Press releases

SDC priorities and Swiss involvement in water management take centre stage at annual press conference

05.02.2019 — Press releases EDA
At the annual press conference of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Director General Manuel Sager presented the agency's priorities for 2019 and the main objectives of the next dispatch on international cooperation (2021–24). Experts took stock of Switzerland's activities in the field of water, a vital resource for humanity.

Didier Burkhalter focuses on strengthening relations between Switzerland and Jordan and on the Syrian humanitarian crisis during visit to Amman

19.05.2017 — 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.

Didier Burkhalter in Cyprus for the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and in Jordan to inaugurate a water supply system in a refugee camp

16.05.2017 — Press releases EDA
Migration, its consequences and what a country like Switzerland can do to help will be at the top of the agenda during Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter's two-day trip to Cyprus and Jordan. Mr Burkhalter, who is head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, will be in Cyprus on Friday to attend the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. He will then go to Amman, the capital of Jordan, to inaugurate a water supply system in Azraq refugee camp. Switzerland's support for victims of the Syrian crisis is the country's largest humanitarian operation to date.

Switzerland is endeavouring to tackle the causes of displacement

29.11.2016 — Article DEZA

Didier Burkhalter will be speaking at a panel discussion entitled ‘Displacement – the global challenge of the 21^st century’, which is being held at the University of Zurich in connection with the ‘DISPLACED’ exhibition at the National Museum Zurich. In this interview he talks about Swiss foreign policy in the area of migration.

Human rights compliance – a key condition for sustainable development, peace, security and prosperity

10.12.2015 — Press releases EDA
For Switzerland, the promotion and protection of the human rights of all individuals worldwide is a goal to work towards, a duty and a foreign policy priority. Although significant progress has been made in strengthening human rights since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, it is more than ever necessary to persevere in our efforts. Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December to raise awareness of the situation of those affected by human rights violations.

Schools and water: Swiss emergency aid is implemented in Jordan

19.10.2015 — Press releases EDA
On the first day of his two-day stay in Jordan, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter visited on Monday a school in a deprived suburb of Amman and the Azraq refugee camp, where Switzerland has been supporting a project aimed at ensuring the efficient supply of water to the some 24,000 Syrian refugees there. Mr Burkhalter, who is head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), thanked Jordan for its efforts in taking in more than 600,000 refugees fleeing Syria to date.

Syria crisis: Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter to visit Jordan

16.10.2015 — Press releases EDA

Bern, 16.10.2015 - The head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, will travel on 19 October 2015 for a two-day visit to Jordan, where he will take part in the OSCE Mediterranean Conference and meet with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Judeh, for bilateral talks. Mr Burkhalter will also visit a school in Amman which is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) as well as the Azraq refugee camp, where the SDC is active in the water sector.

SDC priorities and Swiss involvement in water management take centre stage at annual press conference

05.02.2019 — Press releases EDA
At the annual press conference of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Director General Manuel Sager presented the agency's priorities for 2019 and the main objectives of the next dispatch on international cooperation (2021–24). Experts took stock of Switzerland's activities in the field of water, a vital resource for humanity.

Didier Burkhalter focuses on strengthening relations between Switzerland and Jordan and on the Syrian humanitarian crisis during visit to Amman

19.05.2017 — 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.

Didier Burkhalter in Cyprus for the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and in Jordan to inaugurate a water supply system in a refugee camp

16.05.2017 — Press releases EDA
Migration, its consequences and what a country like Switzerland can do to help will be at the top of the agenda during Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter's two-day trip to Cyprus and Jordan. Mr Burkhalter, who is head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, will be in Cyprus on Friday to attend the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. He will then go to Amman, the capital of Jordan, to inaugurate a water supply system in Azraq refugee camp. Switzerland's support for victims of the Syrian crisis is the country's largest humanitarian operation to date.

Human rights compliance – a key condition for sustainable development, peace, security and prosperity

10.12.2015 — Press releases EDA
For Switzerland, the promotion and protection of the human rights of all individuals worldwide is a goal to work towards, a duty and a foreign policy priority. Although significant progress has been made in strengthening human rights since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, it is more than ever necessary to persevere in our efforts. Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December to raise awareness of the situation of those affected by human rights violations.

Schools and water: Swiss emergency aid is implemented in Jordan

19.10.2015 — Press releases EDA
On the first day of his two-day stay in Jordan, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter visited on Monday a school in a deprived suburb of Amman and the Azraq refugee camp, where Switzerland has been supporting a project aimed at ensuring the efficient supply of water to the some 24,000 Syrian refugees there. Mr Burkhalter, who is head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), thanked Jordan for its efforts in taking in more than 600,000 refugees fleeing Syria to date.

Syria crisis: Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter to visit Jordan

16.10.2015 — Press releases EDA

Bern, 16.10.2015 - The head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, will travel on 19 October 2015 for a two-day visit to Jordan, where he will take part in the OSCE Mediterranean Conference and meet with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Judeh, for bilateral talks. Mr Burkhalter will also visit a school in Amman which is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) as well as the Azraq refugee camp, where the SDC is active in the water sector.

Switzerland is endeavouring to tackle the causes of displacement

29.11.2016 — Article DEZA

Didier Burkhalter will be speaking at a panel discussion entitled ‘Displacement – the global challenge of the 21^st century’, which is being held at the University of Zurich in connection with the ‘DISPLACED’ exhibition at the National Museum Zurich. In this interview he talks about Swiss foreign policy in the area of migration.