Defence Minister Guy Parmelin said with the latest reforms to the army, it will be more prepared to spring quickly into action
Keystone
A government report published in 2010 into Switzerland’s security situation has been revised after coming under heavy criticism. More emphasis has been put on migration and terrorism, but the general tone of the report has stayed the same.
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swissinfo.ch with agencies
Defence Minister Guy Parmelin said at a press conference in the Swiss capital Bern on Wednesday that the report formed a solid basis for discussion on the aims of Switzerland’s security policy in the coming years. He stressed that it focused on wider themes, rather than individual incidents.
The centre-right Radical Party, the conservative right Swiss People’s Party, and military groups said the direction and implementation outlined in the report was too vague.
Parmelin argued that a range of instruments to improve security were being used, and that the threats and dangers Switzerland faced were much more complex, and increasingly interconnected and unclear. Switzerland’s strategy relies on cooperation, independence and commitment.
He added that with the latest reforms to the army, it will be more prepared to spring quickly into action, the equipment will be modernised and the practical training improved.
As far as addressing the threat of terrorism, the cabinet is relying on the success of a public vote that will allow Switzerland’s security services more freedom to monitor private communications. The public go to the polls on September 25. Cooperation between international police forces also needs to be improved, the report stated.
The report will still be presented to Parliament for further debate.
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