All news (850)
Message on Switzerland’s International Cooperation in 2013–2016
11.09.2012
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Article
DEZA
After the National Council, the Council of States adopted the Message on Switzerland’s International Cooperation in 2013–2016 on Tuesday, 11 September 2012. For the first time, the Message describes in one document the tasks of humanitarian aid, development cooperation, economic and trade policy measures within the framework of development cooperation, and cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe.
Official visit of the President of Slovakia
10.09.2012
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Press release
EDA
President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf received the President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gašparovič in Bern on an official visit. President Gašparovič was accompanied by the Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Miroslav Lajčák, who met his opposite number Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter for a working meeting. Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann met the Slovak Minister for Economic Affairs Tomáš Malatinský, who was also part of the official delegation.
Official visit to Bern by the Hungarian Foreign Minister János Martonyi
03.09.2012
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Press release
EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), today received his Hungarian counterpart Janos Martonyi for an official working visit at the Von Wattenwyl House in Bern. In addition to bilateral relations, the talks covered the European policy of both countries, aspects of multilateral cooperation, and current international issues.
Flooding in North Korea: Switzerland makes funds available for reconstruction and restoration of water supply
22.08.2012
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Article
DEZA
The flooding in North Korea caused by torrential rainfall in July and August has claimed more than 160 lives and caused extensive damage. Around 210,000 people are homeless and tens of thousands are in need of clean drinking water. In response, Switzerland has made CHF 200,000 available for emergency relief measures. Swiss Humanitarian Aid will use these funds to reconstruct houses and to restore the supply of drinking water in the affected areas.
One year since the approval of the special credit for the Horn of Africa
20.08.2012
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Article
DEZA
Emergency relief and food security are focal points of Swiss aid
A year ago, the Federal Council approved a special credit of CHF 20 million to help relieve the situation in the Horn of Africa where more than 13 million people were suffering from hunger. Extreme drought caused one of the most severe humanitarian crises in 30 years in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. Swiss Humanitarian Aid allocated the funds mainly for life-saving measures and food security.
Iran accepts Switzerland’s offer of assistance
16.08.2012
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Article
DEZA
On Thursday, Swiss Humanitarian Aid dispatched a four-man team of experts to the earthquake region in north-western Iran to carry out a fact-finding mission and, together with the Iranian authorities and the Iranian Red Crescent, to prepare for the distribution of emergency relief materials.
At the same times, measures were being undertaken to prepare for the air transport of winter-proof relief supplies for 1000 persons to the earthquake region as rapidly as possible.
The relief items primarily concern tents, tent insulation and heating apparatus, blankets, and field kitchens.
Crisis in Syria: Interview with Martin Zirn, Swiss expert on mission for the UNHCR
10.08.2012
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Article
DEZA
Thousands of Syrians fleeing to northern Iraq
Martin Zirn is a member of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit with many years’ experience including several postings to Iraq as an expert in shelter construction, water and sanitation projects. Since the outbreak of the crisis in neighbouring Syria, tens of thousands of people have fled the country including several thousand to northern Iraq. Zurich-based Martin Zirn has been seconded to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) by the Humanitarian Aid of the Swiss Confederation as a senior technical co-ordinator and project head.
More responsibility for the recipients
03.08.2012
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Article
DEZA
Interview about the effectiveness of development cooperation
Brian Atwood, director of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) development committee DAC, talks about how the effectiveness of development cooperation can be improved by establishing clear criteria for monitoring and by more effective coordination among donor countries.
Afghanistan: Cooperation Office opened 10 years ago
09.07.2012
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Article
DEZA
The Swiss Cooperation Office in Afghanistan celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2012. Subject to fundamental changes, Afghanistan is one of the so-called «fragile» states. Given this complex and volatile context, the SDC is stepping up its commitment in an effort to prevent the achievements so far from being undone. Elisabeth von Capeller, head of the Division South Asia, visited the country from 6–11 June 2012 and shares her impressions. Furthermore, the exhibition “New Afghanistan through Afghan Eyes” proposes to discover the many facets of this country through the photographs of young Afghan artists.
Mali: aid targeted to local needs
04.07.2012
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Article
DEZA
Interview with Geneviève Federspiel, resident director of Swiss cooperation in Mali from 2008-June 2012
«Whenever a door opens, we enter it»
Rede Burkhalter - GV Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation - Die Schweizer Entwicklungszusammenarbeit: Mit Herz und gemeinsamer Verantwortung mehr erreichen
23.06.2012
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Article
DEZA
Winterthur - Rede von Bundesrat Didier Burkhalter - Es gilt das gesprochene Wort
Swiss Enlargement Contribution: 210 Projects approved within the Funding-Commitment Period
18.06.2012
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Press release
EDA
Switzerland has approved a total of 210 projects in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe that became EU-Member States (EU-10) in 2004, with the aim of contributing to the reduction of the economic and social disparities in the enlarged European Union. In so doing, Switzerland has fulfilled the objective set down for the first phase of the Enlargement Contribution, namely that of concluding – within the commitment deadline of 14 June 2012 - project agreements with the EU-10 in whose financing it would participate with a total amount of CHF 1 billion. Following the five-year funding commitment period, the implementation phase is now to follow. This latter phase is scheduled to come to an end in June 2017, the deadline by which the projects agreed upon are obliged to have been concluded.