IN THE NEWS - Switzerland Joins UN

IN THE NEWS -March 9, 2002: Switzerland Joins UN

By Caty Weaver¹

This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program, IN THE NEWS.

Last Sunday, Switzerland voted to join the United Nations. If approved by the U-N, Switzerland would become
the one -hundred ninetieth member of the world organization.

More than fifty-four percent of the Swiss voters supported the proposal. Forty -five percent voted against it. The
proposal also had to be approved by a majority of Swiss states, called cantons. The result of that vote was much
closer. It passed twelve cantons to eleven.

This was not the first time Swiss voters had considered U-N membership. In Nineteen-Eighty-Six, seventy-five
percent of voters rejected a proposal that Switzerland join the organization.

However, the Swiss government campaigned intensely for U-N membership this time. Industries and trade
unions also fought for the proposal’s approval. They argued that Switzerland could not have an influential² voice
in world issues unless it became a U-N member.

Political experts say the terrorist attacks in the United States September eleventh probably increased support for
the proposal. Experts say the attacks may have changed the way the Swiss felt about their country and how world
events might affect it.

Switzerland has a long history of being strongly independent and neutral in world issues. Opponents to U-N
membership noted³ that tradition often in their campaign.

Wealthy businessman Christopher Blocher directed the campaign against joining the U-N. He is a leader of the
nationalist Swiss People ’s Party. Mister Blocher argued that Switzerland would lose neutrality and freedom in
joining the U-N membership. His campaign warned that Swiss soldiers would be forced to take part in
peacekeeping operations. He also said Switzerland could be forced to join in economic restrictions⁴ and similar
actions against other countries.

Swiss government officials are celebrating the vote. Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss called Switzerland the winner
of the election. He said the time has come for Switzerland to have responsibilities within the U-N system and to
be able to defend its interests in the international community.

Switzerland now is an observer to the U-N. It is a member of several U -N agencies such as the World Health
Organization. It already gives about three-hundred-million dollars yearly to U-N agencies. And Switzerland is the
home of the U-N headquarters in Europe.

Now, Switzerland will officially ask U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan if it may join as a full member. The
request will go before the U-N Security Council and then to the General Assembly. If the request is approved, as
expected, Vatican City will become the only state that is not a member of the world organization.

This VOA Special English program IN THE NEWS was written by Caty Weaver. This is Steve Ember.

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1 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

2 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制