Donald Trump’s return to power made a wind of panic blow on International Geneva this week. The former president of the Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey anticipates “an impact on the economic life of the region” and on “the functioning of organizations”. She explains on the set of 7:30 p.m. that to survive, international Geneva must reform.
Donald Trump announced upon his return to the White House on Monday the release of the United States of the Paris Agreements and the World Health Organization (WHO). Micheline Calmy-Rey puts the financial impact of this decision: “There are other states” than the United States, she reassures in the 7:30 pm on Sunday, indicating that their contribution is only 26% for All organizations in International Geneva combined.
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“Impact on the economic life of the region”
However, she finds the decision of the new American president to leave the “disturbing” WHO because “the foreign policy of the United States is focused on their well-being. This is the opposite of what international cooperation shows”. “International Geneva has to worry,” continues the guest of 7:30 p.m.
“We don’t know to what extent he [Donald Trump, ndlr] will cut the contributions “, nor” how far they will go, nor “if they will be accepted by the congress”, she believes. “But that will have an impact on the economic life of the region”, namely “Geneva, the canton of Vaud and neighboring France,” she said, and on her “33,000 jobs” linked to international organizations.
Micheline Calmy-Rey also anticipates consequences on “operation” of these.
“I trust the survival of organizations”
To fill the financial deficit, international organizations should “probably” count on other sources, explains the former president of the Confederation: the “States” members or “private foundations”.
“I have confidence in the survival of international organizations,” she insists because “states alone” cannot solve global problems. “Risks pass borders,” she adds.
-A necessary reform of the multilateral system
For Micheline Calmy-Rey, International Geneva must reform to survive. “It has a strong western imprint,” she notes. However, new actors like Brazil, South Africa or India want to have their place on the international scene.
The former head of Swiss diplomacy pleads for an opening of international organizations, including the UN Security Council. She also calls for criticisms on “double standard” in the application of international law.
“There are certain criticisms which are legitimate and which it will be necessary to respond,” concludes Micheline Calmy-Rey, stressing the urgency of adapting the multilateral system to the realities of the 21st century.
Interview by Fanny Zurcher
Article web: juma
