Solana holds talks in Switzerland

NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana arrived in Switzerland Thursday for an official visit dominated by Switzerland’s peace efforts in Kosovo, relations with NATO and European security issues.

NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana arrived in Switzerland Thursday for an official visit dominated by Switzerland’s peace efforts in Kosovo, relations with NATO and European security issues.

Solana, who will take up his new job as the European Union’s representative for security and foreign policy, was welcomed by Swiss Defence Minister Adolf Ogi (right) at Belp airport, just outside the capital, Berne.

Solana will also hold talks with Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss and is expected to meet members of parliament.

The visit comes only a few days before the main body of a Swiss company of army volunteers is deployed in Kosovo to help rebuild the war-ravaged region.

Switzerland will support an Austrian force in the district of Suva Reka, which is under the authority of German KFOR troops.

The government is taking a marked interest in Solana’s views on EU foreign and security policies.

Switzerland is already a member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace Programme, which is aimed at helping boost security in Europe by integrating non-NATO countries.

Switzerland and the EU have signed a series of bilateral accords which still have to be ratified by the parliaments of Switzerland and all EU member states.

The accords include a broad range of economic, social and cultural agreements that would move Switzerland the closest yet to the EU.

From staff and wire reports.