Punching Above Your Weight

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey is scheduled to meet with U.S. Foreign Minister Hillary Clinton at the end of July in Washington. High on their agenda, we assume, will be the pending case between the United States and UBS. Although both are Foreign Ministers and not Ministers of Justice and neither has an official capacity in the legal case, we assume that an easing of tensions between Switzerland and the U.S. will be discussed, just as Mrs. Clinton advised during her short visit to Geneva when she met Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and Mrs. Calmy-Rey.What is impressive about the visit, however, is that there are many more items potentially on the agenda. Keeping in mind that Switzerland is a small country with a population of only seven million, other items to be discussed could include:
1) The representation by Switzerland of the United States in Teheran, especially in terms of Iranian nuclear development;
2) The facilitation role of Switzerland in discussions between Turkey and Armenia over the opening of their border, and potentially a settlement of the Nagorno Kharabak territorial issue;
3) The representation of Russia in Georgia and the representation of Georgia in Moscow by Switzerland, especially in terms of the recent demand by Georgia to have the United States help to monitor its border with Russia. The representation by Switzerland is a good offices mandate and probably will not be discussed in any political context;
4) Discussions on Russian proposals for a new European security architecture in preparation for the visit of Russian President Medvedev to Bern;
5) General discussions on multilateralism, the United Nations, and possibly the Human Rights Council and Conference on Disarmament;
6) Eventually, even the evolving situation in Cuba, where Switzerland formally represents U.S. interests.How did a small country like Switzerland get to play such a disproportionate role with the U.S.? Without going into the entire history of Swiss-U.S relations and the idea of sister republics, Albert Gallatin, the Alabama Room, the League of Nations – we could begin with the Geneva Bible on the Mayflower – it is important to note that in its relations with the United States, Switzerland certainly punches above its weight. This is not to say that Switzerland always has this role – the example of the Middle East and Colombia come to mind – but to note that for a small country, Switzerland does have a role to play with the United States on the international scene, if somewhat limited.The discussions between the two Ministers will be pleasant, and we hope constructive in easing the tensions surrounding the UBS case. What is most impressive, however, is that there are so many potential items on the agenda. This will not be just a courtesy visit.