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Article: Joining the world. (Switzerland) (Europe)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- August 11, 1990
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1990 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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IN THE long list of countries announcing that they will apply sanctions against Iraq, one is a small sensation. The Swiss government joined in on August 7th, with the approval of all the country's main parties. This is the first time that Switzerland-a place so neutral that until recently it avoided any sort of international commitment-has ever taken such action. Only four years ago its voters once again hugely rejected the idea of joining the United Nations, in whose name sanctions are now being clapped on Iraq. The Confederatio Helvetica, 700 years old next August I st, may never be quite the same again.
The action against Iraq was not the first crack in the ...