Switzerland hosts federalism conference
World leaders and high-ranking diplomats are gathering in St Gallen for the second International Conference on Federalism, which opens on Tuesday.
Some 500 politicians, technocrats and business people are discussing how federal systems can best serve multicultural societies.
The event is a joint project between the Swiss Confederation and the Swiss cantonal governments, who consider Switzerland – one of the oldest federal states in the world – an ideal place for an international forum on the topic.
Discussions between government representative from countries as diverse as Belgium, Mali and Canada will focus on a handful of core themes: federalism and foreign relations; decentralisation and conflict management in multicultural societies; responsibilities in a federal system and fiscal and taxation issues.
Among the political heavyweights in St Gallen are Canadian prime minister, Jean Chrétien, Yugoslav president, Vojislav Kostunica, German president, Johannes Rau and India’s defence minister, George Fernandes.
Switzerland will be represented by four cabinet members including the current president, Kaspar Villiger.
New models
Organisers say they hope that the conference will help to develop new models of federalism taking into account worldwide change and issues such as ethnic conflicts.
A special youth programme targeting younger delegates attending the conference is also on offer. Around 50 young people – aged between 20 and 30 – are due to take part in the programme, which will analyse the role of federalism in society.
This year’s event follows on from the first International Conference on Federalism, which took place in Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Canada, in October 1999.
Switzerland has been a federal state since 1848 and is widely regarded to have successfully combined linguistic, cultural and religious diversity.
swissinfo
500 delegates expected to attend the conference.
The event is a joint project between the Swiss federal government and the cantonal governments.
Topics under discussion include: foreign relations, decentralisation, conflict management and tax issues.
Events include a Youth Programme for younger delegates.
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