Foreign relations of Liechtenstein

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Liechtenstein

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Liechtenstein's foreign economic policy has been dominated by its customs union with Switzerland (and with Austria-Hungary until World War I). This union also led to its independent membership in EFTA in 1991. Unlike Switzerland however (where citizens rejected membership in a referendum), Liechtenstein is part of the European Economic Area.

Liechtenstein was admitted to the United Nations in 1990. It is also a member of most specialized organizations of the UN system, a notorious exception being UNESCO.

Liechtenstein has resorted two times to international dispute settlement by the International Court of Justice, in the Nottebohm case against Guatemala in the 1950s and in a case concerning art property of the Liechtenstein family against Germany in 2005. It lost however in both cases.

Liechtenstein maintains resident embassies in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and the United States, along with a number of missions to international organisations.

Liechtenstein is the only country in the world not to host any embassy. There are however a number of honorary consulates in the principality, including five consulates general and 17 consulates. Most of these are situated in the capital Vaduz, however, some are found in Schaan, Schellenberg and Triesen.

The country has also an international dispute with the Czech Republic and Slovakia concerning the estates of its royal family in those countries. Both republics don't recognize Liechtenstein, which caused difficulties at the time of the extension of the European Economic Area to the ten new EU member states.

In March 2007, the country was subject to an "invasion" when 171 Swiss soldiers mistakenly entered its territory. However, the Liechtenstein authorities were alerted and the troops were returned to Swiss territory before they had travelled more than 2km into the country, and the incident was disregarded by both sides. [1]

[edit] Membership in international organizations

CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICC, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO

[edit] See also

Liechtenstein diplomatic missions

[edit] References

• "Swiss in Liechtenstein 'invasion'", BBC News, 2007-03-03. Retrieved on March 3, 2007.