Switzerland , a small country in terms of population, is located in the heart of Europe. The most important air, rail, river, and road international routes pass through it from north to south, including through the famous mountain passes, and from west to east - to other European countries. In this country, the Rhine and Rhone Rivers, which are vital for a number of European states, originate and flow through its territory.

In the Middle Ages, many states sought to seize small, but very important in strategic terms, Swiss lands or establish their influence there. The desire to strengthen their security and protect themselves from external invasion was the main reason for the formation of the Swiss Confederation in 1291 as part of Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden, and then its subsequent expansion due to the voluntary accession of other cantons to it.

External security threats and internal strife continued virtually until the Congress of Vienna in 1815, which defined the territory of the Confederation within its present borders and established for it the status of permanent armed neutrality. This has become the main principle of Swiss foreign policy. The main directions of this policy were also strongly influenced by economic factors. Switzerland is poor in natural sources of raw materials and energy resources - with the exception of water resources, which are already practically used up1 . At the same time, it is a very picturesque country, as if specially designed for the development of tourism. Taking into account these factors, it began to develop primarily such sectors of the economy that required a small amount of raw materials, but whose efficiency is high. Thus, foreign tourism and watchmaking are emerging and developing in the country, which, along with agriculture, remained the main branches of its economy until the First World War. Switzerland began to turn into the watchmaker's workshop of the world. Back then, it was referred to as the land of watches and Swiss cheese.

Even at that time, Switzerland's well-being depended on external security (aided by its neutrality), economic development, and foreign trade, which ensured the import of raw materials and the sale of Swiss goods on the world market. Free foreign trade was of vital importance to Switzerland. In the following years, the machine-tool industry, mechanical engineering and chemical industry were widely developed. After the Second World War, the chemical and pharmaceutical industries have been growing rapidly, and in recent years, the electronics and nuclear engineering industries have been growing rapidly. Modern Swiss mechanical engineering and machine tool industry mainly specializes in the production of unique products and small series, intended mainly for the foreign market. Swiss companies

1 Modern Switzerland. Paolo Alto. 1978. p. 51.

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they do business efficiently, with minimal use of raw materials and energy per unit of product. Waste recycling is widely practiced. The quality of our products is very high. In many cases, Swiss products are recognized as quality standards in the world.

To characterize the modern Swiss economy, we note that in 1982 the total national product of the country was $ 100.9 billion, and per capita - $ 15,595 - the highest figure in the capitalist world. Switzerland's exports in the same year were equal to 25.92 billion dollars, and imports - 28.58 billion dollars. Switzerland imports more goods than it exports, and the difference is mainly covered by investment income - $ 5.27 billion. and tourism - $ 1.13 billion. The country's financial position is solid. The total positive balance of payments in 1982 was $ 3.14 billion. Its monetary and gold reserves were second only to Germany and the United States, were roughly equal to the monetary and gold reserves of France, and far exceeded the reserves of England, Italy ,and other countries. 2
Banking is particularly important for Switzerland. The well-known Swiss social and political figure, socialist J. Ziegler, in his book "Switzerland as it is" points out that the Swiss banking system is a product of imperialism and is designed to serve its interests, primarily the interests of the United States. "Thanks to an extremely hypertrophied banking system, as well as admirable institutions of banking secrecy and numbered accounts, "Ziegler writes," the Swiss oligarchy functions as a repository for the entire global capitalist system. " 3 As a 1975 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) points out, "The Helvetic Confederation is the world's leading market for money, gold and securities, and it is the world's third-largest financial power." 4
Swiss banks, of course, make a significant contribution to the country's economic potential, but their important role also lies in providing financial services to the entire capitalist system, especially to the largest multinational companies. Swiss banks store huge fortunes of depositors, sometimes of dubious origin, as well as money illegally imported into this country - this is all so-called dirty money. Investors are attracted to Switzerland by the stability of the domestic political situation and the country's neutrality, reliability and secrecy of deposits. The desire to invest money and other valuables, especially "dirty money", in Swiss banks during crisis situations is so great that sometimes, as, for example, in the mid-70s, in order to protect the currency and economy, the government and parliament of the country take special measures-the abolition of interest payments on foreign accounts in Swiss banks the introduction of "negative interest" on such accounts, when not banks pay depositors a certain percentage for the money invested, but on the contrary - depositors must pay interest to banks, and very high, sometimes reaching up to 40%, just for the fact that their valuables are stored in Switzerland. The country's democratic circles, for moral and political reasons, oppose the storage of "dirty money" in Switzerland, and demand changes in the existing rules of banking operations.

Natural conditions, economic development needs, especially in industry and banking, international obligations

2 Switzerland in Figures. Zurich. 1983.

3 Ziegler J. Switzerland Exposed. Lnd 1978, pp. 7, 8.

4 Cit. by: ibid., p. 4.

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Switzerland faces certain challenges for its foreign policy and diplomacy. Swiss politicians, including representatives of the Federal Department (Ministry) of Foreign Affairs, refer to permanent armed neutrality, freedom of international trade, provision of services to States in the interests of peace, human rights, participation in international organizations and meetings, and development of bilateral relations as the main principles of the country's foreign policy .5 Let's look at how these principles are implemented in Swiss foreign policy and in the activities of Swiss diplomacy.

The principle of permanent armed neutrality. The establishment of a policy of permanent armed neutrality of the country dates back to the beginning of the XIX century.

Napoleon, in his plans to establish French dominance in Europe, attached great importance to the use of Switzerland as a springboard for military operations against the allied Powers. "Constant interference in the affairs of the Swiss cantons and the establishment of orders in them that were consistent with the types of their policies-this was the goal of Napoleon's activities (in relation to Switzerland - V. L.)", - wrote Professor of the University of St. Petersburg, F. A. Kropotkin. Martens 6 . In February 1803, Napoleon presented the Swiss representatives with the new Constitution of Switzerland ("Act of Mediation"), which provided for the creation of a confederation headed by a president elected annually in turn by the cantons of Fribourg, Bern, Solothurn, Basel, Zurich and Lucerne. In total, there were 19 cantons in the confederation. To reinforce his plans, Napoleon sent a 12,000-strong French army into Switzerland. On September 27, 1803, Switzerland signed an agreement with France, under which it pledged to provide the latter with four regiments of 4 thousand people each. The" Act of Mediation " and the agreement of September 27, 1803, made Switzerland an ally of France. During Napoleon's war with Russia in 1812, the French army consisted of four Swiss regiments totaling about 8 thousand people. They took part in the battles near Polotsk and covered the retreating troops of Napoleon when crossing the Berezina River near the city of Borisov .

Since the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars, Russian diplomacy has made efforts to exclude the active participation of Switzerland on the side of France and to free the country's territory from French troops. The goal of Russian diplomacy in relation to Switzerland was to create a sovereign neutral state in the center of Western Europe. Already in the first directive of the Russian Foreign Ministry to Comrade Minister of Justice N. N. Novosiltsev, who in the autumn of 1804 was sent by Alexander I as his personal representative to London to discuss issues,

5 See press releases of speeches delivered by the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDID) (Minister of Foreign Affairs) P. Ober: at the University of Basel on February 19, 1981 " Swiss foreign Policy between tradition and novelty "(within the framework of the "Swiss Foreign Policy" cycle), at the University of Neuchatel on November 7, 1981, at the Zurich Society of Economics on March 17, 1982 "International economic situation and foreign policy of Switzerland". See also texts of speeches and reports of the FDID Secretary of State (Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs) R. Probst: at the meeting of the Bern University Union on November 13, 1980, at the Swiss Institute for Foreign Studies in Zurich on February 24, 1981 "Peace in conflict and the role of Switzerland", before the general meeting of the "Association of Swiss Entrepreneurs in Germany" on April 3, 1981 in Zurich, the Swedish Institute of International Relations (Stockholm) on September 18, 1981."The role of "good offices" in Swiss foreign Policy", in the Geneva Chamber of Commerce and Industry on March 23, 1982. "Some considerations on Swiss foreign Policy", etc.

6 Martenes F. Collection of treatises and conventions concluded by Russia with foreign powers. Vol. III. St. Petersburg, 1876. p. 226.

7 History of the XIX century. Edited by Lovenss and Rambaud, T. I. M. 1938, pp. 461, 462.

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related to the creation of a new anti-Napoleonic coalition and the post-war political structure of Europe, in particular, it was said: "The political existence of Switzerland is also very important for the security of Europe. It is necessary to round up the territory of this State as much as possible and strengthen its position; ...it also seems necessary to establish a government there that meets the local conditions and the will of the population, does not fall into the mistakes of the previous regime (meaning the conclusion of an alliance between Switzerland and France - V. L.) and is strong enough to use the means available to Switzerland and force it to respect its neutrality." 8 This document laid down the ideas of permanent armed neutrality of Switzerland, which turned out to be possible to implement only after 11 years. The policy of creating a neutral Swiss state in the center of Europe was pursued by Russian diplomacy throughout the entire period of the Napoleonic Wars.

After the defeat of Napoleonic France, Russia again put forward the idea of Swiss neutrality. For this purpose, Alexander I sent to Switzerland in the autumn of 1813, as a private individual, a "simple traveler" I. A. Kapodistrias with a special mission. Russia wanted to solve the Swiss question in such a way that there would be no reason for conflicts between the cantons in the Helvetic Republic itself, that it would be a country of peace and tranquility, and that neither internal nor external forces could use it to harm the Russian state. The ideas of permanent neutrality of Switzerland and the settlement of territorial disputes and claims favorable for the latter, which were mentioned in the directive to N. N. Novosiltsev in 1804, were reflected in the instructions given to Kapodistrias. He was charged with persuading the government and the Swiss Sejm (Parliament) to abandon the "Act of Mediation", to liquidate the agreement of September 27, 1803, to recall the Swiss troops in French service to their homeland, and to adopt a system of neutrality. The instructions hinted at a territorial reward for Switzerland if it accepted these conditions .9
If the mission was successful, Kapodistrias was instructed to hand over to the Landman (President) of Switzerland Reinhard a letter from K. V. Nesselrode 10 dated October 29 (November 10), 1813, in which, in particular, it was stated that with the approaching end of the war against Napoleon, Alexander I proposed to involve Switzerland "to contribute to the cause, the successful completion of which will reliably ensure independence of all European states... To this end, His Majesty the Emperor has instructed his full State Councilor, Count I. A. Kapodistrias, to go to Your Excellency and acquaint him with the noble views and intentions of His Imperial Majesty in relation to the Helvetic Republic. I ask you to trust everything that he will tell you on behalf of his Imperial Majesty. " 11
Kapodistrias mission in Switzerland was quite successful. On November 18, 1813, the Swiss Sejm unanimously declared its " neutrality in relation to all belligerent powers." To comply with this decision, the Diet decided to send troops to the borders of the confederation, as well as to recall the Swiss regiments stationed in the Fran-

8 Foreign policy of Russia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Documents of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ser. 1, vol. II. Moscow, 1961, doc. N 50, p. 147.

9 AVPR, f. Chancellery, 1513, ll. 3-7. The author thanks the staff of AVPR G. B. Shumova, S. L. Turilova, V. V. Perventsev for the selection of documents used in this article.

10 K. V. Nesselrode performed important diplomatic assignments for Alexander I from 1812, and from 1816 was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

11 AVPR, f. Chancellery, 1513, l. 8.

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university service 12 . This decision of the Sejm did not yet mention permanent neutrality. On November 25, Reinhard sent a reply to the above letter to Nesselrode via Kapodietria. Landmann expressed his gratitude for Kapodistrias 'mission," carried out with great tact and a vivid display of Russia's concern and attention to the fate of Switzerland," and reported on Switzerland's declaration of neutrality in the war between France and the allied Powers .13 In a note dated December 14, 1813, Reinhard informed Capodistrias that the Swiss government had ordered the cantons to withdraw their troops in the service of France in pursuance of the neutrality decision . 14 On December 22, 1813, the "Act of Mediation" of 180315 was also repealed .

In connection with the defeats of Napoleon's troops, Russia and other allied powers began to develop plans for the post-war structure of Europe, in which a certain place was assigned to Switzerland. Kapodistrias prepared a report on this subject, submitted to Alexander I in October 1814. As the main directions of studying and solving the Swiss question, which, according to F. In his report, Capodistrias points out that the situation in Switzerland was "greatly hindered, on the one hand, by the selfish aspirations of some of the neighboring powers and, on the other, by the internal struggles that took place within and between the cantons.": "1) it is necessary to study what issues are shared by the cantons and are considered dangerous for everything (Swiss. - V. L.) of the Soviet Union; 2) resolve these issues in such a way that they will never arise again later and under no circumstances; 3) declare the neutrality of this State as the only condition for the return to it of those areas that previously belonged to it, but have departed from it." Kapodistrias proposed to appoint a special committee "for the organization of Swiss affairs, which should listen to the Swiss embassy and delegates from the cantons and submit the report developed by them to the discretion of the great Powers" .16 Alexander I approved Kapodistrias ' report . This document shows Russia's good feelings and desire to see a peaceful, neutral and friendly Swiss state in the center of Europe.

At the suggestion of Russia, a special committee was set up at the Vienna Congress to prepare a report on the Swiss question, which included Kapodistrias. The Committee prepared a document that met the interests of Switzerland and submitted it to the Congress of Vienna. On March 20, 1815, the Congress of Vienna adopted the Declaration of the Powers on the Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, in which, declaring that "for the common good, the Helvetic Union must obtain the benefits of perpetual neutrality, and desiring, in addition, to restore to it or re-attach to its possessions the territories which might serve to preserve its independence and maintain its neutrality," they declared On the recognition of the "integrity and inviolability of the nineteen Swiss cantons", which at that time constituted the Swiss Confederation (Article I), on the accession to the confederation of Ballay, the Geneva region and the Principality of Neuchatel as three new cantons and the return to the Canton of Vaud of the valley of the Dappe River (Dappental), which previously belonged to it (Article II). The remaining articles resolved certain disputed territorial and financial issues in relations between the cantons (Articles III and IX). The Declaration stated that as soon as the Swiss Parliament approved it, all the powers participating in the Vienna Convention would be able to do so.-

12 Ibid., f. Mission in Bern, op. 510, d. 4, l. 6.

13 Ibid., f. Chancellery, d. 1512, l. 66.

14 Ibid., f. Mission in Bern, op. 510, d. 4, l. 8.

15 Ibid., f. Chancellery, d. 1512, l. 147.

16 Martens F. UK. soch., pp. 226-227.

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The permanent neutrality of the Swiss Confederation will be recognized and confirmed by a solemn act of the Congress. The declaration was signed by representatives of Russia, Austria, Prussia, Great Britain, France and other countries participating in the Vienna Congress.

The text of the Declaration was officially presented to the Parliament of the Swiss Confederation at its extraordinary session in Zurich on 3 April 1815 by representatives of the participating Powers of the Congress of Vienna. The Confederacy, which had long been the object of numerous claims from its neighbors, was interested in establishing lasting peace and the security of new borders that significantly expanded its territory. Therefore, the majority of the cantons and the Diet approved the Declaration, which the participants of the Congress of Vienna were notified of by an official act of the Swiss Confederation on May 27, 1815. The Act also stated that all the provisions of the Declaration "will be faithfully and faithfully observed" .17 The content of the provisions of the Declaration and the Swiss Act of May 27, 1815, was reflected in the final Act of the Congress of Vienna, signed on June 9, 1815 (articles LXXIV - LXXXIV) .18 After Napoleon's "hundred days" and the defeat of the French troops at Waterloo, a peace conference was held in Paris, at which on November 20, 1815, the final peace treaty with the defeated France and the Act recognizing and guaranteeing the eternal neutrality of Switzerland and the inviolability of its territory were signed. Kapodistrias activities were highly appreciated by Switzerland. He was awarded the title of Honorary citizen of the cities of Geneva and Lausanne 19 .

The permanent neutrality status assumed that neither Switzerland itself as a country nor its territory would be used to the detriment of other European States, and that the Swiss authorities would strictly follow this principle. The beneficial effect of permanent neutrality affected the future fate of the country. Speaking at the Swiss Institute for Foreign Studies in Zurich on February 24, 1981, FDID Secretary of State R. Probst pointed out: "Neutrality has been justified, and we have no reason to abandon it. Proven by centuries-old practice, it has proved to be the best way to preserve the freedom and independence of our state. Neutrality has served its purpose-to keep us out of political disputes that can be fatal for a small state." Describing the foreign policy of Switzerland, the head of the FDID P. Ober said at the University of Basel on February 19, 1981:"Its two pillars, its two elements of stability and tradition, are, of course, neutrality on the one hand, and respect for the law in international relations on the other."

From the fundamental documents defining Swiss permanent neutrality and from the generalization of long-term practice, it follows that Switzerland has all the legal prerequisites and practical opportunities for such foreign policy activities and such diplomatic initiatives that do not harm any of the States and are aimed at the benefit of all peoples. This could include initiatives aimed at preventing nuclear war and consolidating peace, disarmament, continuing detente and building confidence between States, etc. This approach is also recognized by Swiss foreign policy leaders. "In fact and in substance," R. Probst said on November 13, 1980, " neutrality does not require simply standing on the sidelines and does not at all prohibit us from doing so

17 Ibid., pp. 470-473.

18 Ibid., pp. 288-295.

19 AVPR, F. Department of Personnel and Economic Affairs( DLS and CD), formular lists, op. 464, d. 1612, l. 7.

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take part in world events. To a greater extent, it gives us a chance to pursue an active and open foreign policy towards the world, which serves to strengthen our state, strengthen peace and international security."

It is with such understanding and reservations that we should approach the principle of solidarity, which P. Ober spoke about, because "solidarity" of Switzerland, for example, with actions of NATO member countries hostile to the Soviet Union and other countries of the socialist community, of course, would contradict the policy of permanent neutrality. However, unfortunately, such facts do occur, and the progressive public of the country pays attention to them. On October 23, 1981, the organ of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland "Berner Tagwacht" published an article by the deputy of the National Council (Chamber of the National Parliament), chairman of this party G. Hubacher. The article is preceded by an introduction from the editorial board, which states:: "The heads of the Swiss Federal Military Department (ATS) come and go, but the installations remain on maneuvers. Switzerland is constantly threatened by a " red " enemy. In his thoughts, the FVD hierarchy has long integrated the Swiss army into NATO." Hubacher described in an article how he dealt with the incident that occurred in connection with the maneuvers of the Swiss Air Force. On September 28, 1971, he tried to find out from the then head of the FVD R. Gniegi, how was it possible that the following telegram was sent to all the commanders on September 21:: "Due to criticism of the Eastern treaties and the overthrow of the Brandt government, a surprise attack by the red armed forces using tactical nuclear weapons on Germany and Austria was carried out. The front line passes in the area of Würzburg, Stuttgart, Schafhausen, Vorarlberg. There are cases of Red troops violating our airspace." "I," Hubacher said, " dare to doubt that this schematic representation of the enemy is consistent with our neutrality." In his first reply, Gnegi claimed that this telegram was "unknown to the Air Force and Air Defense Command", but on November 2, 1972, he admitted that the mentioned " telegram actually took place, but not at the maneuvers themselves, but in one of the information messages that was transmitted on the occasion of internal staff exercises that preceded the maneuvers themselves." Citing other similar cases, the author writes: "The command of our army constantly proceeds from the assumption that neutral Switzerland is supposedly automatically included in NATO and it is threatened by the upcoming attack of the Warsaw Pact troops, it trains the officer corps in accordance with this scheme... The question arises: how does the FVD interpret "permanent armed neutrality"? Apparently, according to the law of political blindness... We consider this way of thinking to be aggravating and unacceptable from the state-political point of view." These examples are not consistent with the policy of neutrality of Switzerland, which is emphasized by the leader of one of the largest Swiss parties, which is part of the country's government coalition.

Another member of the National Council, General Secretary of the Swiss Labor Party A. Magnin, made a request to Parliament, " whether the press reports circulated in early 1983 that the Swiss Federal Military Department was negotiating with the Italian authorities in order to ensure the possibility of training flights for Swiss Air Force pilots at Italian-American bases on the island of Sardinia are true? If this information is confirmed, the following questions will arise. Does the Federal Council (the Swiss government - V. L.) share the opinion that training flights of Swiss pilots on foreign and NATO aircraft should be carried out?

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do these bases contradict Switzerland's policy of neutrality, which should be especially strictly applied in the military field?" Reporting on this, the Swiss Labor Party's body concludes that "by such practices, the Federal Council undermines the credibility of Switzerland's neutrality." 20
The Swiss public was also concerned about the fact that Switzerland joined the actions of NATO member countries unfriendly to the USSR in connection with the incident with a South Korean aircraft that grossly violated Soviet airspace in September 1983 for provocative purposes. Then the Swiss government unilaterally, as well as the governments of the United States and a number of other NATO member countries, temporarily suspended air traffic with the USSR. This decision was not only an openly unfriendly act, but also a gross violation of the agreement between Switzerland and the USSR on air traffic. It was met with criticism and concern in Switzerland as contradicting the basic principles of its foreign policy. On this occasion, the influential newspaper Tages-Anzeiger wrote on September 15, 1983: "Although Switzerland belongs to the West in its cultural and political traditions, it also wants to be a neutral country, in which neutrality is believed. That is why it should not be guided by some kind of concentrated "gesture policy", which can simultaneously be a Western bloc policy. Isn't it a little early for us to join the majority of NATO and EEU countries sitting in the boat?" The prevention of these and similar cases in the future would not only be consistent with Switzerland's policy of permanent neutrality, but would also contribute to the further development of Soviet-Swiss relations. Speaking at the University of Basel on February 19, 1981, P. Ober stated that " neutrality is not an ideological category." It is important that this fair provision is practically implemented in Swiss foreign policy. Introducing ideological differences into interstate relations can only complicate their further development. This was pointed out by A. A. Gromyko, a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU, First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR. "Our country is against bringing ideological differences into the sphere of interstate relations," he stressed . "This inevitably leads to a dead end in international affairs." 21
The principle of free international trade. Swiss foreign policy attaches great importance to economic relations with other countries, not least with developing countries. "Our foreign policy meets the specific needs of our economy," said P. Ober in his report to the Zurich Society of Economics on March 17, 1982. " One of the main tasks is to avoid that Switzerland's sales markets are closed, its sources of supply are exhausted, and its investments abroad are nationalized." Emphasizing Switzerland's great dependence on the outside world, the Minister noted that its exports account for 35% of the total national product. It is forced to import almost all raw materials, more than 80% of energy, all oil and uranium (for nuclear power plants). 34% of deposits held in Swiss banks came from abroad. Swiss investments abroad amount to 59 billion rubles. 350 thousand Swiss citizens are located outside the country. About 1 million rubles. foreigners live in this country. Speaking at the meeting of the Berne University Union on November 13, 1980, R. Probst from-

20 Vorwarts, 10.III. 1983.

21 Izvestiya, 22. IX. 1983.

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He claimed that Switzerland imports half of its food and a third of its military equipment.

For these reasons, Switzerland is interested in removing trade barriers and promoting free trade. The principle of free trade is one of the most important in the country's foreign economic policy. "In our bilateral and multilateral contacts, especially in the OECD and the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), we try to advocate for free exchange, because every protectionist measure is a threat to the international community, since it can encourage other countries to do their part," Ober said at the Zurich Society of Economics., take retaliatory measures." Based on these considerations and the country's neutrality, the Swiss Government opposes the application of any economic sanctions in its relations with other countries. Thus, Switzerland did not support, citing its permanent neutrality, the policy of economic sanctions that the Reagan government began to pursue against the USSR, although it was strongly pressed in this direction.

While upholding the principle of free trade, the Swiss Government, unfortunately, does not always follow it in its trade relations with socialist States. This leads to a departure from the principle of the most favored nation, which is fixed in the trade agreements of Switzerland with the USSR and other socialist countries. In particular, Switzerland applies some criteria in its trade with member states of the European Economic Community (Common Market) and others in its trade relations with the USSR and other socialist countries22 . The Soviet side, by the way, does not consider the trade practices of the member states of the Common Market in relation to socialist states to be legitimate, and rightly considers them discriminatory. The Swiss government, following the NATO member countries, has developed a list of goods that are not much different from NATO, for which export licenses are required from the country. This is contrary not only to the principle of free trade advocated by the Swiss Government, but also to the spirit of the policy of permanent neutrality.

In economic relations with developing countries, Swiss representatives quite often emphasize the humane nature of their "assistance" to these states. In reality, this policy is primarily a struggle for the markets and financial interests of Swiss monopolies and banks. Speaking at the Zurich Society of Economics, P. Ober, in particular, said :" so important" for Switzerland sales markets " depend on the financial resources of developing countries... The total amount of Swiss financial assistance to the third world is significant: our export credits, as well as our direct investments and bank deposits, have increased in proportion." At the same time, Switzerland's state aid to developing countries, as the minister said, "remains very modest" and does not reach 0.25% of the country's total national product. The Swiss Government has set a goal to bring this assistance to the average level of OECD countries - about 0.35% of the total national product. Private " aid " to developing countries, that is, through companies and banks, can be understood from the data provided by Zh. Ziegler: Switzerland's exports to developing countries in 1971 it amounted to 4.9 billion rubles, and its imports from these countries in the same year - 2.6 billion rubles. Swiss francs, i.e. annual revenue from trade with developing countries amounted to 2.3 billion US dollars. in Swiss francs. "Thus," Zh. points out. Ziegler, - contribution

22 Switzerland is not a member of the Common Market.

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Switzerland's third-world contribution to prosperity far exceeds the public or private assistance it provides to developing countries, believed to be on favorable terms for them. " 23
Providing assistance and services to the international community and individual States in the interests of peace is an important area of foreign policy activity of Switzerland and its Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Speaking on the topic "The role of good offices in Swiss foreign policy" in Stockholm at the Swedish Institute of International Relations on September 18, 1981, R. Probst stressed that Switzerland considers "good offices" as "a wide range of different activities aimed at helping to maintain peace among peoples". Permanent neutrality, traditions, extensive experience in international mediation, favorable geographical location, kinship with different cultures and understanding of their mutual relations, he noted, are factors that help Switzerland to perform its "good offices".

An analysis of Switzerland's" good offices " shows that they can be classified into the following categories:: 1) mediation and dispute resolution; 2) participation in international arbitration; 3) implementation of international mandates; 4) participation in peacekeeping operations; 5) provision of services to negotiating parties; 6) protection of interests of foreign states; 7) provision of its territory for hosting international organizations and for negotiations of foreign states.

Most recently, Switzerland, fulfilling an international mandate, participated in the international commission for the repatriation of prisoners of war in 1953-1954, after the armistice in Korea. It also became a member of the international commission for monitoring the Korean armistice, which continues to perform its functions to this day. As a non-member of the United Nations, Switzerland contributes financially to the maintenance of UN peacekeeping forces in several parts of the world. Probst, in particular, pointed out that Switzerland provided financial assistance for the maintenance of UN peacekeeping forces in the Congo, in the Middle East, including in the Suez and Gaza areas, in Cyprus). From 1953 to 1975, Swiss financial assistance for this purpose amounted to about 2 billion Swiss francs, of which only in 1971-1975 this assistance was expressed in the amount of 344 million Swiss francs24 .

Swiss officials note with satisfaction the constructive role of their country in facilitating international negotiations and in providing services to their leading countries. One example often cited is the facilitation of the Franco-Algerian negotiations that took place in Evian, on the French side of Lake Geneva, between 1961 and 1962, and led to the recognition of Algeria's independence. Switzerland extended its hospitality to the delegation of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Algeria, which was on the Swiss shore of Lake Geneva during these talks. Swiss diplomats, including R. Probst, established, as he said in his report to the Swedish Institute of International Relations, informal "trusting" relations with the Algerian and French delegations, exchanged views with them and thus contributed to the successful outcome of the negotiations.

Another example of Switzerland's "good offices" is the efforts made by Swiss diplomacy at the request of the PRA-

23 Ziegler J. Op. cit., p. 28.

24 Modern Switzerland, p. 463.

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in the US Embassy, for the release of hostages captured at the American Embassy in Tehran. "For five months," said R. Probst, who was then the Swiss ambassador to the United States, " the Swiss authorities conducted secret negotiations through their embassies in both countries and even organized secret meetings of representatives of these countries on Swiss territory." However, Swiss services did not lead to positive results. After the breakdown of diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States, the latter appealed to Switzerland to protect their interests in Iran, to which the Swiss government agreed. Protecting the interests of other States in the absence or severance of diplomatic relations is an important area of "good offices" provided by Switzerland. As of mid-1981, Swiss diplomacy carried out a total of 17 mandates of 11 States in 11 other countries25 .

Switzerland's most common form of rendering "good offices" to other States, as well as facilitating the activities of various international organizations, is to provide its territory and create a favorable atmosphere for their activities. Switzerland hosts many international conferences, meetings, negotiations, meetings, various kinds of scientific and business forums, cultural festivals, etc. "Such hospitality," says Professor of Law at the Higher School of Economics, Business and Public Administration in St. Gallen H. Haug, - is a well-defined and important part of the foreign policy of a permanently neutral Switzerland " 26 .

The first headquarters of international organizations in Switzerland were established in the second half of the last century: the World Telecommunication Union-in 1865 and the Universal Postal Union-in 1874. At the initiative of the Swiss physician, public figure and writer A. Dunant, a public committee was established in Geneva in 1863, which initiated the activities of the Red Cross. This committee was named the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1880. Currently, the ICRC, which is based in Geneva, consists of 25 Swiss members, who, if a vacancy occurs, elect new members themselves from among their own citizens .27 Although the ICRC is Swiss-based, its activities are international and humane, mainly of a mediation nature, which is reflected in the name of this committee.

After the First World War, the importance of Switzerland, especially Geneva, as an international center increased. The League of Nations headquarters was established in Geneva. Since the end of World War II, the number of international organizations ' headquarters in Geneva has increased significantly, and this city has become one of the world's largest international centers. Geneva, in particular, is home to the UN European Office and the permanent bodies of 15 international organizations. The Bank for International Settlements is located in Basel, and the International Olympic Committee 28 is headquartered in Lausanne . The scope of international organizations ' activities is shown, for example, by the fact that in 1976 330 different conferences were held in Geneva alone within the framework of the UN European Section29 .

Switzerland is rightly proud of the fact that its territory hosted the most important international meetings, conferences and negotiations in the post-war years. In 1954 (from April 26 to July 21) in Geneva.-

25 Neue Zurcher Zeitung, 29.IX.1981.

26 Modern Switzerland, p. 462.

27 Ibid., pp. 474, 480.

28 International organizations. Short reference Book, Moscow, 1980, p. 2, 17.

29 Zelensky Yu. Geneva, Past and Present, Moscow, 1980, p. 103.

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There was a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the USSR, China, Great Britain, the United States and France on Indochina. Representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam also participated in the discussion. The Conference ended France's long-running colonial war against the peoples of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia and recognized the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of these States. At the same meeting, the issue of a peaceful settlement in Korea was considered, which was discussed by the foreign Ministers of the USSR, China, the United States, England, France, as well as representatives of the DPRK, South Korea and 12 other countries participating in the Korean war on the side of the United States. Due to obstacles imposed by Western countries, especially the United States, the meeting on this issue did not achieve positive results.

Geneva also hosted a meeting of the heads of government of the USSR, the United States, Britain and France (July 18-23, 1955) and a meeting of the foreign ministers of these powers in the fall of 1955 (October 27 - November 16), at which the main problems of peace and security in Europe were discussed. In 1959, a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the USSR, the United States, Britain and France was held here, which was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the GDR and a representative of the German government. The USSR Minister of Foreign Affairs A. A. Gromyko repeatedly met with US Secretaries of State there.

Negotiations on arms limitation and reduction are taking place in Switzerland. Experts worked in Geneva to discuss methods of detecting nuclear explosions (July 1-August 21, 1958), means of preventing a surprise attack (November 10-December 18, 1958), and the problem of stopping nuclear weapons testing (October 31, 1958-January 19, 1962). For more than 20 years, the Committee has been working at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on disarmament 30 .

From 1969 to 1979, negotiations on the limitation of strategic nuclear weapons (OSP-I and OSV-II) were held alternately at the USSR and US Missions in Geneva, and from June 1982 to December 1983, negotiations on the limitation and reduction of strategic nuclear weapons (OSV) were held. From October 1980 to November 1983, negotiations on the limitation of nuclear weapons in Europe were held there. By special agreements between the Governments of these countries and the Government of Switzerland, the USSR and US delegations were granted the status of special diplomatic missions at these negotiations, and their members were granted diplomatic immunities and privileges. The Swiss Government welcomed the holding of these important negotiations for global peace and the prevention of the threat of nuclear war. However, the hopes of mankind for their success were not fulfilled. By deploying medium - range nuclear missiles-Pershing 2s and cruise missiles - in England, Germany, and Italy in late 1983, the United States disrupted these negotiations .31
In Bern, the capital of the Swiss Confederation, even before Reagan came to power in the United States, Soviet - American negotiations were held in the building of the USSR and US Embassies on limiting military activities in the Indian Ocean (in February 1978) and on anti-satellite systems - from January 23 to February 16, 1979. They have developed quite successfully, and their positive results could make an important contribution to limiting the arms race and strengthening the cause of global peace and security. However, the Reagan administration, standing up

30 The Committee, now called the Conference on Disarmament, is composed of 40 States.

31 See: Statement of the Council of Ministers of the USSR on its forthcoming activities. - Pravda, 13. IV. 1984.

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The United States has embarked on a hitherto unprecedented arms race, has stopped these important negotiations and refuses to resume them, despite repeated proposals made by the Soviet side in this regard.

Switzerland is also known as the place where agreements on the protection of war victims are concluded. In 1949, four international conventions were signed in Geneva: on the amelioration of the condition of the wounded and sick in active armies; on the amelioration of the condition of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of armed forces at sea; on the treatment of prisoners of war and on the protection of the civilian population in time of war. The first three conventions are based on previously existing similar conventions, and the fourth was developed for the first time, taking into account the experience of the Second World War, during which the civilian population was exterminated by Hitler's hordes. These agreements were called the Geneva Conventions of 1949. The additional protocols to these conventions, which extend the protection of war victims to civil and national liberation wars, are a continuation of the humane work in the field of further codification of international law on armed conflicts. These agreements were signed in Bern at the end of 1977 and became known as the Berne Protocols of 1977.

Switzerland hosts meetings and sessions of important UN bodies and specialized organizations, various conferences under the auspices of the UN, international meetings and forums. In the summer of 4983, for example, the first UN conference on the Palestinian question was held in Geneva. Representatives of the oil exporting countries (OPEC) regularly meet in Switzerland. Among the less well-known but important meetings, we will mention the International Management Forum in Davos - an informal meeting of members of individual governments, former ministers, prominent politicians, heads of major banks, companies and multinational corporations. In an informal setting, they exchange views on the state of the global economy and finance and their prospects. Lausanne hosts regular meetings of the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee. In 1983, the Swiss Government granted the IOC the status of a non-governmental organization, with certain privileges granted to the Committee.

The Swiss Confederation itself is still not a Member of the United Nations, having only its own observer. This issue is currently being actively debated in the country due to the fact that its Government approved the memorandum prepared by the FDID, which contains a recommendation on Switzerland's accession to the UN. The memorandum was sent to the Parliament, which set up special commissions to review the memorandum and the issue as a whole. Committees began to appear both in support of Switzerland's accession to the UN, and against this step. The most acute discussion turned around the following issues:: what will Switzerland gain from joining the UN and is it possible to combine membership in the UN, given its Charter, with the status of permanent armed neutrality of Switzerland? If the Parliament decides on Switzerland's accession to the UN, this issue will be put to a referendum. In the meantime, population surveys conducted by individual newspapers show that the votes are divided approximately equally.

Although not a member of the United Nations, Switzerland nevertheless takes an active part in the work of its 15 organs, as permitted by the Charter of the organization. Among them: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, Executive Committee

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programmes of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Economic Commission for Europe, the Commission on Transnational Corporations, etc. Switzerland has been a party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice since 1948. It participates in the work of specialized organizations of the United Nations, such as the International Telecommunication Union, the Universal Postal Union, the International Labor Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, etc. Since 1977, Switzerland has been a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is not a specialized organization of the United Nations, and since 1966-a member of the GATT. The annual financial contribution of Switzerland to the budget of various specialized organizations and to various UN events, as R. Probst reported, speaking on April 3, 1981 in Zurich, amounts to more than 100 million Swiss francs. By agreement with the UN Secretary-General, Switzerland has had an observer in New York at the UN headquarters since 1946 and an observer at the UN European Office in Geneva since 1965. They may address various UN commissions and bodies only with the consent of the members of these commissions, with the exception of the Economic and Social Council, where Swiss observers may speak without first requesting the permission of its members.

Switzerland actively participates in various international meetings that are not related to UN bodies and its specialized agencies and international organizations. It attaches particular importance to its work in the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), in which it participated from the very beginning. Its second stage was held, as you know, in Geneva. Switzerland signed the Final Act in Helsinki and participated in meetings of representatives of CSCE member States in Belgrade and Madrid, as well as in the work of groups of experts from these countries. Switzerland is a member of the Conference on Confidence-and Security-Building Measures and Disarmament in Europe, which began its work in Stockholm in January 1984 by the decision of the Madrid meeting.

In their statements, Swiss statesmen note the special significance of the CSCE for Switzerland. "As a neutral country located in the center of Europe," said R. Probst, addressing the members of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce and Industry on March 23, 1982, " we are committed to the CSCE process, as it allows us to be present where our security, as well as the economic, political and humanitarian problems of today's Europe are at stake". The Conference on Security and Co - operation in Europe and the meetings of representatives of the CSCE member states in Belgrade, Madrid and Stockholm are, as Swiss figures note, the only international forums where Switzerland, not being a member of the UN, can participate on an equal basis with the other 34 CSCE participants in the discussion and decision-making on the most important political issues. and military matters concerning the fate of Europe. The Swiss delegation and representatives of other neutral and non - aligned countries played a positive role in the CSCE, both in the search for mutually acceptable solutions and in the organization of the work of these conferences. This was recognized by other CSCE participants. Speaking on September 7, 1983 At the final stage of the Madrid meeting of the States participating in the Conference on Security and Co - operation in Europe, Alexander Gromyko, in particular, said :" We pay tribute to the constructive efforts of other participants, especially neutral and non-neutral ones-

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to the associated States, which have worked hard to develop the draft outcome document " 32 .

At international meetings and in speeches at home, Swiss statesmen and politicians emphasize that one of the main directions of Swiss foreign policy is the protection of human rights. However, the country's ruling circles deliberately ignore the violation of human rights in Switzerland itself. Approximately a quarter of all workers in the country are foreign workers. They do the most difficult jobs, and those that are usually rejected by the Swiss. Foreign workers are completely disenfranchised - they can be expelled from the country at any time, they have no political rights. And the rights of Swiss citizens themselves, firstly, do not apply equally by law, and especially in practice, to all categories of the population, and secondly, they are often violated. Women are particularly disadvantaged. Their salary is usually one-third less than that of men. It was only in 1971 that women gained equal voting rights at the national level. However, in the two semi - cantons of Appenzell-Auserroden and Appenzell-Innerroden, women are not eligible to vote in cantonal elections, and in a number of local communities in the cantons of Graubünden and Solothurn and in the semi-canton of Obwalden, they are not eligible to vote in communal elections .33
As for the elections themselves, their results are influenced by many factors, and in particular the fact that the election campaign itself requires a lot of money. We have already mentioned Zh. Ziegler is the author of the revealing book "Switzerland as it is", who was a member of the National Council until 1983. In 1983, he failed in the next election, slightly falling short of the required number of votes. Asked by a Basler Zeitung reporter :" You reproach the banks for ultimately being responsible for not electing you. Isn't that too simplistic?" - Ziegler atvetil: "I don't find that. In Geneva, the banks allocated hundreds of thousands of francs to tip me off. Among other things, 180,000 colored postcards were distributed, urging people to cross out Ziegler. You can't give your vote to a man who has trampled Switzerland into the mud abroad, " said the demagogic tenor voice. I was most disappointed that so many people, ordinary citizens without political education, fell for this propaganda harassment. " 34
The European Convention on Human Rights, adopted by the European Council, entered into force in 1953, but Switzerland, which participates in the work of this council, which meets in Strasbourg, did not accede to this convention until 1974. Since then, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has three times found provisions in Swiss law that violate human rights and are therefore subject to change. A total of 300 complaints of human rights violations in Switzerland were filed with the European Court of Justice during this period35 . It should also be mentioned that less than 40% of Swiss workers are in trade unions. The establishment of trade unions in Switzerland is not encouraged by the administration of many enterprises, and the situation of workers in them is disenfranchised. Even the president of the Swiss Confederation P. Ober spoke about the power of business owners in his speech at the congress of the trade union association of construction and woodworking workers

32 Pravda, 8. IX. 1983.

33 Modern Switzerland, pp. 365, 368.

34 Basler Zeitung, 5.XI.1983.

35 Tages-Anzeiger, 3.IX.1983.

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industry: "Such freedom of enterprises to dispose of their workers without restrictions is unfair. In times of unemployment, when it becomes difficult to find a job, it becomes a scandal. " 36 This speech provoked a negative, even hostile reaction from representatives of the bourgeois parties, all the more acute because it was made in the midst of the election campaign. The President was accused of violating "tradition" by making his statement without the consent of the other members of the Federal Council. However, none of the representatives of the bourgeois parties challenged the statements of the head of state on the merits.

In the light of these facts, it is impossible to get rid of the idea that the statements made by Swiss officials and representatives of bourgeois political parties about human rights in other countries are dictated by domestic political considerations, a desire to distract the attention of the Swiss people from human rights violations in their own country.

Soviet-Swiss relations. One of the most important areas of Swiss foreign policy is the development of bilateral relations with other countries. In this connection, it is appropriate to touch upon Soviet-Swiss relations in recent years. In 1978, the Governments of both countries signed an agreement on the development of economic, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation. For Switzerland, this was the first and so far only agreement of this kind. The fact is that each such agreement must be approved by the Parliament, which, like the business community, will consider issues of concluding agreements on specific issues, while taking a purely pragmatic approach. Agreements of a principled nature cause parliamentarians to be wary, doubt, and question what the practical results of such agreements will be. Therefore, representatives of the Federal Department of Economics had to conduct explanatory work among members of parliament and business circles, to show the advantages and advantages of concluding an agreement with the USSR. It was signed in January 1978 in Bern by the Minister of Foreign Trade of the USSR N. S. 37. Member of the Federal Council, Head of the Federal Department of Economics (Minister) E. Brugger . The Governments of both countries expressed their support for the development of economic relations, scientific and technical ties and various forms of cooperation and expressed their intention to promote its development.

In accordance with the agreement, a long-term, 10-year cooperation program was developed, which reflects its main directions and topics. Economic relations between the two countries have developed quite successfully on the basis of these documents. The volume of trade increased from 375 million rubles in 1977 to 963.6 million rubles in 198238 . The Soviet-Swiss joint commission for economic, scientific, technical and industrial cooperation, as well as the Soviet-Swiss groups created within this commission, are working successfully. The mixed machine tool group is particularly successful.

Academic staff is regularly exchanged. Our young specialists conduct research in Swiss universities and higher technical schools, while Swiss specialists conduct research in Soviet universities. This is co-

36 Der Bund, 15.X. 1983. The President of the Swiss Confederation is elected by the country's Parliament for a term of one year from among the members of the Federal Council. P. Ober, a Socialist member of the Federal Council and head of the FDID, was elected President of the country in 1983. In 1983, he served as both the President of the country and the head of the FDID.

37 Pravda, 13. I. 1978.

38 Foreign Trade of the USSR, Moscow, 1977, 1982.

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cooperation is of mutual interest, as the level of science in both countries is very high. Switzerland ranks first in the capitalist world in terms of spending on the development of science as a percentage, ahead of the United States39 . Extensive mutually beneficial contacts between scientists and specialists of the USSR and Switzerland are also carried out at international scientific congresses, symposiums, conferences, exhibitions, etc.

Relations between the two countries in the field of culture and art are actively developing. At the Lausanne Festival, the operas "Khovanshchina" and "Peter I" were performed by artists of the Leningrad State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after S. M. Kirov with great success. The ballet dancers of this theater, as well as the ballet dancers of the Bolshoi Theater of the USSR, have repeatedly performed on the stages of various cities in Switzerland, primarily at the Grand Opera in Geneva. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Bolshoi Theater of the USSR, leading opera singers of the Bolshoi Theater (Elena Obraztsova, Evgeny Nesterenko, Tamara Milashkina, Vladimir Atlantov, Yuri Mazurok), with the participation of conductor Yuri Simonov, gave a concert in October 1980 in the best concert hall in Bern, where arias from Russian classical operas were performed; some of them were performed for the first time in this country.

Concerts of the Leningrad Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra under the direction of E. A. Mravinsky, performances of the symphony orchestra of the Kirov State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, famous Soviet musicians - violinist L. Kogan and pianist E. Giles, composer R. Shchedrin, who performed their works, were held with great success in Swiss cities. G. Rozhdestvensky conducted at the Lucerne Festival of Arts. There are many such examples.

Weeks of the Soviet Union were held in Switzerland with constant success, and in the USSR - weeks of Switzerland. During the weeks of the USSR in Switzerland, delegations from the republics, Soviet amateur groups and artists, tourists came. Cultural events (exhibitions, concerts, etc.) held during these weeks were held in Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Bern, Lausanne, Lucerne, and Lugano. The exhibitions told about the achievements of the Soviet people in building a new society, about the Soviet way of life, culture and art of the peoples of the USSR. During these weeks, the Soviet Union was always represented by one of the Union republics. All the preparation and organization of the weeks was carried out by the Soviet side of the SSOD and the republican branches of friendship societies. In Switzerland, the host country was the Association for Cultural Relations with the USSR, whose permanent president for many years has been a well-known public figure, member of the Central Committee of the Swiss Party of Labor A. Forel, and the cantonal branches of this association.

The Weeks of Switzerland in the Soviet Union introduced the Soviet public to the life, culture and achievements of the Swiss people. They were prepared by the Association for Cultural Communication with the assistance of the Swiss organization Progelvetia, which receives financial support from the government for its cultural activities. Swiss Weeks in the Soviet Union are held approximately once every two years. They are attended by representatives of the Swiss public, amateur artists and artists. The contribution of the weeks of the Soviet Union in Switzerland and the weeks of Switzerland in the USSR to the development of cultural ties, mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of both countries is indisputable.

39 Modern Switzerland, pp. 160, 161.

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Recent years have been marked by art exhibitions in Switzerland and the USSR. In the summer of 1983, the Petit Palais Museum in Geneva hosted the country's first exhibition of paintings by Russian and Soviet artists (1900-1930) under the title "100 Paintings from the Tretyakov Gallery". The exhibition was held under the auspices of the President of the Swiss Confederation. In the Soviet Union, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts and the Russian Museum at about the same time displayed an exhibition of paintings by a little-known but talented Russian artist of the first quarter of the XX century. Nikolai Tarkhov from the collection of the Petit Palais Museum, the founder and president of which is O. Gez. This exhibition was also a great success. The exchange of exhibitions with the Petit Palais Museum took place under the motto "Art in the service of Peace"proposed by O. Guez.

Another exhibition of paintings from Soviet museums was held in July-November 1983 in Lugano at the "Villa Favorita" of Baron G. Tnesen-Bornemisz, owner of one of the best private collections in Western Europe. This exhibition featured paintings by French Impressionists and post-Impressionists from the State Hermitage Museum and the Pushkin Museum, some of which were first exhibited abroad. It was opened by President P. Ober and held under his patronage. The return exhibition of masterpieces from the private collection of G. Thyssen-Bornemisz (Western European paintings of the XIV-XVII centuries) was held with great success from September 1983 to March 1984 in Moscow, Leningrad and Kiev. These are just some examples of Soviet-Swiss cultural ties that enrich the culture of the peoples of both countries and serve to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between peoples.

The most important area of Soviet-Swiss relations is political contacts between both sides at various levels. In January 1982, A. A. Gromyko met with the head of the Department of Internal Affairs, P. P. Gromyko. The meeting was held in Geneva, during which the sides exchanged views on the international situation. P. Ober's attention was drawn to the proposals of the USSR aimed at reducing nuclear weapons and reducing the level of military confrontation in Europe. Both sides expressed their support for the successful conclusion of the Madrid meeting of representatives of the CSCE member States and for the continuation of the political dialogue between the States as a whole. During the conversation, the sides also exchanged views on Soviet-Swiss relations. It was noted on both sides that they are developing in general favorably, and mutual desire for their further comprehensive development was expressed .40
The delegations of the USSR and Switzerland fruitfully cooperated with each other at various international conferences. Special mention should be made of those aimed at limiting nuclear weapons, strengthening peace and security, and promoting cooperation in Europe. This refers to the conference on the implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to which both States are parties, the CSCE, and sessions of specialized UN organizations and other international organizations.

The Soviet-Swiss political consultations at the level of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, which in recent years have been held on a regular basis, alternately in Moscow and Bern, have undoubtedly contributed to relations between the two countries. During these consultations, individual international issues and the international situation in general, the work of the Madrid meeting of representatives of the CSCE member states, as well as bilateral relations were discussed.

40 Pravda, 26. I. 1982.

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The development of fairly active positive relations between the USSR and Switzerland in recent years does not mean, however, that there have not been some dark spots in them. In the midst of the campaign against the deployment of new American intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe, the Swiss authorities closed, for example, the bureau of the Novosti Press Agency in Bern under the far-fetched pretext that the head of this bureau (a Soviet citizen), with the help of two Swiss employees, was leading the anti-war movement in the country. This is a ridiculous accusation coming from the Federal Department of Justice and Police It caused a storm of indignation in the country's public circles, especially among members of the peace movement. The Swiss Labor Party published an angry accusation against the initiators of this provocation. Members of the anti-war movement demanded evidence from the FDYUP to support this unsubstantiated accusation. No evidence, of course, was presented. This action, as the press and leaders of anti-war movements pointed out, was designed to discredit and undermine the Swiss peace movement. In response, November 5, 1983 in Bern, a massive anti-war demonstration was held with the participation of representatives from all regions of the country, the largest in recent years. About 50 different pacifist and anti-war organizations of the country took part in its organization, about 80 thousand people marched under the slogans " No to American cruise missiles and Pershing on the land of Western Europe!".

The relations between the two countries are also overshadowed by provocations and various actions of hooligan elements against Soviet collectives and individual Soviet citizens, against the USSR Embassy and other Soviet institutions in Switzerland. These unfriendly actions are contrary to the spirit of the country's permanent neutrality. Strict adherence to the spirit and letter of permanent neutrality, and the exclusion by the Swiss side of ideological differences from inter-State affairs, would have a beneficial effect on the further development of relations between the USSR and Switzerland in the interests of the peoples of both countries and the consolidation of peace in Europe.

In some political and public circles in Switzerland, the question sometimes arises whether a country bound by an international act of permanent neutrality can have its own foreign policy and, if so, whether Switzerland has such a policy and diplomacy. Many years of experience and facts (some of them are given above) confirm that Switzerland has its own foreign policy and diplomacy, carried out by well-trained, experienced diplomatic staff. The status of permanent neutrality does not contradict the policy aimed at preventing a nuclear catastrophe, disarmament, confidence-building and cooperation between States. Swiss democratic circles are in favor of such a foreign policy of their country.

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