Opening week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly

In resolution 2448, the UN General Assembly mandated Switzerland, as the depository state, to convene a conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention within six months The conference is to address the convention’s implementation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis used the UN General Assembly to take up the issue with a number of interlocutors, thus advancing preparations for the conference.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis was able to discuss the situation in the Middle East in detail in various talks with his counterparts Badr Abdelatty from Egypt, Ayman Al-Safadi from Jordan and Mohamed Ali Nafti from Tunisia.

At a ministerial meeting on the conflict in Sudan, held on the sidelines of the opening of the General Debate of the General Assembly, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis reaffirmed Switzerland's commitment to resolving the crisis in the country. ‘Switzerland is fully committed to supporting efforts to promote peace in Sudan’, he said in a speech.Not so long ago, Sudan initiated a political transition, moving from military rule to a civilian-led government, offering hope for a peaceful future.

But war brought this transition to an end, triggering the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Millions of people have been forced to flee, and many more are suffering from severe food insecurity. It was in response to these emergency conditions that the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, the United Nations, the African Union and Switzerland formed the ALPS group to take forward the process launched in Jeddah. ‘It is essential that we continue to put pressure on the parties to the conflict to grant humanitarian access and protect humanitarian workers. We must ensure that sufficient resources are available and that this vital aid reaches those who need it most,’ said the head of the FDFA. At the high-level event, Switzerland pledged an additional 8.2 million USD.

Referring to the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, Ignazio Cassis also called for continued respect for international humanitarian law.

Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on Sudan, 25 September 2025

At the invitation of US Assistant Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and USAID Administrator Samantha Power, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis took part in an event hosted by USAID's Democracy Delivers initiative. The aim of this initiative is to support the democratisation of countries experiencing a promising democratic awakening. The event brought together high-level government representatives and leaders of philanthropic organisations to discuss how best to support such democratic openings.

‘Democracy offers significant benefits for sustainable development and lasting peace,’ said the head of the FDFA in his speech during the event Democracy must be promoted by supporting each other in identifying and developing democratic solutions that correspond to the specific cultural, historical and socio-economic circumstances on the ground. Switzerland has made promotion of democracy a new thematic focus of its foreign policy. It will also make greater use of diplomatic instruments for democracy: ‘We are ready to offer swift and creative support wherever and whenever it is welcome,’ emphasised Mr Cassis in New York.

Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on democracy, 25 September 2024 

The focus of the meeting between Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and Ukraine's new foreign minister Andrii Sybiha was Switzerland's support for Ukraine's reconstruction. In this context, Switzerland and Ukraine are jointly organising the ‘Ukraine Mine Action Conference’ in Lausanne on 17 and 18 October 2024 to advance humanitarian mine clearance in the country. The peace process, which was initiated at the Bürgenstock conference in June, was also discussed. (See also entry for the UN Security Council dated 24 September 2024)

In a conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Mr Cassis expressed concern about the high risk of an escalation in the Middle East and particularly in Lebanon. Switzerland calls on all parties to de-escalate and to find an immediate political solution to the conflict.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and Timcho Mucunski, the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia, took the opportunity to exchange views on key bilateral issues.

On the fringes of the UN General Assembly, the head of the FDFA had an in-depth discussion with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar about possible political solutions to the war in Ukraine.

With his counterpart Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, Federal Councillor Iganzio Cassis discussed cooperation with Burkina Faso and the related challenges in the Sahel.

In New York, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis took the opportunity to hold a series of bilateral talks with various countries of the South Caucasus region. Firstly, on Tuesday 24 September, he met the Armenian Foreign Minister, Ararat Mirzoyan. The following day, he also had discussions with the foreign ministers of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili, and Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov. At the center of the discussions was Swiss support for the transition in the South Caucasus. Switzerland remains committed to dialogue and peace in the region, and called for current challenges to be tackled through diplomacy. Inclusive and sustainable economic development and support for effective democratic institutions were at the heart of the discussions.

Talks in New York between Federal Councillor Cassis and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi focused on how to deepen the strategic and innovative partnership and on the growing international challenges and promotion of a peace agenda.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis represented Switzerland at a meeting of the UN Security Council dedicated to the war in Ukraine. In the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Russian representative to the UN in New York and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the head of the FDFA emphasised that the United Nations Charter, international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions are instruments that have been in place since the Second World War. ‘Nevertheless, we have not managed to silence the weapons,’ he said in New York. So far, the UN Security Council has not lived up to its responsibility: ’After 1,000 days of war, we still have not found a diplomatic solution.’

Making peace takes courage, the head of the FDFA emphasised. Switzerland showed this when it organised the Summit on Peace in Ukraine during the war. The conference had helped to alleviate blockades caused by the war. However, continued dialogue would have to be conducted together with Russia.

Mr Cassis emphasised that reconstruction must also be well prepared for lasting peace. In this context, he referred to the conference on humanitarian demining that Switzerland and Ukraine are organising in Lausanne on 17 and 18 October 2024.

Statement by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the situation in Ukraine, UN Security Council, 24 September 2024

The conversation in New York between Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe focused on progress in the area of digital cooperation.

In her opening address to the international community, President Viola Amherd expressed concern that tensions are intensifying worldwide and that the threshold for the use of military force has dropped significantly. Wars, disasters, damage to the living environment, as well as opportunities and risks, such

as those posed by new technologies, are challenges that all states face. ‘As the only truly global organisation, the UN has a crucial role to play in tackling these issues,’ emphasised the President of the Swiss Confederation. It is important to show a willingness to negotiate principles for a world order in the mutual interest and on the basis of international law.

‘The search for peace is paramount, and Switzerland is committed to playing its part,’ said the head of the DDPS. Resignation must not be an option. It was in this context, and in line with its tradition of good offices, that Switzerland organised the high-level conference on peace in Ukraine on the Bürgenstock. The conference was an important step on the road to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine. In view of this, Viola Amherd called on the international community to spare no effort in supporting constructive measures in this direction.

The Swiss defence minister also stressed to the UN General Assembly that the protection of civilians in conflicts cannot be taken for granted and is not guaranteed. Not only are civilians insufficiently protected, but they are also repeatedly the victims of attacks. ‘We are witnessing violations of international humanitarian law, from Myanmar to Ukraine, from the Middle East to Sudan,’ said Viola Amherd in New York. In this context, she reaffirmed Switzerland's commitment to compliance with and respect for international humanitarian law, which regulates the legal basis for war and thus the protection of the civilian population.

A focused and effective multilateralism is in Switzerland's interest. To achieve this, there is an urgent need for more constructive and peaceful exchange between states. The United Nations provides the framework for this. ‘Let us work together to make it stronger,’ concluded the President of the Swiss Confederation.

Switzerland's opening speech to the UN General Assembly, 24 September 2024

Press release, 24.09.2024: DDPS - President Amherd emphasises Switzerland’s commitment to peace and calls for strengthening of multilateralism in New York

All of President Amherd's appearances at the UN General Assembly in New York on the DDPS website

On the fringes of the high-level opening week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis discussed with Kosovo's Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz the situation in northern Kosovo and the continuation of the EU-led dialogue for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

In New York, federal councillor Ignazio Cassis met with the other current and newly elected members of the UN Security Council (E10 – Elected 10). They reaffirmed their shared commitment to multilateralism, the UN Charter and international law. The elected members also want to continue to work for an efficient Security Council, especially in view of the current crises and major challenges to peace and security. The meeting was dedicated to building trust between the Council members in order to further strengthen the unity of the elected members.

In the context of increasing geopolitical polarisation, which is also reflected in the UN Security Council, mutual trust and effective and focused multilateralism are key to finding solutions to global challenges. The head of the FDFA had already presented this approach during an open debate of the Security Council during the first Swiss Council presidency on 3 May 2023. The E10 make up two-thirds of the Council. Since a Security Council resolution always requires nine votes in favour in addition to the absence of a veto, the E10 play a crucial role in enabling the Security Council to take decisions. In this sense, they fulfil an important function in the search for consensus within the Council.

The number of armed conflicts in the world is rapidly increasing. Millions of people on almost every continent need humanitarian aid, while the humanitarian personnel that provides such life-saving assistance is itself increasingly coming under pressure and being attacked. The protection of humanitarian personnel in crisis and conflict areas is a key concern for Switzerland.

At the invitation of Australia, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis took part in an event in New York dedicated to this topic. ‘Humanitarian personnel is the lifeline for millions of civilians across the globe. Let us safeguard their ability to perform their vital work and let us reaffirm our strong commitment to protect them,’ emphasised the Swiss foreign minister in his address. In view of the large number of conflicts today and the inhuman suffering of the civilian population, he called for greater efforts to be made to comply with international humanitarian law and to strengthen the political will associated with it. 

In his speech, the head of the FDFA also emphasised the importance of the Swiss-drafted resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on 24 May 2024. In the resolution, the Security Council explicitly calls on all states, as well as state and non-state parties to a conflict, to respect and protect humanitarian and UN personnel. It also condemns attacks on such personnel and calls on states to hold those responsible for such violations to account. The resolution upholds Switzerland's long-standing humanitarian tradition and reaffirms international humanitarian law. Supporting and protecting people in need is an essential part of Switzerland's Foreign Policy Strategy 2024–27.

Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the protection of humanitarian personnel

Joint statement towards a new declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel

The high-level week marking the opening of the UN General Assembly was preceded by the Summit of the Future, where the UN member states adopted the Pact for the Future with its annexes, the Global Digital Compact and a declaration on future generations. The 2021 summit was initiated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres' report "Our Common Agenda". President Amherd delivered a statement at the Summit on behalf of Switzerland.

Address by president Viola Amherd at the UN Summit of the Future