Although Switzerland hosts the UN's European headquarters and is a member of nearly all the independent specialised UN agencies, the Swiss have remained on the UN observer benches alongside the Palestinian Authority and the Vatican.

But Swiss voters opted in March to end the so-called "sonderfall", or Swiss special exception after more than half a century, to become the 190th member of the United Nations.

After firmly rejecting UN membership in 1986, the Swiss electorate under the country's famed system of direct democracy, voted in a national referendum for Switzerland to become a fully-fledged member.

Swiss Finance Minister Kaspar Villiger, who this year holds the rotating presidency, said in an interview with the Financial Times on Tuesday that Swiss people had realised they were no longer "an island".

"It is in our interest to help solve the problems that also concern Switzerland," he said.

"That is the reason why Switzerland said 'yes' to joining the UN despite a resounding 'no' vote 15 years ago," he added.

People had come to realise that Switzerland does not remain untouched by crises happening elsewhere, he said citing the example of upheavals in Sri Lanka or the Balkans which signalled the arrival of refugees to Switzerland.

When the UN General Assembly approves the entry of Switzerland into the United Nations as its 190th member later on Tuesday, the country will then have the right to introduce subjects for debate and to vote.

"People will now have to know what Switzerland thinks," Pierre Helg, a senior Swiss official at Switzerland's mission to the United Nations in New York told the Swiss newspaper Tribune de Geneve.

Seated between Sweden and Syria, Switzerland is likely to have a low profile inside the body focusing on gaining a place on the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights.

It can and fully intends to preserve its neutrality as Ireland, Sweden, Finland and Austria have done before it, demonstrating that neutrality is not incompatible with UN membership.

"Switzerland's policy of neutrality is an integral part of its policy on the UN. As a foreign policy instrument Switzerland will actively offer it wherever it can be of particular use in finding solutions," the Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement.

Rene Schwok, professor at Geneva University's political science department, said although legally speaking neutrality and UN membership are completely compatible, the Swiss must ensure their neutrality is seen by others as credible.

He said he believed Switzerland would keep a relatively low profile in the United Nations, adding: "I don't think the Swiss really want to play a major role in the world."

The Swiss government has until now not announced its stance on any possible action against Iraq, but it has in the past fallen into line with UN economic sanctions.

It has also followed most of the UN Security Council resolutions on military action, excluding the 1991 Gulf War when Switzerland denied permission for pilots from the US-led coalition to use its air space.

As Villiger and Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss head the Swiss delegation to attend the accession ceremony in New York, Geneva residents can follow events live on a giant screen from 9:15 pm (1915 GMT).

Concerts and events are lined up for throughout the evening in downtown Geneva, while Thursday sees the hoisting of the distinct Swiss flag at the UN European headquarters.

But perhaps most eye catching of all, the Empire State Building in New York City was lit up Monday night in red and white with the help of powerful projectors to honour Switzerland's UN entry, the Swiss ATS news agency reported.

kjm/bfr/txw Nampa-AFP WEB story ENDS (NAMPA 101308)

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