Swiss stall on UN conventions against terrorism

The conventions are designed to fight the financing of terrorism (www.un.org) www.un.org

Switzerland's Senate has voted not to sign two new United Nations conventions against the financing of terrorism, just two weeks after joining the UN.

The result is a blow for the Swiss justice minister, Ruth Metzler, who wanted a speedy ratification of the treaties.

A majority of 27 to 15 voted that the Senate should take more time before ratifying the conventions, citing the need to know more about the implications for Swiss law.

Metzler had stated her hopes of a quick ratification following Switzerland’s reiteration of its commitment to combating terrorism on the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Wrong signals

During the debate, the minister argued that Switzerland would be sending out the wrong signs if it did not ratify the conventions, which are designed to crack down on the financing of terrorism and terrorist attacks using explosives.

“Don’t give out the signal that Switzerland isn’t sure whether or not to ratify these texts,” she said.

But she was outvoted by senators whose objections centred on the inclusion of a definition of terrorism into the penal code and the problem of punishing companies under the convention.

New measures

The Senate said that therefore new measures would be needed in Swiss law before the conventions could be adopted.

The file has been sent back to committee and will now be debated at a later date, along with any changes to Swiss law.

swissinfo with agencies

Key facts

Senators voted 27 to 15 against immediately ratifying two UN conventions.
The treaties are designed to combat the financing of terrorism.
The Swiss joined the UN on September 10, 2002.