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Switzerland participates actively in China’s economic growth, interview (4) |
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16:23, July 06, 2007 |
Editor: Many Chinese wonder how a Swiss female President''s life is like, such as you maintain your family-career balance, how you spend vacations? Which country you like most, and how gender affects a Swiss woman''s life? Can you tell us more about yourself?
President: Keeping my private life strictly separate from my public function, I would prefer not to answer these questions.
Editor: Many Swiss people miss the good old days 20 years ago, when they did not even lock the doors of their houses at night. Has the crime rate of Switzerland risen in recent years?
President: Overall crime is down, as the latest statistics fort the year 2006 show. Over a longer time period, the crime rate in Switzerland has been relatively stable over the last years. Regrettably, however, we note an increase in offenses that include violence. This is particularly true for minors. Despite the increase in this area, Switzerland can still be counted among the safest countries in Europe.
Editor: The Swiss system of giving drug addicts free drugs is very unique. Why can it succeed?
President: We are not just handing out free drugs to any addict. As a matter of fact, drugs – including cannabis – generally are prohibited in Switzerland. What we are trying to do is to lower the number of addicts, to block the spread of drug-related diseases and to separate drug addiction from the crime that comes with it. Switzerland’s drug policy rests on four pillars: First, prevention. Second, therapy. Third, harm reduction. And four, repression. Regarding treatment, there are numerous inpatient withdrawal and rehabilitation centers as well as ambulatory social counselling programs. Also, the medically administered substitution of heroin with methadone has proved effective. For a small number of chronic, heavy drug addicts, these measures are not successful. For them, the drugs purchased on the street are substituted by heroin (Diacetylmorphin ) in a strict, medically and officially controlled program.
We are pleased with the results of the four pillar drug policy. It has led to a significant reduction of the number of drug addicts, of drug-related deaths, of HIV-infections and in particular of drug-related crime.
Editor: Given the relative success of this policy, does Switzerland intend to handle other crimes in a similar light?
President: In the fight against crime, Switzerland applies holistic, multi-pronged approaches that combine prevention, counseling and repression. As a consequence, cooperation between the authorities concerned in this area is of a fundamental importance.
By People’s Daily Staff Editor: Liu Chao
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