On Swiss National Day: ‘Our strength lies in our diversity’

On August 1, Switzerland celebrates its national day. Although we pay tribute to a historic alliance of three small cantons located in the heart of Switzerland, dating back to 1291, it is only since 1891 that August 1st has been chosen as the day to commemorate our country’s foundation.

Since then, we had over 700 years to develop and take to perfection what we proudly call our Swiss values, first and foremost the system of direct democracy and finding a consensus.

Nothing manifests this better than our national day celebration itself: we are admittedly in internal historical dispute about the exact date of our country’s foundation, but we still celebrate it united on August 1.

On this day, there is a Swiss spirit breezing through our mountainous landscapes as well as urban centres.

Bonfires and fireworks are lit, children go around with painted lanterns and, of course, traditional Swiss food is served.

However, I cannot name one prevailing Swiss tradition on this day. It is the diversity that makes our country so unique.

Having 26 cantons — each one of them with its own habits, history and administrations — and four different national languages, much of Switzerland’s richness is found in its pluralism.

I am proud to announce that in 2017, I finalised my own “Tour de Suisse” and finished visiting all Swiss cantons.

Being the Swiss ambassador, I bring the best of my country to my host country; also the love for discovery and travelling.

In this spirit I decided to visit during the upcoming year all twelve governorates of Jordan.

I am very much looking forward to this enriching experience and to getting to know the country and its people even better.

Our national day is also the day when we present Switzerland to our Jordanian friends. Many think no real Swiss celebration is done without chocolate, cheese and maybe also some traditional music. However, Switzerland comprises a lot more than its traditional image.

One of the former presidents of the confederation once described our country with the following three words: education, innovation and independence.

It is these values that make Switzerland thrive today.

In 2016, for the sixth year in a row, it was leading the Global Innovation Index.

Some say we compensate our lack of natural resources by inventive minds. It might not be an appropriate comparison, but we definitely see the need to invent ourselves anew.

We encourage our young generation to discover, think out of the box and take their ideas to a next level.

A big stimulus for innovation, however, is, again, Switzerland’s cultural diversity.

We have always been a hub for local as well as foreign interchange and it has contributed greatly to our country’s achievements.

That we call the city of Geneva also by the name of International Geneva underlines the importance Switzerland places on open and free exchange between cultures.

I find this spirit of coexistence and hospitality that I know from home also here in Jordan.

It is deeply connected to the feeling of responsibility to help people in need, which both of our countries share, too.

The idea of humanitarian action was born in Switzerland itself. 

I keep on being profoundly touched and impressed by Jordan’s efforts to host hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees and to grant shelter to the weak and vulnerable. I can only highlight the importance of this charitable gesture.

I also want to thank the people of Jordan for the warm welcoming I experience myself here. 

On the occasion of the Swiss National Day, I want to assure the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan of Switzerland’s ongoing support and thank you anew for your tradition of generous hospitality for our Swiss community in Jordan, as well as for all other people from all around the world.

The writer is ambassador of Switzerland to Jordan. He contributed this article to The Jordan Times.