Switzerland narrowly approved a government-backed proposal to join the United Nations in a referendum today, a government spokesman said.
The proposal was backed by about 54.6 per cent of Swiss voters nationwide and also gained key support in a majority of the country's 23 full cantons, government spokesman Mr Achille Casanova told journalists.
He said one district in the final canton to officially declare, Zurich, still had to finish counting.
Government officials said the vote paved the way for Switzerland to formally apply for UN membership during a UN General Assembly session in September.
Supporters had said Switzerland should have a greater say in major global decisions in addition to the 500 million Swiss francs (339 million euros, 294 million dollars) it already gives to UN agencies.
That figure makes Switzerland already the 14th biggest contributor to the UN system.
The western Swiss city of Geneva also hosts the UN's European headquarters, as well as eight of the world body's agencies.
And Switzerland is also a member of most UN humanitarian and technical agencies.
But the anti-UN lobby, led by billionaire businessman Mr Christoph Blocher, warned UN membership would lead to the loss of Switzerland's famed sovereignty, direct democracy and neutrality.
Mr Blocher, who heads a chemicals company, made his name nationally with his populist, ring-wing Swiss People's Party by challenging the government in a similar referendum in 1986.
At that time nearly 76 per cent of the electorate rejected joining the UN.
UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan had recently sought to reassure the Swiss their independence would not be affected, adding the world would not understand a no vote on "a political, moral, economic and social level."
AFP