Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy
Stimata presidente del Locarno Film Festival Maja Hoffmann, stimato direttore Raphaël Brunschwig
Onorevole presidente del Consiglio Nazionale Maja Riniker
Onorevoli consiglieri di Stato
Onorevole sindaco di Locarno Nicola Pini
Eccellenze
Signore e signori
I’m truly happy to see you all gathered here in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, in Ticino, my home canton.
This is Switzerland: where the majority – the German-speaking part of the country – reaches out to the minority. Or rather, where majority and minority are shifting concepts – one day me, one day you – in a continuous dialogue and search for compromise.
Dear guests
There was a time when summer meant a seasonal break, and the trip to the famous Film Festival in Locarno extended the pleasant holiday atmosphere before political and diplomatic life resumed – usually after mid-August.
This year is different.
Global tensions do not take a summer break. On the contrary, conflicts have persisted – even expanded – over the summer: in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Asia, not to mention border tensions, such as those between Thailand and Cambodia.
In addition to diplomatic challenges, economic pressures are increasing – even in Switzerland, particularly from the United States.
The world has entered a new epoch. It is undergoing a realignment, and the thirst for power is once again asserting itself.
In such a context, dear Minister Lammy, your presence here is an honour – a sign of trust and friendship. A friendship we celebrate this year, marking 170 years since the 1855 Treaty of Friendship between Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
We also recall another special bond between our two countries.
A century ago, the Locarno Treaties, negotiated just a few metres from here, opened a window of hope, ushering in a period of peace after the First World War. That peace rested on a new international order, political stability, and economic recovery in Europe.
Although Switzerland hosted the negotiations for these foundational texts, they were ultimately signed in London — in a suite of magnificent rooms in your Foreign Ministry known as the Locarno Suite.
So, dear Minister Lammy, you are truly at home here in Locarno.
The diplomatic victory of 1925 was, of course, short-lived. It was undermined by the financial crash of 1929, mounting threats, and Hitler’s rise to power in 1933.
Yet the spirit of Locarno is more than a treaty; it embodies dialogue, inclusion of all parties, arbitration, and compromise.
If we can draw one lesson from our predecessors – the foreign ministers and diplomats of that time – it is to have the courage to engage with one another, and to contain power through law.
Ladies and gentlemen,
A century later, we find ourselves once again in a troubled world – and in a Europe witnessing war on its own soil.
Locarno reminds us that history does not progress in a straight line. It repeats itself.
Despite today’s mistrust and uncertainty, let us also remember the progress of the past century. Our world rests on solid foundations – regulated financial markets, market economies, and international law. These pillars are under pressure, yes, but we are far from the ruins left by the First World War.
As in 1925 – but with the today’s tools of 2025 – we must devote all our energy to consolidating what we have built, while making the adjustments required by today’s realities.
As a neutral country – founded on deep-rooted direct democracy, strong federalism, and a constant quest for cohesion among its diverse communities – Switzerland brings long-standing experience in fostering dialogue and mutual respect among those of differing views.
Its role in the world is to be of service – above all, by helping to build trust.
In 1925, Switzerland offered a space for negotiation to help rebuild and stabilise Europe.
Since then, we have hosted numerous delegations in pursuit of peace – from the 1962 Evian Accords ending the Algerian War, to the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano in 2022, and the Summit on Peace in Ukraine at Bürgenstock in 2024 – to name just a few. I am also thinking of International Geneva, our first non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (2023-24), and our upcoming OSCE Chairmanship.
In a world overwhelmed by those who shout ever louder, and where the line between the real and the virtual is increasingly blurred, we need more calm, more respect, and a touch of humility – not to mention discretion, without which no trust can be built.
Dialogue is not just a slogan – it is part of our DNA.
Dear Minister Lammy,
The partnership between Switzerland and the United Kingdom has deep roots, yet also looks to the future in an ever-changing Europe.
We share a common spirit – a deep attachment to tradition and to strong principles. I felt this profoundly during my meeting at Windsor with Queen Elizabeth II, just a few months before she passed away – one of the most inspiring moments in my eight years as a member of the Swiss government.
These are the roots on which our commitment to peace rests.
And if I may borrow the title of this year’s retrospective – a tribute to post-war British cinema, presented by the Locarno Film Festival at our embassy in London last March – we share the same Great Expectations for humanity.
Grazie per l’attenzione e buon Festival a tutti!