The sum is enormous. 4.2 billion dollars of calling in the UN to today’s Yemen donor conference in Geneva. So much was necessary in order to cope with the currently “largest humanitarian crisis in the world,” said the UN in December. In particular, the air war under the leadership of Saudi Arabia has caused in Yemen, heavy destruction and great suffering. Switzerland, which is co-organizer of the donors ‘ conference, is expected to donate several million dollars.

the One case that is pushed in the Federal capital for months, with tips of fingers around, casting a large shadow on the humanitarian commitment of the Federal government. Since the fall, officials are trying to determine what is the share of the Central Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus at the bomb war in Yemen. And whether its activities in the Region, violated the neutrality of, or against, the foreign policy objectives of Switzerland.

Federal leads four procedures

In October, this newspaper reported that Pilate has expanded its activities for the Saudi air force beginning in 2017, significantly, and, among other things, Support for PC-21 training aircraft and simulators. Despite mandatory reporting, the Department of foreign Affairs (FDFA) was not in the picture. On the day, as this newspaper revealed the case, sent Pilate to rush headlong over a dozen different activity reports to Bern.

Now a single document, this paper shows that Pilate has far more ties to the Yemen-Alliance, than previously was known. Also in Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates Pilate employees support the respective air guns. Alone in Qatar, which has left the Yemen Alliance in 2017, are stationed 25 Pilate-employees. In all three countries, Pilate provides Support for the training aircraft and simulators.

once

wait to receive The EDA has all of these messages until the end of October 2018. The document, initiated by the Federal government is now four test methods (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan), the legality of these services to be clarified.

The investigations are highly complex, as it is called from the administration. In the Background to play out a conflict between the FDFA and the state Secretariat for economic Affairs Seco. The EDA is responsible for the Export of military and security services, the Seco for the Export of armaments. The two agencies often work in parallel. Officially does not want to comment on the EDA, because of the current method to the case of Pilate. Even Pilate himself said yesterday, wait for the end of the procedure.

“Highly problematic”

In the case of the human rights organization Amnesty, we assessed the activity of Pilate, to the extremely critical: “That the fighter pilots from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with Training aircraft and simulators, from Switzerland, will be formed, is highly problematic,” said Patrick Walder of Amnesty Switzerland. With this support, and the Training of the pilots on-site, the risk is great that Pilate for the continuation of the air attacks, and for committing possible war contributions of crime in Yemen.

In the policy, it is especially the Left that responds to the case of Pilate. SP-security politician Carlo Sommaruga calls for more consistency from the Federal government That Switzerland attempts to alleviate the humanitarian disaster in Yemen with aid, while the local defence industry mitverdiene in the business of destruction, was unacceptable, so Sommaruga. He exercises but also criticism of the authorities. “It raises the question of whether the Federal government has worked here really serious.” He could not imagine, so Sommaruga, the Swiss embassies in the Region about the Pilate Engagements were in the picture. “So why don’t you have informed Bern?”

Balthasar Glättli (Green party) has a lot of open questions. He wants to make to the Federal Council in the next week, the beginning of the spring session. So, he is interested in, whether Pilate is authorised to provide the services in question, despite running testing procedures. Glättli want to know also, whether other companies to report their activities of late and what the consequences are, if they are provided, without the consent of the Federal government.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 25.02.2019, 22:04 PM