At the end of 2008 the Federal Council approved the corresponding protective power mandates as well as the necessary agreements with Russia and Georgia.
Following official visits by Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) to Moscow on 13 December 2008 and to Tbilisi on 12 January 2009, the Swiss representations completed the necessary preparations to implement the protective power mandates. Tomorrow Thursday 5 March 2009, the interest representation sections of Georgia and of Russia in the Swiss representations in Moscow and Tbilisi will start work.
The protection of foreign interests is a traditional instrument of Swiss foreign policy. Switzerland currently exercises several protective power mandates. In Cuba and in Iran it represents the interests of the USA and it also represents Cuba's interests in the USA.