Switzerland will not impose Russia sanctions

GENEVA (AA) – Switzerland has no intention of imposing sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis, the Economy Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann has said in a newspaper interview. Speaking to Schweiz am Sonntag, he said Switzerland could act as a mediator and that it was “especially important now that there is a country that can say we are not taking sides."  He added: "Our role would be weakened if we simply imposed the EU sanctions."  According to Swiss government figures, around 75 percent of Russian crude oil exports have been traded through Geneva and the Swiss National Bank reported $15.2 billion worth of Russian assets in Swiss banks in 2012. "We are offering to help to resolve the crisis, which has brought insecurity and war, step by step," he told the newspaper. Switzerland has frozen funds connected to Ukraine's former president Viktor Yanukovich.