April 28, 2026, 06:10April 28, 2026, 06:10
“Italy will never pay these bills,” said the Italian ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, in the dispute over costs following the Crans-Montana fire disaster in the program “Quarta Repubblica” on Retequattro, according to the Askanews news agency.
The Italian ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado.Image: keystone
At the same time, Cornado spoke of an “overwhelming moral responsibility” on the part of the Swiss Confederation. This should persuade Bern to forego claims against Italy for the treatment costs of young people hospitalized in Sitten.
The young people were treated for “only one day”, but the costs for four patients amounted to over 120,000 francs. These costs would later be passed on to the Italian Ministry of Health through the mechanism provided for by European regulations, he explained.
However, Crans-Montana cannot be treated like an ordinary car accident, the ambassador continued. The tragedy is due to disregard for laws and a lack of controls – both by the operators of the bar and by local and cantonal authorities.
The ambassador also warned of “reputational damage” for Switzerland. As a possible solution, he referred to European Regulation 883 from 2004, which allows two states to waive refunds to each other. “There is a solution,” he said. Italy is prepared to waive demands. “Switzerland has to do that. It’s a question of ethics, it’s a question of reciprocity.” (sda)