Swiss Foreign Ministry has replied to Belsat about the decision to appoint an ambassador to Belarus. The diplomats explained why they had decided to do so.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry told Belsat that the decision to send a new ambassador to Minsk was taken after carefully considering many circumstances. The diplomats are convinced that the crisis in Belarus can only be solved with the involvement of all relevant political actors.
“It was important for Switzerland to remain represented at the highest level in Minsk. In this way, Switzerland can fulfill its traditional and recognized role as a bridge-builder for the international community. Switzerland undertakes this with the necessary diligence and in full solidarity with European values and principles,” the Swiss Foreign Ministry explained to Belsat.
The issue of presenting credentials is as pressing as the appointment of an ambassador. The Swiss representative has to present them to Lukashenka.
“The presentation of credentials is not an act of recognition for Switzerland. The accreditation of an ambassador establishes the relationship between the official representative of the sending country and the host state, regulated by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” said Swiss diplomats.
According to representatives of the Foreign Ministry in Bern, the new ambassador will seek to bring the critical demands of Switzerland to Belarus. Among other things, they are the release of all arbitrarily detained people, the investigation of severe cases of torture and ill-treatment, and freedom of expression.
“The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains regular contacts with the Belarusian authorities in order to facilitate the release of Ms. Natalia Hersche. The Swiss Embassy in Minsk has visited Ms. Hersche fourteen times, the last visit being on January 11, 2022.”
After the presidential elections in August 2020, many countries refused to send their ambassadors to Belarus and present their credentials to Alyaksandr Lukashenka, thus not recognizing his legitimacy.
