Here you can find the last 12 media releases and other news published by the FDFA, such as statements, announcements and articles, in chronological order.
All media releases can be found on the Administarions's website.
16.06.2010
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Press releases
EDA
The FDFA is relieved to hear the news of the release by Philippine security forces of a Swiss-Philippine dual citizen who had been held captive since 4 April 2010.
15.06.2010
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Press releases
EDA
The President of the Swiss Confederation and head of the Federal Department of
Economic Affairs (FDEA), Doris Leuthard, and the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Micheline Calmy-Rey, today received the Prime Minister of Georgia, Nika Gilauri, in Bern. The meetings covered bilateral relations and international issues such as the situation in the Southern Caucasus. At the end of the meeting with President Leuthard, a double taxation agreement was signed between the two countries.
14.06.2010
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Press releases
EDA
Doris Leuthard, President of the Swiss Confederation, today received the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Mirko Cvetkovic at the Lohn Residence at Kehrsatz. The meetings focussed on bilateral relations, cooperation within the international financial institutions and the situation in the western Balkans.
13.06.2010
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Press releases
EDA
Swiss citizen Max Göldi, who has been detained in Libya for almost two years and was released from prison in Tripolis on 10 June 2010 after four months’ imprisonment, returned to Switzerland last night. He was flown out of Libya late on Sunday evening. “We are relieved and share in the joy of Max Göldi and his family”, emphasized Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA. At the same time, she thanked Spain and Germany for their services as mediators.
11.06.2010
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Press releases
EDA
Today in New York, the United Nations General Assembly has elected by acclamation Joseph Deiss to the office of President of the 65th Session of the General Assembly. The President of the Swiss Confederation, Doris Leuthard, has congratulated Joseph Deiss in writing on behalf of the Federal Council, welcoming the election as a great honour for Switzerland. Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, speaking in New York, regards the election as a strong signal of the international community’s recognition of Switzerland’s commitment to the United Nations.
08.06.2010
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Press releases
EDA
Hungary is getting prepared to face a major risk of flooding in the north of the country. The Danube and the Tisza are threatening to overflow their banks towards the middle of next week. To cope with this threat, the Hungarian government has requested the aid of its European partners. Switzerland will deliver 500,000 bags of sand and dispatch to the site three experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit.
04.06.2010
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Press releases
EDA
Following the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, the Swiss Confederation will again be using future Olympic Games as platforms for its communication abroad. The Federal Council decided today that Switzerland will be represented at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London and at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi with a “House of Switzerland”.
04.06.2010
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Press releases
EDA
Switzerland is dismayed by the news of the death of Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, executive director of the Congolese human rights organisation, “La voix des sans voix”, that occurred on 2 June 2010. Mr Chebeya was found dead in his car in Kinshasa.
04.06.2010
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Press releases
EDA
The Global Forum on the Recovery of Assets and Development jointly organised by Switzerland, the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will take place in Paris on 8 and 9 June. Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will represent Switzerland at this event.
02.06.2010
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Press releases
EDA
A Swiss delegation visited Moscow from 31 May to 2 June for the eighth round of human rights consultations which Switzerland has been holding with Russia since 2003. The talks covered the national and international human rights policies of both countries as well as the operational aspect of the consultations.
02.06.2010
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Press releases
EDA
Today, Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, has received Antônio de Aguiar Patriota, Secretary-General of Foreign Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil, for a courtesy visit. Mr Patriota is in Switzerland for talks in the context of the regular political dialogue between Switzerland and Brazil.
01.06.2010
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Press releases
EDA
The FDFA expresses its very serious concern following an incident of the coast of the Gaza Strip resulting from an assault by Israeli forces on an international convoy of ships bringing humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza. Switzerland asks for an international inquiry to be conducted into the circumstances of this tragic event.
23.04.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, received Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Alexander Schallenberg in Bern today. Their discussions focused on the close bilateral relations between the two countries, Switzerland's European policy, current international affairs and the security situation. Both ministers reaffirmed their joint commitment to promoting global peace.
18.04.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
Palestine's application for full UN membership will not be submitted to the UN General Assembly due to the veto by the United States on 18 April in the UN Security Council. Switzerland abstained from the vote. After assessing the situation and consulting with the chairs of the parliamentary foreign affairs committees, the Federal Council concluded that granting Palestine full UN membership at this time would not be conducive to easing the situation and peace efforts in the Middle East. Switzerland remains committed to the two-state solution.
18.04.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
On 17–18 April, representatives from more than 50 countries and organisations gathered at an international workshop in Kyiv to discuss measures for identifying and clearing mines and unexploded ordnance in Ukraine. Good coordination of national activities and international support is crucial to ensure that this work can progress swiftly and effectively. The workshop was co-organised by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). Switzerland, whose delegation at the conference was led by Ambassador Simon Geissbühler, has a long history of supporting humanitarian demining through the GICHD and other organisations. Clearing the country of mines is a key prerequisite for Ukraine's recovery.
17.04.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
State Secretary Alexandre Fasel received a US delegation for political consultations in Bern on 17 April. The delegation was led by Assistant Secretary James O'Brien, who is in charge of European and Eurasian affairs at the US Department of State. On the agenda were the many ongoing or recently concluded bilateral negotiations, particularly in the area of taxation, which are concrete examples of the dynamism of bilateral relations.
15.04.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
At the international donors' conference on 15 April 2024 in Paris, Switzerland pledged CHF 19 million to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of the conflict in Sudan. As a result of the ongoing hostilities over the past year, the country is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian disasters of our time. To date, 8.6 million people have been displaced, and the country is on the brink of a devastating famine. From the beginning of the crisis, Switzerland has been actively engaged at multiple levels to help end the conflict and improve the situation on the ground.
12.04.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
The third International Cooperation Forum (IC Forum) concluded today in Basel. Over 1,000 representatives from politics, business, science, and civil society gathered alongside President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd, FDFA head Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, and Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde to discuss the theme of peace promotion. Discussions centred on three core values: critical dialogue, trust, and innovation, all aimed at finding new pathways for tangible and sustainable progress. A highlight of the 2024 forum was the Swiss IC Awards, recognising innovative peace-building projects by Swiss companies.
12.04.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis paid an official visit to Croatia today. He was received by his counterpart, Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman. The meeting focused on bilateral relations, Swiss–EU relations and the geopolitical context.
11.04.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillors Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin, together with Swiss National Bank Chairman Thomas Jordan, will attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from 17 to 19 April 2024. A meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, as well as a ministerial meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), will also take place as part of this gathering. In addition, the two Federal Councillors will take this opportunity to hold bilateral meetings.
11.04.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
In 2023, Switzerland's official development assistance (ODA) amounted to CHF 4.64 billion, equivalent to 0.60% of its gross national income (GNI), more than a quarter of which came from asylum-related costs in Switzerland. Excluding these asylum costs, the ODA/GNI ratio was 0.43%.
10.04.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
Switzerland has been providing humanitarian aid and supporting the economic development and longer-term reconstruction of Ukraine since the war broke out in February 2022. This support builds on the existing cooperation with the country and is to be intensified over the next twelve years, as decided by the Federal Council at its meeting of 10 April 2024. It plans to allocate a total of CHF 5 billion to this end by 2036. As a first step, around CHF 1.5 billion is to be drawn from the international cooperation budget by 2028. This amount clearly demonstrates Switzerland's solidarity with the people affected by the war in Ukraine and will increase stability on the European continent.
10.04.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
Switzerland will continue to support the Green Climate Fund (GCF) with a total contribution of CHF 135 million over the next four years. The Federal Council took this decision at its meeting on 10 April 2024. The GCF helps developing countries take concrete action to achieve the goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. In particular, it funds initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.
10.04.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
At its meeting on 10 April 2024, the Federal Council took note of the results of the exploratory phase of the high-level conference on peace in Ukraine. The conditions are now in place for the conference to be able to initiate a peace process. The first step is to develop a common understanding among the participating states with a view to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The conference is scheduled for June 2024 at the Bürgenstock resort in the canton of Nidwalden.
24.11.2022 —
Article
EDA
Approximately 780,000 Swiss citizens abroad currently benefit from the wide range of services provided by a global network of representations offering advice and support. The FDFA Helpline is also on hand to answer queries 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Now there's a new app that makes staying in touch even easier: SwissInTouch keeps Switzerland at your fingertips.
29.01.2022 —
EDA
Allocution du président de la Confédération Ignazio Cassis, chef du Département fédéral des affaires étrangères, à l’occasion du 150e anniversaire du passage de la frontière de l’armée du général Bourbaki - Check against delivery.
21.05.2021 —
EDA
Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), on the occasion of the 131st (virtual) Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Check against delivery.
04.09.2020 —
EDA
Camorino, 04.09.2020 - Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the occasion of the Inauguration Ceremony "Ceneri2020" - Check against delivery
25.08.2020 —
EDA
Bern, 25.08.2020: Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the occasion of the retirement of the ambassadors and the welcoming of the young diplomats who are taking up their posts in the service of the FDFA. Check against delivery.
26.06.2020 —
EDA
Geneva, 26.06.2020: Address by the Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter - Check against delivery
29.01.2020 —
DEZA
The FDFA has showcased some innovative technology at the 50th WEF, which could reduce global CO2 emissions by millions of tonnes per year. The SDC undertakes a range of projects in the construction industry, working in cooperation with academia and the private sector. The aim of these projects, which are located in emerging economies, is to tackle global warming effectively.
17.01.2020 —
Article
EDA
Just what is the perfect trip abroad? And where would it take you? Swiss travellers have different needs and expectations – some prefer to go on their own, others would rather choose an organised tour. It doesn't matter if you're a backpacker or a jet-setter: the FDFA provides a wide range of services for anyone who wants to travel abroad.
14.01.2020 —
Article
DEZA
Honeyland has been nominated for an Oscar in the categories Best International Feature Film and Best Documentary. The film’s hero, Hatidze Muratova, champions environmental protection and the sustainable management of natural resources. She was discovered through the Nature Conservation Programme launched by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
20.12.2019 —
EDA
At its meeting on 20 December 2019, the Federal Council approved an exchange of notes between Switzerland and Italy regarding the change of the customs status of the Italian enclave of Campione d'Italia. This exchange of notes is necessary to ensure legal certainty and facilitates the transition of Campione d'Italia into the European Union's customs territory, scheduled for 1 January 2020.
19.12.2019 —
EDA
On 16 and 17 December 2019 a third meeting of the Working Group on Unresolved Issues established by the Joint Committee, supervising the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on the basic principles for a mechanism of customs administration and monitoring of trade in goods, signed on 9 November 2011, took place in Bern.