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Visit by Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey to West Africa

13.04.2009 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), is to make an official visit to West Africa on 15-18 April. The visit will take her to Nigeria, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Official working visit by the Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Kyprianou

09.04.2009 — Press release EDA
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Markos Kyprianou, has made an official working visit to Bern today for talks with his counterpart, Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey.

Earthquake in Italy: Switzerland offered assistance

06.04.2009 — Press release EDA
Switzerland has offered to provide immediate aid to the victims of a violent earthquake which struck the Abruzzo region in central Italy early this morning.

Switzerland takes part in the second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations

03.04.2009 — Press release EDA
Switzerland will take part in the second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations, which will be held in Istanbul from 6-7 April 2009. For Switzerland, this decision is an expression of its commitment to promote the peaceful coexistence of different cultures and religions. The Swiss delegation will be led by Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey.

Humanitarian appeal

01.04.2009 — Press release EDA

Switzerland participates in the Hague Conference on Afghanistan

31.03.2009 — Press release EDA
By its civil activity on behalf of the Afghani population and institutions, Switzerland is participating in the efforts of the international community in Afghanistan. Martin Dahinden Director of the SDC confirmed this commitment by Switzerland during the conference held in the Hague today 31 March 2009 at the joint invitation of Afghanistan, the Netherlands and the UN.

Annual Conference 2009 of the Humanitarian Aid and the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit SHA

27.03.2009 — Press release EDA
On the occasion of the 2009 edition of the Annual Conference, dedicated to the theme of “Save lives – alleviate suffering”, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and members of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit SHA presented a global survey of the situations requiring their intervention. In essence, their mission is to provide relief to those suffering in the wake of natural disasters and armed conflict.

Visit to Switzerland by the Polish Foreign Minister

26.03.2009 — Press release EDA
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radoslav Sikorski, was in Switzerland today for an official visit to hold talks with Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey. The day’s programme included a visit to the Polish Museum in Rapperswil.

Growth in Switzerland’s Official Development Assistance in 2008

25.03.2009 — Press release EDA

Human rights dialogue between Switzerland and Vietnam

23.03.2009 — Press release EDA
From 13 to 18 March, a Swiss delegation visited Vietnam in the framework of the seventh round of dialogue on human rights and international organisations. The delegation visited ministeries and spoke to representatives of the Vietnamese communist party and of civil society.

3C Conference 2009: promoting security, development and peace in fragile states

19.03.2009 — Press release EDA
Representatives from the UN, the OECD, the World Bank, and NATO meet in Geneva at a conference hosted by the Government of Switzerland on March 19-20, 2009. This “3C” Conference, standing for coherent, coordinated, and complementary, brings together for the first time some 250 decision-makers from 40 countries – representing such areas as foreign affairs, security, development cooperation, finance, trade, justice, and law enforcement – to discuss ways to achieve security, development, and peace objectives in fragile states. Using lessons learnt in Afghanistan, Haiti, Liberia and Sudan, conference participants will discuss the benefits, challenges and operational requirements of a coherent, coordinated and complementary (3C) approach among the various actors.

Demolition of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem

19.03.2009 — Press release EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is seriously concerned by the possible destruction of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem near the Old Town. It calls on the Israeli government to comply with its obligations in international law and not to go ahead with the planned demolitions.

Media (3119)

Federal Council adopts maritime strategy for Switzerland

02.06.2023 — Press release EDA
The Federal Council adopted a maritime strategy on June 2, 2023 that provides an overview for all stakeholders and will make federal policy on issues in this area more coherent. Although Switzerland is a landlocked country, it has a number of interests in maritime affairs.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis to visit Madrid before Spain's EU presidency

01.06.2023 — Press release EDA
On 5 June, the head of the FDFA is to be received by José Manuel Albares, the Spanish minister for foreign affairs, the EU and cooperation. The two ministers will discuss the development of Swiss-EU relations in the run-up to Spain's presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2023. Discussions will also focus on the war in Ukraine, the UN Security Council and the excellent bilateral relations between Switzerland and Spain.

UN Security Council: Switzerland advocates for the protection of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant

30.05.2023 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis chaired a meeting on the protection of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant at the UN Security Council on 30 May 2023. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), presented five principles to the Council to guarantee protection of the nuclear power plant. This protection has been threatened several times since the beginning of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. Switzerland supports the IAEA's efforts and calls on the parties to recognise and implement the five principles.

UN Security Council: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis chairs meeting on protection of Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant

29.05.2023 — Press release EDA
The UN Security Council will meet on 30 May 2023 to discuss the protection of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. The safety of the nuclear power plant is threatened by hostilities. At the meeting in New York chaired by Federal Councillor Cassis, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, will brief the Security Council on the current situation and present the principles for ensuring safety on site.

Swiss national human rights institution established in Bern

23.05.2023 — Press release EDA
The Swiss national human rights institution (NHRI) was inaugurated on Tuesday 23 May in Bern. Its creation is the culmination of a political process which has taken over 20 years. The mission of the NHRI, an independent institution, will be to contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights in Switzerland by working with the federal, cantonal and communal authorities, as well as with all other relevant actors.

Swiss-Lithuanian Cooperation Programme launched

22.05.2023 — Press release EDA
On 22 May 2023, the Ambassador of Switzerland and the Lithuanian Minister of Finance signed the implementation agreement for the Swiss-Lithuanian Cooperation Programme under the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. The contribution to Lithuania amounts to 45.2 million Swiss francs and will support programmes in Lithuania in the fields of health, civic participation and vocational education.

Ignazio Cassis meets Icelandic foreign minister in Zurich

22.05.2023 — Press release EDA
On Monday afternoon, 22 May 2023, the head of the FDFA, Ignazio Cassis, received his Icelandic counterpart, Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir, for an official working visit in Zurich. They discussed bilateral relations, the two countries' work in the Council of Europe, and the future path of Europe.

Commencement Ceremony

21.05.2023 — Press release EDA
Remarks by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), on the occasion of the Commencement Ceremony at Franklin University - Check against delivery

Switzerland committed to tackling poverty and climate change in Africa

17.05.2023 — Press release EDA
Switzerland is contributing CHF 212 million to the 16th replenishment of the African Development Fund (ADF). The funds are deployed in the 37 poorest countries in Africa to fight poverty and climate change. They are intended to help achieve the goals set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. On 17 May, the Federal Council also decided that Switzerland would contribute CHF 27.5 million towards the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI).

Switzerland works to shed light on past deployments of chemical weapons and prevent their future use

15.05.2023 — Press release EDA
The Fifth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) will take place in The Hague from 15 to 19 May. The CWC seeks the permanent and verifiable destruction of all chemical weapons worldwide. At the conference, the 193 states parties, including Switzerland, will review progress towards implementation of the CWC and set priorities for the coming years. Repeated use of chemical weapons, notably in Syria, and the current geopolitical situation pose major challenges for the conference. Switzerland is committed to the scientific clarification of all uses of chemical weapons and seeks to strengthen the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in order to send a strong message against such weapons.

Livia Leu named Swiss ambassador to Germany

10.05.2023 — Press release EDA
At its meeting on 10 May 2023, the Federal Council appointed State Secretary Livia Leu as Swiss ambassador to Germany. She will take up her new post in autumn 2023, replacing Paul Seger, who is retiring. The FDFA is appointing a selection committee to select Livia Leu's successor. The Federal Council has announced further appointments as part of the usual transfer rotation.

FDFA State Secretary Livia Leu holds political consultations with Kosovo

09.05.2023 — Press release EDA
On 9 May, FDFA State Secretary Livia Leu held political consultations in Bern with Kosovo's Deputy Foreign Minister Kreshnik Ahmeti. The meeting focused on bilateral matters, the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, Swiss support for the EU normalisation process between the two countries and the implications for the Western Balkans of the war against Ukraine.

Other news (300)

SwissInTouch, Switzerland in your pocket

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.

Speech - 150e anniversaire du passage de la frontière de l’armée du général Bourbaki

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.

"Digitalisation - an opportunity for Europe's democratic values"

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.

Official opening of the Ceneri Base Tunnel

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

Passaggio di testimone tra generazioni (de-fr-it)

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.

75 years of the United Nations (fr)

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

Opening of the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council (fr)

24.02.2020 — EDA
Geneva, 24.02.2020 - Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis - Check against delivery

SDC Newsletter: Africa, CO2 reduction and WEF

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.

Discover the world with the FDFA and with peace mind

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.

Honeyland Oscar nominee

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).

Switzerland and Italy reach an agreement on Campione d'Italia

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.

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

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.

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