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 News Service of the Federal Administration.
13.06.2019
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Press releases
EDA
As part of annual bilateral consultations, a high-ranking Iranian delegation comprised of representatives of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and judiciary visited Switzerland on 12 and 13 June. Bilateral, regional and multilateral matters, as well as judicial and human rights issues, were discussed within the framework of the existing dialogue formats. The consultations were held against the backdrop of tensions that have recently affected regional and global stability. Switzerland and Iran also signed an agreement on good offices.
11.06.2019
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Press releases
EDA
In 2018, 700 million people were living in extreme poverty and 70 million people were displaced. Switzerland works to combat poverty, overcome global challenges like climate change and promote peace and human rights. This is a significant contribution to sustainable development and a stable international environment, as can be seen in the 2018 annual report on international cooperation published today by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER).
07.06.2019
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Press releases
EDA
The Federal Council intends to consolidate and further develop the bilateral approach, the cornerstone of relations between Switzerland and the EU. This also requires the search for solutions to the institutional issues. At its meeting of 7 June 2019, it approved the report on the consultations on the institutional agreement between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) and decided to demand clarifications. The Federal Council also underlined that maintaining the current level of wage protection was a key Swiss demand and that the social partners and the cantons would be closely involved in the next steps of the process.
07.06.2019
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Press releases
EDA
The Federal Council agreed at its meeting of 7 June 2019 to make a CHF 125 million contribution to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the 2019–22 period. The large number of crises around the world in 2018 meant that more than 21 million people received assistance and protection from UNHCR programmes, which are primarily implemented in neighbouring regions. Switzerland's partnership with the UNHCR is key to implementing its strategy linking international cooperation and national migration interests. In addition, Switzerland promotes its priorities within the Executive Committee of the UNHCR, the UN's largest organisation headquartered in Geneva.
02.06.2019
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Press releases
EDA
For the first time in two decades, a US secretary of state has visited Switzerland for bilateral talks. On Sunday 2 June 2019, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received his counterpart Michael Pompeo in Castelgrande in Bellinzona for an official working visit.
29.05.2019
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Press releases
EDA
At its meeting of 29 May 2019, the Federal Council initiated a consultation process regarding two international agreements on inland navigation – the Strasbourg Convention of 2012 on the limitation of liability in inland navigation and the Convention on the collection, deposit and reception of waste produced during navigation on the Rhine and Inland Waterways. Both areas covered by the treaties are already subject to regulation, but new factors require that the agreements be brought up-to-date. The first convention has been re-drafted and substantive provisions have been added to the second.
29.05.2019
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Press releases
EDA
At its meeting on 29 May 2019 the Federal Council reaffirmed its commitment to fighting impunity for the most serious international crimes by adopting the dispatch on ratification of the amendments of 14 December 2017 to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). These amendments propose to extend the ICC's jurisdiction by adding the employment of biological weapons, blinding laser weapons and weapons that cause injury by fragments undetectable by x-rays to the list of punishable war crimes.
27.05.2019
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Press releases
EDA
On 23 and 24 May 2019 a first 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.
27.05.2019
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Press releases
EDA
Switzerland pursues its humanitarian aid efforts in the east of Ukraine. The SDC has sent another shipment of urgently needed supplies to the civilian population on both sides of the contact line in the conflict zone. It is the tenth consignment of humanitarian aid to eastern Ukraine since 2015. In accordance with humanitarian principles, Switzerland's direct action is supporting people regardless of which side of the contact line they live on.
22.05.2019
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), has appointed Professor Matthias Egger to the board of the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator foundation.
17.05.2019
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Press releases
EDA
In his speech at the ministerial session in Helsinki, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), said that the Council of Europe had enabled the nations of Europe to develop into a 'Europe of values'. Mr Cassis also presented Switzerland's instrument of ratification for the Macolin Convention, which aims to make sport fairer by implementing measures to prevent, investigate and punish the manipulation of sports competitions. On the margins of the 129th Session of the Committee of Ministers, Mr Cassis met with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and member of the Swiss Council of States Liliane Maury Pasquier, and held bilateral talks with the foreign ministers of Belgium, Slovenia and Malta.
17.05.2019
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Press releases
EDA
18 May 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. On this day, Switzerland will remember the many victims of this armed conflict. At the same time, the FDFA is deeply concerned about the recent flare-up in tensions and calls on the Sri Lankan government to do everything in its power to safeguard and strengthen peace and stability in the country.
Last update 23.04.2025
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