September 3, 2009 - 8:35 AM
Libyan anti-Swiss motion rejected
A Libyan motion calling for the dismemberment of Switzerland was rejected by the United Nations about a month ago, a UN spokesman said on Thursday.
Farhan Haq told the Swiss news agency that Libya had submitted the proposal for discussion by the General Assembly, but it was thrown out by the committee responsible for setting the assembly's agenda, since it contradicted the principles of the UN charter.
According to the charter, no member country can threaten the existence or sovereignty of another.
The document was therefore never circulated or published.
Swiss parliamentarian Christa Markwalder had told a Swiss public television news programme on Wednesday that Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi intended to present the proposal to the United Nations General Assembly, which he is due to address on September 23.
The Swiss UN mission in New York told swissinfo.ch on Thursday that the committee which decides on the agenda for General Assembly debates had not received any such motion.
Markwalder, who is vice-president of the House of Representatives external policies commission, had expressed concern that Libya would use its forthcoming year-long presidency of the UN General Assembly to damage Switzerland's reputation.
She said Swiss diplomacy needed to work hard to avoid a scandal at the UN meeting.
Gaddafi first mentioned the idea of dismemberment during the G8 summit in Italy in July. Switzerland "is a world mafia and not a state", he said, adding that it was "formed of an Italian community that should return to Italy, another German community that should return to Germany, and a third French community that should return to France".
The United States ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, noted on Wednesday that the upcoming UN meeting would be devoted solely to disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, adding it would be "irrelevant and misplaced" for any head of state to talk about unrelated subjects.
Nothing like a little absurdity to make my day
Libyan anti-Swiss motion rejected
A Libyan motion calling for the dismemberment of Switzerland was rejected by the United Nations about a month ago, a UN spokesman said on Thursday.
Farhan Haq told the Swiss news agency that Libya had submitted the proposal for discussion by the General Assembly, but it was thrown out by the committee responsible for setting the assembly's agenda, since it contradicted the principles of the UN charter.
According to the charter, no member country can threaten the existence or sovereignty of another.
The document was therefore never circulated or published.
Swiss parliamentarian Christa Markwalder had told a Swiss public television news programme on Wednesday that Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi intended to present the proposal to the United Nations General Assembly, which he is due to address on September 23.
The Swiss UN mission in New York told swissinfo.ch on Thursday that the committee which decides on the agenda for General Assembly debates had not received any such motion.
Markwalder, who is vice-president of the House of Representatives external policies commission, had expressed concern that Libya would use its forthcoming year-long presidency of the UN General Assembly to damage Switzerland's reputation.
She said Swiss diplomacy needed to work hard to avoid a scandal at the UN meeting.
Gaddafi first mentioned the idea of dismemberment during the G8 summit in Italy in July. Switzerland "is a world mafia and not a state", he said, adding that it was "formed of an Italian community that should return to Italy, another German community that should return to Germany, and a third French community that should return to France".
The United States ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, noted on Wednesday that the upcoming UN meeting would be devoted solely to disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, adding it would be "irrelevant and misplaced" for any head of state to talk about unrelated subjects.
Nothing like a little absurdity to make my day
Neutral Observer 
This message last edited by smaug on 04/09/2009 at 01:38:57 AM
Libya petitions UN to dismantle Switzerland
- 03/09/2009 10:17:36 PM
745 Views
Explain to an ignorant world citizen here. Why Switzerland? *NM*
- 03/09/2009 10:29:53 PM
254 Views
Ghaddafi has a personal beef with the entire country
- 03/09/2009 10:39:05 PM
466 Views
Oh, good. I had expected something stupid like lingering colonial resentments.
- 03/09/2009 10:41:37 PM
455 Views
I don't think Switzerland ever had any colonies 
*NM*
- 03/09/2009 10:45:12 PM
245 Views
*NM*
- 03/09/2009 10:45:12 PM
245 Views
I didn't think so, either, but you have to admit it would make more sense. *NM*
- 03/09/2009 11:07:40 PM
214 Views
I'd say the appropriate reaction is kicking Libya out of the UN...
- 03/09/2009 10:51:34 PM
340 Views
True - except we're so nice we wouldn't even dare suggest such an idea *NM*
- 03/09/2009 11:20:50 PM
241 Views
*NM*
- 03/09/2009 11:20:50 PM
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There is no sense here. My dad got caught speeding in Poland, can Poland go now?! *NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:19:08 AM
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Yes?
- 04/09/2009 12:26:06 AM
433 Views
No! *NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:27:12 AM
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*NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:27:12 AM
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Ja! 
- 04/09/2009 01:13:22 AM
444 Views
- 04/09/2009 01:13:22 AM
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I say we make them a U.S. Colony
- 04/09/2009 06:14:18 AM
405 Views
Excellent idea!
- 04/09/2009 04:54:22 PM
430 Views
- 04/09/2009 06:48:46 PM
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- 04/09/2009 06:48:46 PM
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Take the chocolate...leave the women. *NM*
- 04/09/2009 07:08:38 PM
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*NM*
- 04/09/2009 07:08:38 PM
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I read that as "Labia petitions UN to dismantle Switzerland" at first glance. 
/
*NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:21:55 AM
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/ *NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:21:55 AM
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Um... how would that even work? 
*NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:26:44 AM
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*NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:26:44 AM
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Well with Ghaddafi acting like a p
it makes it almost more a pun than a misread. *NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:30:26 AM
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it makes it almost more a pun than a misread. *NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:30:26 AM
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*NM*
You weren't the only one. *NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:26:51 AM
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Libya, not "Lybia" - the story got it right, why couldn't you? *NM*
- 04/09/2009 01:03:45 AM
164 Views
In fairness, that spelling doesn't make much sense.
- 04/09/2009 01:06:49 AM
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Oh, good. One of the first things you've posted that I can actually read. *NM*
- 04/09/2009 05:45:10 AM
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*NM*
- 04/09/2009 05:45:10 AM
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But being mean to Switzerland is like kicking puppies 
- 04/09/2009 08:55:36 AM
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- 04/09/2009 08:55:36 AM
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You mean it is fun but you don't want the hot girl you like to catch you doing it?
- 04/09/2009 12:23:07 PM
410 Views
*NM*
Also, who would be the hot girl in this metaphor? *NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:47:38 PM
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*NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:47:38 PM
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England
*NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:54:08 PM
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*NM*
- 04/09/2009 12:54:08 PM
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*NM*
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Brilliant
- 04/09/2009 12:26:20 PM
461 Views
- 04/09/2009 12:26:20 PM
461 Views