Britain salutes Swiss defence on Ogi visit

Britain has lavished praise on Switzerland's security policy during a two-day visit to London by the Swiss president and defence minister, Adolf Ogi (pictured left).

Britain has lavished praise on Switzerland’s security policy during a two-day visit to London by the Swiss president and defence minister, Adolf Ogi (pictured left). The British defence minister, Geoff Hoon (right), singled out Switzerland’s contribution to peacekeeping in Kosovo, Swisscoy, and the helicopter “Operation Alba” in Albania.

Ogi and Hoon focused talks on security issues within Europe as well as bilateral relations.

Ogi also delivered a lecture at the Royal United Services Insitute for Defence Studies, outlining Switzerland’s security policy for 2000, which is based on co-operation. He emphasised that Switzerland should not consider itself an island, and that the government wants greater participation in international peacekeeping, and a more active defence role for the national army.

The Swiss president also visited the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, which is due to hold its 2001 annual conference in Geneva.

One of the visit’s highlights is a meeting between the Swiss president and Prince Charles at Saint James’ Palace on Tuesday.

swissinfo and agencies