At the opening of the Council of States meeting last Monday, the Speaker, Erika Forster-Vannini, made a statement on the subject of the result of the vote on the “anti-minaret” initiative. She expressed her conviction that the people of Switzerland should think critically about the reasons for the outcome of the vote and that political circles should address more seriously questions of integration, values and different religions. The Speaker also mentioned the importance of dialogue with Moslems in Switzerland.
Contrary to reports in the Turkish press, Mrs Forster-Vannini did not offer an apology to the islamic world, however, nor did she make any sort of statement that could be construed as a promise to invalidate a democratic decision taken by the Swiss electorate.
A few days ago the Speaker of the Council of States accepted an invitation from the President of the Turkish parliament, Mr Ali Sahin, for an official visit to Turkey next year. Among other things, this visit will provide an opportunity to discuss the result of the vote and its consequences.
Berne, 3 December 2009, Parliamentary Services