VIENNA, November 15. /TASS/. Switzerland maintained regular diplomatic contacts with Russia during its chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), but generally sided with the European Union on key issues, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE Dmitry Polyansky told TASS.
"I have no complaints about the Swiss when it comes to maintaining diplomatic contacts," Polyansky said. He noted that the Russian and Swiss delegations meet every week and that the Swiss side does not withhold information from Russia. However, the envoy described Switzerland’s neutrality as highly conditional, saying that Bern follows an openly pro-Ukrainian policy, even if it cannot be described as explicitly anti-Russian.
"I cannot say that our voice goes unheard at the OSCE, that they prevent us from speaking or otherwise restrict us. But when they have to make a choice, they, of course, tend to take a position closer to that of the European Union rather than remain neutral. That is our main complaint," Polyansky said.
As an example, Polyansky cited the Swiss chairmanship’s refusal to change the wording of a standing agenda item at OSCE meetings, which describes Russia’s special military operation as military aggression against Ukraine. He said this wording prevents Moscow from fully presenting its position.
"They had the authority to make that decision and promised to consider changing the wording. But they ultimately decided that making such a change would send the wrong signal to Russia and suggest that they were abandoning their policy of solidarity with Brussels," the Russian envoy said. "How should we interpret this? Could they have changed it? Of course. Did they want to? Clearly, they did not.".