At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, Switzerland expressed its concern at developments in the Middle East and the growing risk of a regional war. It condemned the spiral of violence in recent weeks and called on all parties to cease hostilities. ‘Dialogue is the only way to avoid a regional war. Switzerland supports all efforts to find diplomatic solutions that can lead to an immediate halt to the violence throughout the region’, said Switzerland's Permanent Representative, Pascale Baeriswyl.
Switzerland also reminded all parties of their obligations under international law, and more specifically international humanitarian law. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and the relevant Security Council resolutions for the region must also be respected. Finally, Switzerland renewed its support for the commitment and good offices of the UN, in particular UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) and UNSCOL (Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon). Its staff work in an extremely dangerous environment and play an important role in reducing tensions and ensuring liaison between the parties.
