The Swiss Embassy has responded to this blog from Tuesday. In it, I cited an Agence France Presse report alleging Swizerland's Foreign Minister favored talks with Osama Bin Laden. Apparently. AFP was wrong:
26.08.2008
Following publication of an AFP report which erroneously stated that the head of the FDFA favoured dialogue with Al-Qaida and Bin Laden, the FDFA clarifies its position as follows:
1. In her speech to the ambassadors, the head of the FDFA spoke of dialogue as an instrument of foreign policy.
2. She mentioned the appropriateness of such dialogue and the limits in which it should take place.
3. In this context, she asked the rhetorical question of whether entering into a dialogue with Bin Laden could be considered as a possibility.
4. She did not state that she would promote such a dialogue, nor has she proposed such a dialogue.
5. To put an end to this controversy once and for all, in practice there is no question of the FDFA proposing a dialogue with Osama Bin Laden.
That's good to hear. In the meantime, the Swiss have another Islam-related controversy on their hands.