Switzerland again calls on India to show nuclear restraint

The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss (right), greets his Indian counterpart, Jaswant Singh, near Berne Keystone

The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, has renewed a call on India not to carry out any more nuclear tests.

Deiss made the statement after talks in Berne on Monday with the Indian foreign minister, Jaswant Singh. Overall, they both praised the state of the two countries’ bilateral relations.

Stressing the amount of common ground between the two countries, Deiss said: “India and Switzerland have common positions on many issues. In humanitarian and other fields…we are committed to the same values”.

He added that India was a key partner in Switzerland’s humanitarian work in the South Asia region, in countries such as Afghanistan.

Switzerland is also among countries which have urged both India and Pakistan to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. In common with other countries, Switzerland condemned the underground nuclear tests carried out by India and Pakistan in 1998.

On other international issues, Deiss said Switzerland was willing to mediate at any time between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir conflict.

However, Deiss’s Indian counterpart, Jaswant Singh, said there was no need for outside intervention: “The need to mediate and facilitate does not arise since India and Pakistan speak the same language.”

Singh stressed the need for more frequent meetings between the two countries. His visit to Berne was the first by an Indian foreign minister for nearly 20 years. The Swiss foreign ministry said Deiss had received an official invitation to India, and might go next year.

Singh also met the Swiss economics minister, Pascal Couchepin, to discuss ways of strengthening business and trade ties.

Before the meeting, a Swiss diplomat said India’s economic liberalisation programme would be at the forefront of the talks. Switzerland is one of the top 10 foreign investors in the country.

swissinfo with agencies