Swift bemoans pressure to cut off Russia and Israel from network

Swift says that it "regrets" the political pressure it has come under in recent months to cut off institutions and whole countries from its network, stressing that it does not have the authority to decide on sanctions.

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Swift bemoans pressure to cut off Russia and Israel from network

Editorial

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There has been a growing clamour for Russia to be expelled from Swift over the crisis in Ukraine, with the European Parliament among those floating the possibility.

That intervention prompted a response in which the financial messaging network claimed the resolution "constitutes discriminatory and unequal treatment".

With the organisation also facing calls to disconnect Israel, it has now issued another statement, insisting it "will not make unilateral decisions to disconnect institutions from its network as a result of political pressure".

Continues the statement: "As a utility with a systemic global character, it has no authority to make sanctions decisions. Any decision to impose sanctions on countries or individual entities rests solely with the competent government bodies and applicable legislators. Being EU-based, Swift complies fully with all applicable European law."

There is precedent for Swift being made to cut off a country by the EU. In 2012 it was told to disconnect Iran as the European Council sought to choke off the supply of funds for the country's nuclear energy programme.

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Comments: (1)

Peter Horrell

Peter Horrell Owner Managing Partner at Payment Consulting LLC

Perhaps it is time for SWIFT to move it's base of operations out of the EU, perhaps to Switzerland?

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