Switzerland is home to about 99 million francs ($112 million) in frozen Syrian assets, the Swiss finance ministry said on December 11, denying any of the money belonged to President Bashar al-Assad.
 |
| Ms. Keller-Sutter was nominated as President of Switzerland. (Source: The Swiss Times) |
The Swiss finance ministry said the funds were frozen under sanctions imposed in 2011 by the European Union against the Syrian leader and his associates for human rights abuses.
However, none of these funds belong directly to Mr Assad, a claim also confirmed by the Neue Zuercher Zeitung , which said that relatively few Syrian assets are held in Switzerland’s notoriously secretive banking system.
“Switzerland and its financial center naturally became the focus,” the Neue Zuercher Zeitung said. “However, Mr. Assad’s hunt for millions of dollars does not seem to be directed at Swiss banks, as financial ties between Switzerland and Syria have been virtually frozen since 2011.”
In addition, the Neue Zuercher Zeitung also pointed out that the Swiss banking industry has largely withdrawn from Syria, a country that was profitable in the early 2000s.
Currently, 318 people and 87 entities are on Switzerland's sanctions list related to Syria and President Bashar al-Assad.
Also on December 11, the Swiss Parliament nominated Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter as President of the country in 2025.
According to the announcement, Ms. Keller-Sutter, 60 years old, received 168 out of 203 valid votes and will take office early next year.
Swiss law stipulates that the presidency rotates among the seven members of the Federal Council. With the latest results, Ms. Keller-Sutter will succeed President Viola Amherd.
Liberal Party member Keller-Sutter took over as finance minister in 2023 and immediately faced a crisis over the collapse of Credit Suisse.
The Swiss parliament is due to publish a report on the crisis, which led to UBS’s acquisition of Credit Suisse. Minister Karin-Keller’s role in recent months has been marked by Switzerland’s austerity policies and negotiations over an expanded association agreement with the European Union.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thuy-si-giu-tai-san-bi-phong-toa-cua-syria-de-cu-bo-truong-tai-chinh-lam-tong-thong-297067.html
Comment (0)