Switzerland has long played an important, though limited, role in U.S. foreign policy interests. It actively supports international humanitarian and cultural work and has protected U.S. assets and represented U.S. interests in countries like Iran. Although sometimes U.S.-Swiss relations have been strained over issues like Holocaust compensation, the bilateral relationship has remained healthy with significant shared long-term interests in democracy and free-market economics. Economic and business ties, particularly in foreign investment, have always been an important part of the U.S-Swiss relationship. Switzerland is becoming more important to U.S. foreign policy with the current war on terrorism and Switzerland?s move away from its traditional neutrality in world affairs.
The current size of the embassy is appropriate, and recent Department decisions to increase support personnel should be reconsidered. One existing position should be reallocated to operational diplomatic functions in Switzerland. The embassy cannot adequately cover Switzerland?s most important city, Zurich, from Bern. A more permanent American presence should be established in Zurich, even if it means relocating existing personnel from Bern.
Keeping residential streets around the embassy closed for security reasons can be only a temporary measure. The Bern City Council wants to open the streets. A reasonable effort should be made to relocate the chancery to a safer location when feasible.
The embassy?s communications facilities are woefully inadequate, despite the best efforts of the embassy over a number of years to secure adequate resources. The Department needs to allocate resources to rectify the communications problems quickly.
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