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Former Swiss President Joseph Deiss to attend Royal Cremation of late Thai King

Press releases, 20.10.2017

Bangkok, 20 October 2017 - Former Swiss President Joseph Deiss will travel to Bangkok on 26 October 2017 to represent the Swiss government on the occasion of the cremation ceremony of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, recognizing King Rama IX role as a monarch and leader, and underscoring the close relations between Thailand and Switzerland.

The participation of the former Swiss President Joseph Deiss at the Royal cremation of the late Thai King underlines the important and close links between Switzerland and Thailand, which share more than 80 years of diplomatic relations.

Reiterating the condolences expressed by then Swiss President Johannes Schneider-Amman in the wake of the passing of the late King on 13 October 2016, Joseph Deiss said: "The passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is a great loss. His vision and action for the country but also His strong engagement with the world and the importance He attached to promoting peace and dialogue, leaves a lasting legacy for Thailand." Underscoring the late King’s and the Thai Royal family’s special relationship with Switzerland, he added: "The strong ties between our two countries that go back more than a century, were strengthened comprehensively throughout His seven decade long reign. We fondly recall the time between 1933 and 1951, when the late King and His family lived in Lausanne. He will remain in our memory as a true friend of Switzerland."

Former Swiss President Joseph Deiss has a distinguished career in government, politics and academe. As a member of the Swiss government from 1999 to 2006, he successively held the portfolios as Minister of Foreign Affairs (1999-2002) and as Minister of Economic Affairs (2003-2006). In 2004, he served as the President of the Swiss Confederation. Subsequent to his time in Swiss government, he was elected as the President of the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, serving from 2010 to 2011. While in Government, he twice met the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, namely in 2000 and then again – as Swiss President - in 2004, both times on the occasion of official visits to Thailand.

Portrait of Joseph Deiss
Joseph Deiss, former Swiss President. ©FDFA

Federal Councillor, 1996–2006

President of Switzerland, 2004

President of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly, 2010-2011 

Curriculum Vitae

Between 1999 and 2006, Joseph Deiss (Swiss citizen) was a member of the Federal Council, the Swiss government. In 2004, he was the President of the Swiss Confederation. As a Federal Councillor, he headed the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (1999-2002) and the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (2003-2006). Mr Deiss began his political career in 1981 as a representative of his party in the cantonal Parliament of Fribourg, Switzerland. In 1992 he was elected Mayor of the Commune of Barberêche FR, a position he held until 1996. In 1991 he became the president of the cantonal Parliament for one year, and was elected to the National Council (1991-1999).

From 2010 to 2011 he was the President of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Mr Deiss studied economics and social sciences for his first degree at the University of Fribourg. He then completed a doctorate at the same University, after which he was a research student at the University of Cambridge. After this period of research, he took on the post of lecturer in economics at the University of Fribourg. He became the Dean of the Faculty of Economics in 1996-1998. Between 1983 and 1998, at several times, he was made visiting professor at a number of Swiss universities: ETH Zurich, University of Lausanne and University of Geneva.

After having left his political mandates, Mr Deiss has been president and member of different boards [Zurich Insurance Company Ireland (ZIP), Zurich Insurance Company South Africa (ZICSA), Zurich Life Insurance Company Ltd (ZLIC), Alstom Switzerland, Emmi, Kudelski, Clinique Générale Fribourg, Turck, Delémont]. He also was back as a visiting Professor for Economic Policy at the University of Fribourg from 2007 to 2012.

As Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Mr Deiss had the honour of meeting his Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej during his visits in Thailand from 8th to 11th October 2000 and again, as President of Switzerland, from 17th to 20th March 2004. As Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Deiss also met several times with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Mr Surin Pitsuwan: in Norway (19th-20th May 1999), in Switzerland (11th-12th May 2000), in Thailand (October 2000) and in New York on 15th September 2000. As Head of the Department of Economic Affairs of Switzerland, Mr Deiss also met a number of times with Mr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, the former Director General of World Trade Organization (WTO).

For further information please contact Pierre Hagmann, Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland in Bangkok on
+66 2 674 69 13 or pierre.hagmann@eda.admin.ch.

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Last update 05.08.2019