Affaire Kadhafi : Comment en-est on arrivé là ?

Kadhafi affair: How did we get here?

The culture is to be detected, essential element in the relationship between communities and nations, whether it is a friendly relationship or a relationship of forces. Each cooperative and constructive exchange on the one hand forced a (purchase) recognizing the culture of others, on the other hand, the dominance of pages of a state concerning a nation or an ethnic group is also bound by a fundamental learning its culture. In the 19th century this fact was recognized very early by the French and British harbingers of “colonialist anthropology”.

In the field of international relations, the interests of a nation be protected in their relations with another nation in different ways. There is the subtle way, which is the “key” to the nation, to which one has it in, to acquire, for example, by controlling the cultural conduct and their elites makes docile. Then there is also the less subtle way. If one thinks, for example, to the relations with the Arab world, it is found that the United states often use the “brute force” as a means of persuasion: unique threats, open blackmail and attacks with Tomahawk. You have to open the habit the “Arab vaults” with the help of bulldozers. Generally contact countries such as Russia and China in this part of the world “key” in order to maintain their privileges and to safeguard their own interests. Countries with a colonial past, such as France and the United Kingdom, use a combination of both agents to the dictatorships and “dominate” the riches of the Arab world. The other countries that have neither “brute force” nor “key” have the choice of three ways to protect their interests: (a) the application of the “informal power”, (b) the “defense by proxy” by targeting friends recourse (countries, influential organization or person), then there intervene and provide assistance to, (c) or the “diplomatic concession” with its inevitable consequences: as “political opposition” and “moral duplicity”.

Coping with the generated by the “Khadafi affair” crisis has laid bare the limits of Swiss foreign policy: (1) the lack of “key” to the cultural environment in Libya and the Arab culture in general, (2) informal a crumbling of the ” power “and (3) the difficulty to mobilize reliable allies who would intervene in the conflict and provide assistance. the deal with a crisis of this kind has also suffered (4) under the lack of transparency, underlined by the particularly weak use of the Swiss people and (5) the impact, which consequently remains in the public that the foreign policy is almost exclusively subordinate to the imperative of the economy.

The nose and … the loss.

The (future) diplomats who are provided as representative for the Arab world, should at least every few aphorisms from Arab memorize (on this subject several anthologies have been published). In a culture of orality, as is the case in the Arab world, there are, among other things, the wisdom, the transfer standards in society and they pass on from generation to generation.

The Bedouin is known for his extreme hospitality. To cater for its guests, he would be willing to kill his mount. He would also be ready to die to defend his honor and to avenge them. He would spend his willing one million francs in legal fees in a lawsuit against someone who had just stolen one franc. A wisdom from Libya says: “Ala al-baghouth hrag al-JerD” (Because of a flea, he has his clothes burned) An Algerian wisdom tells us. “En-naif wel khsara” (Preserves the nose, even if everything else is lost goes). In Arab culture symbolizes the nose (en-naif, al-anf-al anafa) honor and dignity. “Preserving the nose” means – to save face How many battles have not been triggered in the Arab antiquity because some mischievous poetry verses between strains It has to look no sense for a rational explanation for such an attitude or behavior…

Khadafi lives in a world of symbols. The title he has gained illegally, “King of Kings”, his clothing and his tent, from which he never separates, are constantly present to remember. You should know how to act accordingly.

Dear die standing than live on my knees.

The “informal power” in diplomacy extremely important when it is well developed and maintained constant, it can form a symbolic protective wall but is demanding and requires two conditions, teachers know all too well:.. Self-confidence and willingness some estimated take risks.

Switzerland has many advantages that would allow her to create such a power: no colonial past, (positive) neutrality, a central role in the development, in the promotion and protection of international humanitarian law and human rights, the quality of industrial products and services and the like Switzerland’s image is shaped by these components and reflects a real “informal power”. Unfortunately, the image is blurred by political attitudes, modes of behavior and statements to the inconsistencies and even contradictions between on the one hand the values ​​and principles and on the other hand reflect the behaviors.

When a Swiss politician, rashly before the resolution of the conflict said he hopes trade relations with Libya would be resumed quickly, this is a strong sign of weakness, the Khadafi, of the culture of “mout waguef!” (Die upright has been standing) trained on his way has been able to exploit. he tries gradually to its knees his interlocutors, by raising the voice, calling for the disintegration of the Swiss Confederation or to the “jihad” against the country. The strong measures such as the application of the visa ban come too late and are widely regarded as incapable even of the European Union.

Not scratching your skin better than your nail.

The “Khadafi affair” is just some secret negotiations requires no banal disapproval. From the beginning she joined potentially as a major crisis. The official position of Switzerland would therefore have to be unique to a national debate, and supported by the Swiss population. This would have led to the strengthening of the “informal power” of the country. The lack of popular support for the government’s policies energized effectively to discredit the partners. One needs only the behavior of some Western governments vis-à-vis the Arab dictatorships who escaped the support of their own populations, observed.

An Arabic maxim says: “Ma hakka jildaka mithlou dhoufrik. Fatawalla anta amrak “(Nothing scrapes better your skin than your nail. Yes, then stand on their own feet). Switzerland should not have to reckon with the support of some foreign governments, because this proved ineffective, even counterproductive. The “Arab solidarity” on the one hand this time works well. Switzerland has not even count on the support of the governments, which are classified as “friends”;. How the government of Algeria She has been one of the first governments that Khadafi gave their solidarity known, followed by the Government of Tunisia . the League of Arab States was thus strongly encouraged to adopt the same position. the “greedy individualism” by some European and North American countries on the other hand only confirms that their own interests above all other considerations take precedence. The effect can be found in the careful opinions to the “coveted Libya”. The moderate statements of the French, American, Italian and other governments with respect to the call to “jihad” by Khadafi against Switzerland, are disturbing. Let us imagine, if this “fatwa” by one of the leaders of the countries that would have been adopted “axis of evil”, only once before, as the tone of the declarations and the excitement in the corridors of the Security Council would have been. The publicized devotion of the official European representative in Khadafi has us sadly recalls the Arab League Summit in the Libyan city of Sirte in this truth than to Handkuss for the revolutionary leader and “top Geschickelenker” came the farewells at Silvio Berlusconi.

Rather die of hunger than to feed thanks to unworthy means.

One of the arguments, which weighed on the talks on the crisis with Libya, concerning the “energy and economic security.” Yes, Myth or Reality? I have tried to answer this question by starting carried out by some basic requirements, an approximate estimate ,

It is estimated that imports from Libya to Switzerland in relation to energy, to CHF 1.658 bn. In 2007, it was primarily oil, for a total amount of imports from all countries to Switzerland by more than 183 billion Swiss francs. That means 0.9 percent. The Libyan crude oil would mean 50 per cent of total imports of this strategy object. One should add that Libya in Switzerland is owned by a refining device and also by more than 300 service stations. The crisis with Libya should not be an obstacle to a sovereign political decision, but rather an opportunity to the energy policy of the country to reconsider. Diversification is possible and indispensable. Other credible energy producers should be considered.

Regarding the economics part can be stated as follows:

1) Before the crisis, in 2007, the Libyan deposits in Swiss banks are estimated at CHF 6.5 billion, from a managed volume of CHF 4900 billion (5.6 billion francs from 6.5 billion been finally lifted in 2008). In 2007, therefore the Libyan deposits represented 0.13 percent of the total amount of deposits in the Swiss banks. Suppose the net interest amounts for the Swiss banks 10 percent, with a tax rate of 20 percent on that interest, are obtained per year CHF 130 million of income for the state.

2) In 2007, the exports of Switzerland to Libya are estimated at 278 million francs for a total amount of exports in the order of CHF 197 billion, which is 0.14 percent. With a tax rate of 25 percent on those exports to Libya are obtained per year an income of 70 million Swiss francs for the state.

Seen overall one would therefore a state income of CHF 200 million, which comes from Libya. If you consider that there were the end of 2007 about 7.6 million people in Switzerland, you will receive an annual per capita income of 26 francs and 34 centimes, that originates from the commercial transactions with Libya, that is 7 cents per day, but not go into the pocket of the citizens, but are ready for government spending. One should this keep a close watch and compare it with the gross domestic product per capita in Switzerland from 2007, which amounted to CHF 68.394 per year. That is 0.04 percent.

An Arabic maxim says. “Tamutu alhurratu wa la taakulu min thadiyiha” (The graceful woman dying of hunger and eats not of her chest) The question of Swiss citizens would have to ask, was not whether he was willing to hunger to die, to avoid humiliation, but if he was prepared to take the hypothetical risk their standard of living to reduce by less than 0.1 percent, only to preserve his dignity, because he knows that the citizens of other developed countries, such as Germany and France, living with a GDP that is 30 percent lower the citizen response is predictable a referendum on this subject -.. so easy in Switzerland – would have had more sense than that on minarets.

But there is another facet to this question. To increase the public service of 26 francs per year and per inhabitant, there will be a volume of CHF 730 million, which will be due from the industrial and financial elite in Switzerland (export-related gains and interest on the Libyan bank). Consequently, the annual income, thanks to the business with Libya, huge for this small number of privileged people. If these calculations are not too far removed from reality, they would be widespread in Switzerland considers substance, that it is the industrial and financial groups that determine Swiss policy on tackling the crisis with Libya and the behavior of the Swiss Ambassador in Tripoli would dictate.

Finally, true to say that Switzerland would better cope with similar crises like the Khadafi affair if they would respect the four rule of political hygiene: Rule No.1:. Invest more to the “key” to the Arab world to acquire Rule. 2: Add to the “informal power” and maintain them. Rule no. 3: yourself up for their own resources and to support its population. Rule no. 4: no exclusive submit your foreign policy imperatives of the economy and thereby exposing themselves to the political blackmail.

To end the “affair-Khadafi” Switzerland will have to choose between two approaches: the escalation of the conflict by agitation and by calm behavior After the restrictive visa measures against Libyans, followed by the refusal of a visa for the de-escalation. Libya for the citizens of the European Union, Switzerland some Libyan citizens could go as far as requiring the disintegration of the “Great Socialist people’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya” and its re-partition of the neighboring countries, or call for a crusade against the country and on the Swiss territory arrest. It could, however, quite to the contrary, declare the case definitively, wait for the release of Max Göldi, until he is serving his sentence of four months, and thus to respect “the independence of the judiciary”. You could then also publicly declare that if the detainees would not be released at the end of his sentence, sovereign measures would be taken, which could lead to the elimination of Libya from all Swiss companies, and even to break off relations. A diplomatic as well as medial restraint should, during the three months the will follow the statement observed. Such an approach would restore the “informal power” of the Swiss Confederation and contribute to the crisis more quickly to solve, as one hopes.

Abbas Aroua

Translation from French by Monica Hostettler