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The political relations between Switzerland and Sweden are excellent and free of problems, ”says the website of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs FDFA.
That is quite arrogant. Because there is a lot of air between the two countries.
A celebratory dinner should have taken place in Stockholm on October 15. Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis (59) and his Swedish counterpart Ann Linde (58) were among the first-rate guests. The occasion is the centenary of diplomatic relations between the Confederation and the Kingdom; Switzerland has had its own embassy in Stockholm since 1920.
But nothing comes of that. The Swedish Foreign Ministry canceled the appointment this week. Offending a friendly government in this way is a very unusual move.
Ann Linde’s ministry also provided the reason for the diplomatic scandal: Cassis’s refusal is explicitly justified with reference to a Federal Council decision on the cryptocurrency issue, as informed sources report to SonntagsBlick.
Tradition of the neutrality policy
In June, the state government decided that the Crypto International AG company in Steinhausen, Zurich, can no longer export encryption devices. The decision seals the end of the company, which is now in Swedish hands thanks to its new owners. 80 employees are put on the street.
But that’s just one reason for the northern anger: Above all, Scandinavians can no longer get cybersecurity software. Although the country, like Switzerland, has a tradition of a policy of neutrality and good offices.
The Federal Council’s decision was made in the context of the so-called Cryptoleaks affair. In February, SRF and Tamedia announced details of how the Crypto AG company in Zug had exported encryption devices around the world during the Cold War, and was monitored by the American CIA and the Federal Intelligence Service (BND).
Although Crypto International AG is a successor company and the owners claim that the business no longer has anything to do with the former Crypto AG, the Federal Council resorted to double-handedness under media and political pressure.
They both boast of being peacemakers
At the FDFA, it is difficult to talk to the Minister of the Economy, Guy Parmelin (60). Its Secretary of State for the Economy (Seco) began the current development with a criminal complaint against unknown persons and was one of the promoters of the export ban.
Now Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis and his administration have to serve the soup. Other friendly states have also reportedly protested the export ban in the Department of Foreign Relations.
Compared to SonntagsBlick, EDA is retained with original quotes. But the investigation is confirmed: «To celebrate the centenary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Sweden, a meeting was also planned at the level of foreign ministers. Based on the current state of knowledge, this meeting will not take place. “
Now is the time to bury the ax. One thing the two countries have in common should give hope: they both boast of being peacemakers in international conflicts.
