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.
06.06.2017
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Press releases
EDA
On 10 June, the Swiss pavilion will open its doors at Expo 2017 Astana. The first world exhibition to be held in Central Asia is dedicated to the theme of ‘Future Energy’. The Swiss pavilion, organised by Presence Switzerland, showcases Switzerland as an innovative country with an interactive and surprising exhibition on the issues of energy efficiency, renewable energies and global water management.
02.06.2017
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Press releases
EDA
At its meeting on 2 June 2017 the Federal Council approved the 2017 report on Switzerland’s policy in regard to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. The report outlines the work undertaken by Switzerland in this area since 2012, such as efforts to ban and eliminate all categories of weapons of mass destruction and to counter the illicit trade in small arms, light weapons and ammunition. Since 1996, the Federal Council has informed Parliament once in every legislative period about its objectives, priorities and outlook for this policy.
02.06.2017
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Press releases
EDA
On 6 June, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will travel to eastern Ukraine, where he will visit the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Mariupol and hold talks with partner organisations. In addition, he will deliver medical supplies to a hospital and see off a Swiss humanitarian aid convoy. On 7 June, Mr Burkhalter will meet Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin in Kyiv. He is also scheduled to meet with Vadym Chernysh, Minister for Temporary Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons, and with representatives of civil society.
01.06.2017
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Press releases
EDA
Seven months after the start of the offensive to liberate Mosul, Iraqi forces have now begun their final push against the last pocket of the city controlled by the self-proclaimed ‘Islamic State’ group. Home to some 250,000 civilians, the district is also the most densely populated of the city. The fighting is reported to be extremely violent and the humanitarian situation appalling. Switzerland calls for compliance with international humanitarian law, rapid and unrestricted humanitarian access and continued efforts to assist the Iraqi people, including beyond the offensive in Mosul.
31.05.2017
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Press releases
EDA
The FDFA condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack carried out in Kabul on the morning of 31 May 2017 which killed and injured a large number of people. The SDC’s cooperation office was also damaged in the attack. Fortunately there were no casualties among the staff working there. Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter has sent a letter of condolence to his counterpart in Afghanistan.
26.05.2017
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Press releases
EDA
Switzerland has transferred approximately EUR 3.5 million to Tunisia, in response to a request for mutual legal assistance. The final destination of these assets will depend on the proceedings currently under way in Tunisia.
26.05.2017
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Press releases
EDA
The FDFA is deeply saddened by the latest attack on Egypt’s Coptic Christians killing and injuring many people including children. It condemns the attack in the strongest possible terms.
26.05.2017
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Press releases
EDA
Natural disasters and climate-related risks threaten to reverse hard-won gains in development. These and other challenges were the focal point of the fifth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which took place from 22 to 26 May 2017 in Cancún, Mexico. At the conference, Switzerland appealed for closer cooperation in the fields of disaster risk reduction, climate change and development cooperation.
24.05.2017
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Press releases
EDA
"Protecting human rights is of fundamental importance for Switzerland and needs our full attention", said Mr Burkhalter during his meeting with Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks. The system to ensure the protection of human rights in Europe was under pressure, he said. Mr Muižnieks is currently evaluating the situation with regard to human rights in Switzerland on behalf of the Council of Europe. The meeting in Bern therefore also addressed human rights in Switzerland.
22.05.2017
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Press releases
EDA
“Today’s meeting is an opportunity to review the situation and open up a new phase in our countries’ relations”. This proposal made by Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter was welcomed by Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo during their official meeting in Bern. Specifically, the two ministers decided to expand relations in areas of shared interest, in particular at the multilateral level and in conflict prevention. They also reviewed priorities in the field of development cooperation, giving greater importance to vocational skills training, access to water, and good governance in the Great Lakes region, which also includes Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After the talks, the Swiss and Rwandan ministers signed an aviation agreement.
19.05.2017
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Press releases
EDA
On Friday, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, signed a memorandum of understanding in Amman strengthening bilateral relations between Switzerland and Jordan. Mr Burkhalter then visited the Azraq refugee camp, where he officially opened a water supply system funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation which gives 35,000 Syrian refugees in the camp direct access to drinking water.
19.05.2017
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Press releases
EDA
At the opening of the 127th ministerial session of the Council of Europe on Friday, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, called on the 47 member states to strengthen their common values. The Council of Europe has set up a strong protection system that respects the sovereignty of states and enshrines the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms at the continental level, said Mr Burkhalter.
Last update 23.04.2025
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