First Swiss to lead a UN peace operation takes up post in Middle East
Gauchat also served as Commander of the Northern Sector for KFOR in Kosovo in 2013-2014.
Keystone / Jean-christophe Bott
Swiss army general Patrick Gauchat has taken command of the UN operation set up to monitor the ceasefire in the Middle East. This is the first time a Swiss leads a UN peacekeeping operation.
This content was published on
1 minute
SRF/jdp
Español
es
El primer suizo que dirige una operación de paz de la ONU asume su cargo en Oriente Medio
In October, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Patrick Gauchat as Head of Mission and Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). UNTSO is the oldest UN peacekeeping operation, launched in 1948 by the UN Security Council to monitor the ceasefire in the Middle East and supervise the implementation of the Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements.
UNTSO has gained in importance in the last few years with the conflict in Syria and rising tensions in the region. However, it’s role has changed somewhat over the years. Today UNTSO military observers are provided to support various missions in the region including in the Golan Heights and in Lebanon. UNTSO personnel are also deployed on short notice to establish other peacekeeping operations.
Gauchat told SRF that being Swiss has an advantage because the country doesn’t have a colonial past in the region and maintains good relations with all parties.
Before assuming his role in the Middle East in December, Gauchat was serving on the demilitarised zone on the border between North and South Korea. Gauchat has spent more than two decades working in peacekeeping including in the former Yugoslavia, the Middle East and Asia.
Popular Stories
More
Climate adaptation
Why Switzerland is among the ten fastest-warming countries in the world
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Premiere for Swiss Air Force on French National Day
This content was published on
On July 14, the Swiss Air Force will take part in the traditional air parade in Paris to mark the French bank holidays with an F/A-18 fighter jet. This is a first for Switzerland.
Swiss launch competition for memorial to Nazi victims
This content was published on
The victims of Nazi Germany are to be commemorated on the Casinoterrasse in Bern. A competition will be held to determine what the site will look like.
This content was published on
The cantonal police of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland have arrested and convicted five cocaine dealers in Chur within a week.
This content was published on
The Swiss business umbrella organisation Economiesuisse and the employers' association broadly support the package of agreements negotiated with the European Union.
Top Swiss politician experiences drone attack in Ukraine
This content was published on
Maja Riniker, president of the Swiss House of Representatives, said she had to spend two hours in a bunker during her trip to Ukraine because of Russian drone attacks.
This content was published on
A rockfall caused an interruption of several hours on the Albula line of the Rhaetian Railway between Thusis and Tiefencastel on Thursday.
This content was published on
A 600kg bull that escaped in the Montalchez region of canton Neuchâtel has been found in a pen surrounded by several cows.
Bern chatbot wins UN artificial intelligence award
This content was published on
The Bern-based chatbot "Sophia" has won the United Nations' "AI for Good Impact Award 2025". The chatbot is designed to help victims of domestic violence.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss mission in Kosovo extended for three years
This content was published on
The Senate on Wednesday voted unanimously in favour, in line with a decision by the House of Representatives last March. The annual costs of the mission, the Swiss contingent with the Nato-led peacekeeping force, Kfor, will run to CHF44.2 million ($49.2 million). Meanwhile the reserve for ongoing reinforcements will be reduced from 80 to 60…
This content was published on
In 1990, Switzerland sent observers to work in a UN peacekeeping mission for the first time, a move that sparked debates in the neutral nation.
This content was published on
United Nations member states are increasingly reticent to finance peacekeeping operations or to hand over promised contributions on time.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.