25.10.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) welcomes the excellent organisation and hosting of the XIIIth Summit of the Francophonie, which was held from 22-24 October in Montreux. Some 40 heads of state and government, as well as delegations representing member and observer countries of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (IOF) were welcomed to this successful high-level conference. The FDFA would like to emphasise the engagement of all partners involved in this Summit. The department extends its warm thanks to them.
22.10.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
President Doris Leuthard, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA), today received the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper at the Lohn country residence in Kehrsatz for an official visit. The Canadian Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and for La Francophonie, Josée Verner. Federal Councillors Mich-eline Calmy-Rey and Hans-Rudolf Merz were also present. During the visit, a protocol was signed amending the Double Taxation Agreement between Switzerland and Canada. The dele-gations also officially announced an expansion of the bilateral aviation agreement.
21.10.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
The 2010 Ministerial Conference of French-speaking Countries concluded its work today, under the aegis of the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Micheline Calmy-Rey, in the run-up to the XIII Francophonie Summit to be held on 23-24 October in Montreux. At this meeting the Ministerial Conference reaffirmed the position of French-speaking countries as a major player in international relations that can act as a forum for consultation, cooperation and influence both before and after discussions and decisions taken in other spheres. It also emphasized the solidarity of French-speaking countries in addressing the new challenges such as sustainable development, education and innovation.
21.10.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
“Global Compact” aims to integrate private-sector companies into international efforts in the field of development cooperation. In 2010, Global Compact will celebrate its tenth anniversary. To mark the occasion, experts will take part in a discussion on 26 October organized by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development on the achievements to date and the challenges of the future.
19.10.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
D’intesa con le autorità del Cantone Grigioni e del Tirolo, il Dipartimento federale dell’ambiente, dei trasporti, dell’energia e delle comunicazioni (DATEC) ha rilasciato alla società Gemeinschaftswerk Inn GmbH (GKI) una concessione per lo sfruttamento della forza idrica del fiume Inn e un’autorizzazione edilizia per la realizzazione di una centrale tra le località di Martina (in Svizzera) e Prutz (in Austria).
18.10.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
A few days before the opening of the 13th Summit of French-Speaking Communities (22-24 October 2010) the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Micheline Calmy-Rey, has reiterated the importance of the event that Switzerland is about to host. Seventy countries will be represented in Montreux, around forty by their heads of state and government. Micheline Calmy-Rey also reiterated that Switzerland’s wish was to introduce new ideas in both the programmes and the topics discussed to make this summit into a political meeting.
18.10.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey met the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Jigme Thinley, today in Bern. They discussed various issues, including development aid, the environment and human rights. During his visit to Switzerland, Mr Thinley also had discussions with the President of the Confederation, Doris Leuthard, as well as with Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger.
18.10.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
On 18 October 2010, Ambassador Valentin Zellweger, Director of the Directorate for Public International Law of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, signed on behalf of the Federal Council a bilateral agreement with France, as well as a trilateral agreement with France and the CERN, for determining the law applicable both to enterprises active at the CERN site and to their personnel.
15.10.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
Mrs Micheline Calmy-Rey will participate in the demonstration against hunger organised by the Swiss Alliance against Hunger on the federal square in Bern on 16 October. The head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs will take this opportunity to stress that hunger is not inevitable, that the right to do adequate sustenance is a universal human right and that governments should take action to combat this evil, which causes the deaths of 24,000 persons every day.
14.10.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
Religions and world views play a central role in many conflicts. This is why Switzerland pays particular attention to this aspect in its worldwide commitment to peace promotion. This is the central topic of this year's annual conference of Political Affairs Division IV of the FDFA in Bern. Prominent figures from Switzerland and abroad analyse the topic of different religious and cultural perspectives, exchange experiences and discuss new ways forward.
14.10.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
An environmental expert from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) will be arriving in the Hungarian disaster area today. At the request of the Hungarian government he will support the authorities in their efforts to deal with the toxic waste disaster.
13.10.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, has today received the Vice-President of the Republic of Colombia in Geneva for a courtesy visit.