Army chief outlines his priorities

The new head of the armed forces has warned that a proposal to cut noise pollution near tourist regions will impose restrictions on the Swiss air force.

Roland Nef said the proposal by an environmental group would limit air force training opportunities in the Swiss Alps. The issue will come to a nationwide vote on February 24.

Nef, who took over from Christophe Keckeis on January 1, was speaking at a news conference in Bern.

Asked about the shortage of army pilots, Nef said it was too early to say whether the air force would eventually hire foreign staff to make up numbers.

He defended a decision which came into force at the beginning of the year, to let members of the army guard military installations with loaded guns. He said members of the militia army were well trained for such missions.

He added that no decision had yet been taken on the precise role for army members serving during next June’s European football championships, Euro 2008, co-hosted by Switzerland.

Nef said his priorities included consolidating the position of Switzerland’s corps of professional army members, which has come under pressure amid reform of the armed forces, and to increase dialogue between the militia army, the business world and society at large.