All news (3836)
Official working visit by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
24.06.2009
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, has received today Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, in Bern for an official working visit. Their talks centred on bilateral questions and current international issues.
Agreement on goods controls and customs security between Switzerland and the EU: opening of consultation procedure
24.06.2009
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Press releases
EDA
The Federal Council today decided to open consultation proceedings on the agreement between the EU and the Swiss Confederation on the waiving of checks and formalities in goods transport and on customs security measures. The agreement is designed to prevent new barriers to trade with the EU and replaces and supplements the existing agreement on goods controls of 1990. It will apply provisionally from 1 July 2009. The Agreement will be signed tomorrow, on June 25, in Brussels.
Human trafficking: exchange of experience between experts from Hungary and Switzerland
24.06.2009
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Press releases
EDA
Human trafficking does not stop at national borders, which means that international cooperation is essential to efficiently combat and to prevent human trafficking and to protect victims. The FDFA, working in close cooperation with the International Organization for Migration IOM in Berne, holds twice-yearly round tables for foreign experts. These talks enable participants to cultivate contacts, to share experiences and to strengthen cooperation. The three-year series of round tables on human trafficking opened yesterday with talks between Swiss experts and a delegation from Hungary.
The Federal Council concludes a Host Country Agreement with the GAVI Alliance (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization)
23.06.2009
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Press releases
EDA
On 23 June 2009, Ambassador Paul Seger, Director of the Directorate of Public International Law, signed on behalf of the Federal Council, a Host country Agreement with the GAVI Alliance (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization). On the part of the GAVI Alliance, the Agreement was signed by Mr. Julian Lob-Levyt, the GAVI Alliance’s Executive Secretary.
Official working visit to Budapest by Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey
16.06.2009
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), travelled to Budapest today to meet her new Hungarian counterpart, Péter Balázs, for an official working visit. The focus of their talks was on bilateral relations and co-operation between the two countries in international organisations, European co-operation and current international issues. A declaration of intent was also signed during this visit.
Ambassador Peter Maurer elected as president the Budget Committee of the UN General Assembly
10.06.2009
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Press releases
EDA
On 10 June 2009, Ambassador Peter Maurer, head of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York, was elected as president of the 5th. Committee of the 64th UN General Assembly. This is the first time that Switzerland has presided over one of the main committees of the United Nations General Assembly.
Enlargement contribution to Bulgaria and Romania: Federal Council sends dispatch to parliament
05.06.2009
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Press releases
EDA
On 5 June 2009 the Federal Council sent the Dispatch on the Credit Facility for the Enlargement Contribution in favour of Bulgaria and Romania to parliament. Switzerland’s contribution to reducing economic and social disparities totals CHF 257m over a five-year period.
Switzerland to take part in world exhibition 2012 in South Korea
05.06.2009
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Press releases
EDA
The Federal Council has decided that Switzerland will take part in the category B world exhibition in Yeosu, South Korea, in 2012. Switzerland has accepted the invitation that it officially received from South Korea in a diplomatic note dated 3 February 2009.
Switzerland welcomes the adoption of a programme of work at the Geneva Disarmament Conference (last modification, the 04.06.2009)
04.06.2009
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Press releases
EDA
The 65 members of the Geneva Disarmament Conference (CD) today adopted a programme of work by consensus. Switzerland welcomes this development, which is important for Geneva's role as a venue for international disarmament negotiations.
The FDFA strongly condemns the probable killing of the British hostage in Mali
03.06.2009
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Press releases
EDA
With deep dismay, grief and outrage the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has learned of the probable killing of the British hostage who has been in captivity in Mali since 22 January 2009. The FDFA continues to focus all its efforts on the release of the remaining hostage, a Swiss citizen.
Visit to Libya by Federal Councillor Calmy-Rey
29.05.2009
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), visited Libya from 27 to 29 May 2009. The main purpose of this visit was to meet the two Swiss citizens who have been detained in Libya for 300 days and are not permitted to leave the country. Mrs Calmy-Rey was accompanied on her visit by the wives of the two detained Swiss citizens and by a doctor.
Switzerland condemns the nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)
27.05.2009
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Press releases
EDA
North Korea has announced that it carried out a new underground nuclear test on 25 May 2009. Switzerland condemns the test as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, as a threat to peace and security in the region, and as an affront to the efforts of the international community to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
