Swiss in, Vatican out

With the entry of Switzerland into the United nations Organisation, the Vatican is the only state in the world which is not a member.

The Swiss population had its highest turnout in a vote in decades, as 58% voted on whether or not to enter the UNO. The result was 54.6% in favour of entering. The country was split between east and west, with the 11 western cantons voting in favour, and in the east, only the most densely-populated, Zurich, voting in favour, with the more conservative rural areas voting against.

Swiss foreign minister Joseph Deiss declared that “I communicated our desire to adhere to the UNO in a telephone call to the Secretary-General”.

In the last plebiscite on adhesion, in 1986, a substantial “no” vote was obtained, with 75.7% of Swiss citizens declaring themselves against joining the organisation.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru