Building bridges: President Parmelin calls for dialogue and open trade at UN General Assembly

'We cannot remove all the mountains that stand between us. But we can determine how we wish to tackle them. We can preserve open dialogue rather than erect more barriers. We can keep the channels of communication open rather than resign ourselves to silence. We can ensure that technological progress creates more opportunities rather than new divisions. And we can reform our institutions rather than accept their gradual demise,’ said Mr Parmelin.

‘Only through dialogue with all stakeholders and through mutual respect can effective and sustainable solutions be found to meet the challenges of our time,’ he continued. He stated that Switzerland has always offered its services as a neutral, open forum for this dialogue and, in doing so, respects each country’s decisions regarding its own future. He stressed that international cooperation should not serve to impose values or ways of life on other states. He further argued that mutual respect and partnerships based on equality must form the basis for cooperation.

Bilateral meetings

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Mr Parmelin held bilateral meetings with heads of state and government. During a discussion with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who is stepping down at the end of the year, he paid tribute on behalf of Switzerland to the Secretary-General’s great commitment to multilateralism and International Geneva.

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Speech