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.
09.06.2016
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Press releases
EDA
On Thursday 9 June, the House of Switzerland – Paris 2016 will be officially opened for Euro 2016 at the Wanderlust, an open-air cultural centre in the heart of Paris. This venue will allow Switzerland to cultivate its close bilateral relations with France and serve to promote not just Swiss sport but also the Swiss economy and the country's artists, writers and film-makers.
08.06.2016
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Press releases
EDA
By 2030 HIV/AIDS should no longer be a threat to public health. This is the message of the Swiss delegation to the 2016 High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, which takes place on 8-10 June at the UN headquarters in New York. It thereby supports the adopted political declaration on HIV/AIDS, which requires measures against the epidemic to be intensified in the coming five years. The negotiations for the High-Level Meeting were led by Switzerland and Zambia, a country especially hard hit by HIV/AIDS, on behalf of the president of the UN General Assembly.
07.06.2016
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Press releases
EDA
On Thursday in Ottawa, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Didier Burkhalter, will meet the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Dion, as well as the Canadian Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, Marie-Claude Bibeau. In doing so, Mr Burkhalter will explore the potential for developing bilateral relations between Switzerland and G7 and G20 member Canada. Mr Burkhalter’s visit relates to the implementation of priority two of the Foreign Policy Strategy 2016–19 adopted by the Federal Council, which focuses on the development of relations with global partners with a view to safeguarding Switzerland’s interests and resolving specific problems.
06.06.2016
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Press releases
EDA
President Johann N. Schneider-Ammann welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Geneva for an official meeting on Monday, 6 June. Top of the agenda in view of the negotiations on a free trade agreement between the EFTA member states and India were economic and trade issues, and cooperation between Switzerland and India in international forums and on education, research and innovation. After the meeting, a round table with Swiss business leaders was held.
03.06.2016
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Press releases
EDA
03.06.2016
02.06.2016
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Press releases
EDA
Today there are more than 60 million people worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes because of conflicts and humanitarian crises. Many of them receive assistance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The head of the UN agency, Filippo Grandi, was received on Thursday in Bern by Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga and FDFA State Secretary Yves Rossier. Mr Grandi's visit provided an occasion to take stock of the relations between Switzerland and the UNHCR and to discuss current challenges.
31.05.2016
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Press releases
EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) condemns the execution of three individuals by the de facto authorities in Gaza. These are the first executions to have taken place since the national unity government was formed in June 2014. In recent months the FDFA has made repeated representations to the relevant authorities in order to prevent the reinstatement of such practices.
31.05.2016
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, will take part in a ministerial meeting on Friday to relaunch the Middle East peace process. This 'initiative for peace in the Middle East', introduced by France, aims to relaunch the efforts for a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians based on a negotiated two-state solution.
27.05.2016
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, met descendants of Swiss immigrants in the Uruguayan city of Nueva Helvecia. He also helped lay the foundation stone of a building that will provide shelter to people during future natural disasters. Nueva Helvecia was affected by flooding in April. The Swiss Humanitarian Aid Department, the Cantons of Fribourg and Ticino and the Ticinese commune of Quinto are supporting the reconstruction efforts.
27.05.2016
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Press releases
EDA
At a working meeting with Argentina's Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra in Buenos Aires on 26 May 2016, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, signed a declaration on strengthening cooperation between Switzerland and Argentina, marking a new chapter in bilateral relations. One of the matters they discussed was cooperation in view of the possibility that Argentina will chair the G20 in 2018. Mr Burkhalter also discussed this topic with Vice President Gabriela Michetti. The establishment of strategic partnerships with selected states is one of the priorities of the Foreign Policy Strategy 2016-19. On 27 May, Mr Burkhalter will hold political talks in Uruguay and will also meet with descendants of Swiss immigrants in the country.
27.05.2016
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter has been in Montevideo to discuss new areas for developing bilateral relations with Uruguay's Foreign Minister, Rodolfo Nin Novoa. The two ministers signed an agreement to increase high-level diplomatic contacts between Switzerland and Uruguay. Historically the two countries share close ties, underpinning the good cooperation between them.
26.05.2016
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, will sign an agreement with the Argentinian Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra in Buenos Aires today on expanding cooperation between Switzerland and Argentina. This agreement opens up a new chapter in the countries’ bilateral relations, which are characterised by many shared values. Among other things, the two countries cooperate closely in the area of dealing with the past. Before meeting Ms Malcorra, Mr Burkhalter paid tribute in the ‘Parque de la Memoria’ to the thousands of people who were murdered and disappeared during the military dictatorship. The working visit to Argentina is in line with Switzerland‘s Foreign Policy Strategy 2016-19, one of whose priorities is to establish strategic partnerships with selected states.
Last update 23.04.2025
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