All news (3013)
Official visit by the President of the Republic of Macedonia
26.07.2010
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Press release
EDA
On 26 July, President Doris Leuthard, accompanied by Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, will receive the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, accompanied by Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki. The official meetings will take place at the Lohn country residence and be followed by a lunch hosted by the President of the Swiss Confederation.
Federal Council in favour of Kazakhstan joining the Swiss constituency in the IMF/World Bank
21.07.2010
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Press release
EDA
The Federal Council is in favour of Kazakhstan being included the Swiss constituency in the IMF and World Bank. It has responded favourably to an expression of interest by Kazakhstan.
Switzerland hands over to Germany documents on GDR assets
15.07.2010
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Press release
EDA
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) yesterday handed to the German Embassy in Bern a series of bank documents that could shed light on the existence of possible misappropriated assets of parties and people’s organisations from former East Germany. The Federal Council made the decision to transfer the documents to Germany at its meeting on 30 June 2010. Germany had previously asked Switzerland for the documents in order to obtain further information about illegal financial movements before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The accounts that were found had been closed several years ago. At the time of closure, they did not hold any assets.
Federal Councillor Calmy-Rey attends OSCE meeting of ministers in Kazakhstan
15.07.2010
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Press release
EDA
Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey is to attend the ministerial meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe being held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 16-17 July 2010. Foreign ministers and other high-ranking representatives of the 56 OSCE States will meet to discuss security in Europe and the role of the OSCE in European security policy.
2009 Annual Report on Switzerland’s international cooperation: Development cooperation is effective
13.07.2010
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Press release
EDA
In the last five years 370'000 people have gained access to drinking water as a result of Swiss support. In Tanzania, where Switzerland is strongly committed in the health-care sector, child mortality has fallen by 40% in the last ten years. These and other results are presented in the Annual Report on Switzerland’s International Cooperation. In 2009, Switzerland channelled 0.47% of its gross national income to Official development assistance, placing it in the mid-range of OECD donor countries.
Against the death penalty for minors in Iran
06.07.2010
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Press release
EDA
Switzerland is opposed to the execution of minors in Iran. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has asked the Iranian authorities to repeal a death sentence due to be carried out tomorrow, Wednesday.
Switzerland and Japan sign a Memorandum for intensified cooperation and a bilateral political dialogue
05.07.2010
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Press release
EDA
Today, July 5 2010, the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Peter Maurer, and the Ambassador of Japan to Switzerland, Ichiro Komatsu, have signed a Memorandum on establishing a framework for intensified cooperation between the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Meeting of global microfinance experts in Bern
02.07.2010
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Press release
EDA
Bern was the centre of the microfinance world from 28 June to 2 July 2010. The annual conference of the Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) at the Kursaal was attended by 200 specialists who exchanged views on achieving a sustainable financial market. SDC director Martin Dahinden and four leading microfinance experts held a media conference at which they summarised the outcome of the conference.
Switzerland’s priorities at the 65th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations
30.06.2010
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Press release
EDA
Today, the Federal Council approved Switzerland’s priorities at the 65th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, which will be presided over by Joseph Deiss. These objectives will soon be the subject of consultation with the foreign policy committees of the Swiss Parliament.
Interim report on success in achieving Millennium Development Goals
30.06.2010
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Press release
EDA
At its meeting on 30 June the Federal Council approved the Confederation’s interim report for 2010 on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The re-port is fundamentally positive on Switzerland’s contribution to achieving the Goals and notably shows, with numerous examples, what has been accom-plished in such areas as water, health and education.
Significant deepening of bilateral relationships between Switzerland and China
29.06.2010
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Press release
EDA
At the end of her official working visit to China, Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and Yang Jiechi, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, opened the first political dialogue meeting of high-ranking officials. For Switzerland and China, this is an important milestone on the road to intensifying their bilateral relationships. Earlier, the Head of the FDFA met with China's first Vice-Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing and also visited the wandering exhibition "Einstein 2010 – 2012". Her visit to China kicked off with an appearance at the EXPO 2010 in Shanghai, where Switzerland is represented with a pavilion that has attracted much attention.
Human rights dialogue between Switzerland and Tajikistan
22.06.2010
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Press release
EDA
The first round of the Human Rights Dialogue between Switzerland and Tajikistan took place on 22 June 2010 in Dushanbe. The dialogue was officially launched by Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey during her working visit to Central Asia in October 2009. The talks focused on a discussion of a number of human rights themes and the possibility of deepening the dialogue through specific projects.