TIMELINES: Switzerland became a UN Member State on Sept. 10 of what year?

Saturday, September 10, 2011

THEN On September 10, 2002, by unanimous decision of the, the traditionally neutral country of Switzerland becomes the 190th United Nations member state. The decision to join the U.N. is the source of intense debate among the Swiss people. It is first adopted as an aspiration by the government in 1977 but in a 1986 referendum on the question, three-quarters of Swiss voters reject membership. A second referendum in March 2002 passes, but only by a narrow 55 percent margin. Kaspar Villiger, filling the 1-year position of President of the Swiss Confederation at the time, says the two issues of major concern for the Swiss people relating to U.N membership are Switzerland’s long standing history and tradition of neutrality, and the veto power held by Permanent Members of the U.N. Security Council. NOW This week, Joseph Deiss—the outgoing President of the 65th Session of the General Assembly and a Swiss national—delivered his final press conference of his year-long term. He said that during his tenure, the General Assembly had made progress on the issues of poverty reduction, global governance, a green economy and sustainable development. In the coming weeks, Switzerland’s position on the controversial issue of Palestine’s status as a U.N. Member State or Observer State will be closely watched and discussed by the international community. Geneva, Switzerland is the main location of the United Nations in Europe.