At their meeting, the President of the National Council, Jürg Stahl, and his counterpart in the Omani Shura Council, Sheikh Khalid bin Hilal Al Maawali, discussed the key aspects of bilateral relations between Switzerland and the Sultanate of Oman. They also discussed the role and tasks of parliament in their respective political systems. Oman has a bicameral parliament, comprising the Shura Council (Consultative Assembly) and the State Council. There are 85 members of the Shura Council, all of whom are independent and elected by the people.
The Swiss delegation also held talks with Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Manthri, State Council Speaker, and Sayyid Fahad Al-Said, Deputy Prime Minister. Topics on the agenda included foreign policy, regional policy – in particular the current tension between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Iran – resurgent friction between the GCC and Qatar and the conflict in Yemen. It was explained that Oman is attempting to conduct a moderate and discreet policy, and to act as bridge-builder in the Gulf region.
The Swiss delegation was also warmly welcomed by the president of the Oman-Switzerland Friendship Association (OSFA), Abdulla Hamad Saif Al Busaidy.The OSFA was founded in November 2016 to promote exchanges in business, science, tourism, education and sport. Adolf Ogi, former federal councillor, has close ties to the Sultanate of Oman and is honorary president of the Friendship Association. Bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and Switzerland are very good, and were strengthened further in 2014 when the Swiss embassy was opened in Maskat, and in 2016 when the OSFA was founded.
The delegation then headed to the State of Kuwait, where it was officially welcomed by Marzouk Ali Al Ghanim, Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly. The Kuwaiti lower house comprises 49 directly elected members and the 16 members of the cabinet. Al Ghanim made special mention of the excellent relations between Kuwait and Switzerland. Relations between the two countries have flourished over the years. Recently, Kuwait and Switzerland have maintained ever closer contact, and in 2016 celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. As part of the celebrations, last year Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti First Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, came to Bern and was received by Christa Markwalder, the then National Council president, in the Federal Palace.
In Kuwait there was a further opportunity for bilateral exchanges. The Kuwaiti foreign minister talked of the joint foreign policy interests of the two countries, notably their extensive diplomatic network, active development aid and mediation efforts.
The Swiss delegation was also able to meet with Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Ahmed Al Sabah, Kuwaiti Prime Minister; Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, his predecessor; and Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait. As head of state, the emir is the highest figure in the constitutional hereditary monarchy and is well known in the region for his moderate policies and mediatory role. In the discussions, the Kuwaitis expressed in particular their concern regarding the current tensions in the Gulf region. The two sides agreed that peace and stability is of vital importance to the region as a whole, and that a political solution must be sought.
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mr Stahl and his delegation were received by the President of the Federal National Council (FNC), Amal Al Qubaisi. Half of the 40 members of the Federal National Council are selected by an electoral council and half by the rulers of the different emirates. There are nine female FNC members, making up 22.5% of the total.
A wide range of topics was discussed. The members of the FNC showed great interest in the Swiss system of vocational education and in Switzerland’s wealth of small businesses. The Swiss delegation thanked the UAE for hosting the WorldSkills Competition in Abu Dhabi and Expo2020, at which Switzerland will also be represented. The two sides stressed the excellent relations between them, in particular the strong economic and trade relations, which were further consolidated when the free trade agreement between EFTA and the GCC states came into force.
Discussions were also held with Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, who introduced the Swiss delegation to the tradition of Majlis. In this daily gathering, the public are given the opportunity to directly address to the culture minister any concerns or issues they wish to air.
A further highlight of the trip was the official reception of the SwissSkills delegation in Abu Dhabi. Jürg Stahl officially welcomed the delegation of thirty-eight young people from Switzerland, who had travelled to the WorldSkills Competition in the United Arab Emirates to compete in their given occupation with participants from over seventy countries.
Mr Stahl was accompanied by the following delegation members: Christa Markwalder (National Council, FDP, BE), Guillaume Barazzone (National Council/Geneva City Council, CVP, GE) and Nina Wirth (Parliamentary Services, Foreign Policy Advisor).