow, the personal dynamics of this diplomat family will be modified by the Yangon-Bangkok dimension, but the distance between Myanmar and Switzerland will become shorter, for the benefit of our two countries’ relations.

I take this opportunity to convey personally my best wishes to our representatives in Yangon and their families, as well as my gratitude to all those in Myanmar and in Switzerland who have made tomorrow’s opening possible!

This opening is a clear signal of the importance of Myanmar. Even more: it is a signal of the importance of two regions linked by Myanmar: South Asia and Southeast Asia. Switzerland wants to increase its partnerships in this region of the world.

Next Monday at the ASEM Summit in Laos, Switzerland will become member of the Asia Europe Meeting. This fits in perfectly with Switzerland’s Foreign Policy Strategy. And I should add that we also want to increase our presence and cooperation with ASEAN, an organization that Myanmar will chair in 2014, the same year Switzerland will chair the Organization for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE).

Let me reiterate here Switzerland’s commitment to cooperation with Myanmar on political, economic and many other issues at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

This is why I am happy to announce tonight that, on the basis of the credit recently approved by the Swiss Federal Parliament for the years 2013-2016, Switzerland has decided to increase its development cooperation and humanitarian aid with Myanmar substantially over the next years: from 11 million dollars (USD) in 2012 to 20 million next year and up to around 35 million per year by 2016.

Our future cooperation strategy will focus on the following four thematic areas:

- jobs (employment, income and vocational training);
- health (health and social inclusion);
- food (agriculture and food security); and finally
- peace (peace support, human rights and protection).

With two important sections devoted to humanitarian aid and development cooperation fully integrated in the new Embassy, it will play an important role in these activities.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish, and I am convinced, that today we are opening a window of many opportunities and a door on a long-term friendship between Myanmar and Switzerland!
Thank you.


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