Swiss divided on U.N. vote

Switzerland prizes its neutrality

GENEVA, Switzerland -- Across the nation, the Swiss have been thinking hard about what could be a decisive move for their country.

The government, and much of the political establishment, want the country to agree to amend the constitution and become the 190th member of the United Nations.

Currently it is the only territory apart from Vatican City which insists on staying outside.

Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss said: "The time has come to be a full member. Beside the Holy See we are the only country which is not. We have to take part in decisions and be able to bring in our own topics."

Switzerland would suffer, says Mr Diess, if in Sunday's referendum the people turn down the idea of joining the U.N..

VIDEO The Swiss vote in a nationwide referendum on whether they should join the United Nations. CNN's Robin Oakley reports (March 1) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    QUICKVOTE If Switzerland joins the United Nations, will its neutrality be compromised? Yes No View Results

"We would be unable to take fully our position in international affairs, especially in the U.N. system. We'll have a loss in goodwill and in our image internationally if we do not join the U.N."

Yes campaigners have been urging their fellow Swiss to "fly the flag", demonstrating national confidence by joining up. And the Swiss are already the fourteenth biggest contributor to funding U.N. operations.

Since Switzerland hosts the United Nations' European headquarters and eight of its agencies and contributes nearly 300 million dollars a year to its humanitarian work, actual membership of the U.N. might seem a marginal question.

But not to those Swiss who see a threat to the country's much prized neutrality.

Ulrich Schluer, member of the Swiss parliament, said: "Being a member of the U.N. we have to fulfil everything the Security Council decides.

And that's not a real democratic system. And it was always a tradition of Swiss foreign policy not to be part of international conflicts, not to take a side."

Not so, says the Swiss foreign minister. Plenty of other neutral countries manage happily as members of the U.N..

"Maybe they didn't have to ask their people if they would become a member of the United Nations," Schluer said.

Strong opinions are in plentiful supply.

MP Hans Fehr said: "Since 200 years there were no foreign soldiers in our country. Now we want to stay outside of the 'Political' U.N.."

But many others have been taking time to ponder a question which is debated no less intensively because it has little obvious effect on people's daily lives.

The Swiss government does not just have to carry the popular vote nationwide -- it has to come out on top too in a majority of the country's 26 cantons.

With the cities largely inclined to vote yes and rural areas more doubtful that may be where their problem lies.