Micheline Calmy-Rey
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Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo and to Tanzania
Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey will travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo and to Tanzania from 9-13 February 2010 to hold talks on ministerial level. While in the DRC, she will visit SDC programmes in South Kivu Province in the east of the country. The trip will focus on Switzerland’s cooperation and development activities, in particular in the health sector.
 Special page about the travel to Africa

House of Switzerland at the Olympic Games
The XXI Winter Olympic Games will take place from 12 – 28 February 2010 in Canada’s Vancouver and Whistler. The House of Switzerland will be represented twice this time. The unique Swiss guest centres will be set up in the heart of both of the sporting venues: Vancouver and Whistler.
 Further Information

Ministerial conference in Interlaken
In order to facilitate the reform of the European Court of Human Rights, Switzerland is hosting a ministerial conference of the 47 Council of Europe member states in Interlaken on 18 - 19 February 2010. This conference is one of the priorities of the Swiss presidency of the Council of Europe, which began in November 2009.
 Special page Interlaken Conference

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4th World Congress Against the Death Penalty - 24-26 February, Geneva
Switzerland will host the Congress, the aim of which is to develop effective strategies for achieving the universal abolition of the death penalty. The abolition of the death penalty is a priority of Swiss human rights foreign policy.
 4th World Congress Against the Death Penalty
 Human rights and humanitarian policy

Earthquake in Haiti and the activities of Humanitarian Aid in the disaster area 
The violent earthquake that struck Haiti has caused enormous damage. The emergency aid that the Swiss Confederation sent immediately is intended to supplement the aid that Switzerland has already been providing Haiti in order to continue and reinforce the existing programme. 
 Dossier with videos and photos

Popular vote, 29 November 2009: for a ban on minarets
A majority of the Swiss people and the cantons have adopted on 29 November 2009 the popular initiative against the construction of minarets. The Federal Council respects this decision. Consequently the construction of new minarets in Switzerland is no longer permitted. The four existing minarets will remain. It will also be possible to continue to construct mosques. Muslims in Switzerland are able to practise their religion alone or in community with others, and live according to their beliefs just as before.
 Dossier

Switzerland takes over the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe
From 18 November 2009 to 11 May 2010, Switzerland holds the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, for a period of 6 months. It will focus on following three areas: protection of human rights and the primacy of law, strengthening of democratic institutions, and increasing the transparency and the effectiveness of the Council of Europe. 
 Dossier

The 2009 Foreign Policy Report
Key foreign policy objectives such as security and continued prosperity essentially depend on greater international co-operation and inherent strength of the international system. At the same time, international co-operation has become both more complex and demanding. The 2009 Foreign Policy Report, which was approved by the Federal Council on 2 September 2009, notes in response to such developments that a strong and active foreign policy is necessary to ensure that Switzerland can efficiently and effectively safeguard its interests in the international context.
 The Report