Switzerland's ambassador to Pakistan Marc Peirre George Thursday said his country is no longer a safe haven for internationally laundered black money. This the Swiss envoy stated while responding to questions from audience at an interactive session on "Pakistan-Swiss Relations" held here at a local hotel by Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR) Thursday.
He was flanked by Swiss Consul General Emil Wyss, Chairman KCFR Ambassador Shahid M. Amin (Retd), Defence analyst Ikram Sehgal and General Secretary KCFR Ahsen Mukhtar Zuberi. "We have made mistakes in the past. But now we have a legal order," Marc told a questioner who asked the Swiss diplomat to explain how money launderers from Pakistan were able to stash about $200 billion of their "black money" in his country's bank accounts.
"This is a very... very... touchy question. We have a legal system and the idea is always... I don't want to make a comment on it," the ambassador said. But then said Switzerland had developed a legal system "which is working quite well" to check the inflow of laundered money through the country's banking system. Pakistan, Marc said, was not the only country with such complaints. Dubbing the issue as "political" in nature, the Swiss envoy said the same would be decided judiciously.
Switzerland had had an image of being a safe haven for the international black money but the country had developed a strong check and balance system to curb the menace of money laundering. "Now don't you believe that you would send money to Switzerland and nobody would notice that," he reminded the unscrupulous elements world over.
Illustrating, he recalled how a banker in Geneva last year was about to close his bank account for he, being a foreign ambassador, was not paying taxes in Switzerland. "You see even for myself it is difficult to keep a bank account," March said adding "It almost is impossible to bring black money from another country".
The future of Swiss economy, he said, was based on new technologies and not banking system. "It almost is impossible if you want to send money (from abroad) and open a bank account (in Switzerland)," he said. The Swiss envoy said he was ready to discuss the issue at length but the matter was subjudice and should therefore be respected.
Dwelling on socio-cultural and ideological aspects of Swiss society, the envoy said the key to success in Switzerland's "conflictual' and ideologically divided society was the culture of compromise the Swiss people had developed over the years.
"We agree on compromise and doing that you would not get 100 percent of what you want to get," the ambassador told the audience, mostly KCFR members. He said Switzerland and Pakistan could enhance bilateral cooperation in tourism sector. March said his embassy was keen to invite as much Swiss companies in Pakistan as possible. But, he said, it was the responsibility of government and people of Pakistan to work for a congenial atmosphere.
"You shouldn't ask us to do all the work," he noted. Swiss Council General Emil Wyss said the Swiss Business Council would be bringing in Pakistan a host of Swiss companies by end November this year to look for ways to enhance bilateral trade and investment. Also, the consul general said, a Swiss exhibition, the largest ever to be held in the city, would be opening here from May 29 to last till August 10. Twenty companies, 10 from each country, would be getting together to examine each other's export products at the show.
"Pakistan is the world's secret treasure. Not a lot of people know it. When you travel, you tell people what it is," Emil remarked. He said there were plenty of opportunities in Pakistan as well as Switzerland to be taped. He assured of his full support to tape these opportunities.
To a query whether Swiss Air was considering restarting its operations in Pakistan, the consul general said the airline was willing but lacking the required equipment that was reserved for some other destination. "I asked them to come back here. The market is fantastic. They even don't talk of the law and order," the diplomat said, adding "Pakistan is back to business". Giving a vote of thanks, Ikram Sehgal, a member of KCFR, was touched by the consul general's remarks. "The consul general really spoke up for Pakistan. I thank you," the defence analyst told Emil.