International Focus Magazine Vol. 1, #5 | Page 47

Our Swiss Connection Ambassador Martin Dahinden Ambassador of Switzerland to the United States By Katia Hadjiyska, iF Magazine Contributing Reporter / EnCourage Group Owner very important, but there is not only investing from Switzerland into the United States - there are also a lot of investments of American companies in Switzerland. For instance, Google’s international headquarters, as well as the European headquarters of Procter & Gamble, are in Switzerland. There is a lot of investment in information and communication technology and in biotechnology. Katia: What are some big picture challenges facing Switzerland today? States and I think we should have a close look at what happens, namely how technology, economy, and culture develop. In my view this is the challenge. We are in the midst of Europe, but not a member of the European Union and in some of the areas we have difficult negotiations. I am optimistic that we will find solutions there. I consider the more fundamental questions above as more important for our future. Katia: Tell us about your perspective on Switzerland’s neutrality in terms of foreign policy. Ambassador Dahinden: Switzerland’s neutrality has a very long history. It is not something new. It basically started in the Renaissance and developed and made major steps after the Napoleonic wars and in the 20th century. Neutrality is more than a commitment taken out of international humanitarian law. It is a kind of identity that is linked to our history. In Europe we are always a little bit in-between major powers, particularly France and Germany. Part of Ambassador Dahinden: I would probably tell you slightly different things than what you would hear from people in Switzerland as I am abroad. For me, the biggest challenge for Switzerland is to find its own place in an increasingly globalized world, not only in terms of economy, but also in terms of political relations. I think we have a successful model but we need to reinvent all the time to cope with the challenges of the future. I also see the importance of my role there because very often we see that the groundbreaking technologies are often made in the United iF Magazine | www.iFMagazine.net 47