Retrait des Etats-Unis du Conseil des droits de l’homme : la Suisse regrette (fr)

20.06.2018 — Media release EDA
La Suisse regrette la décision des Etats-Unis de se retirer du Conseil des droits de l’homme qu’elle considère comme un organe fondamental dans la promotion et la protection de l’ensemble de ces droits.

Übergabe des Beglaubigungsschreibens (de)

19.06.2018 — Media release EDA
Bern, 19.06.2018 - Übergabe der Beglaubigungsschreiben der neu in der Schweiz akkreditierten Botschafterinnen und Botschafter

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to pay official visit to Switzerland on 2 and 3 July

18.06.2018 — Media release EDA
At the invitation of the Federal Council, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will pay an official visit to Switzerland on 2 and 3 July. Relations between Switzerland and Iran have deepened in recent years. It is the aim of both sides to continue on this positive path in the future.

Focus on bilateral and regional topics: Ignazio Cassis receives Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil in Bern

14.06.2018 — Media release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has met Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil of Lebanon in Bern for bilateral talks. In addition to topics of bilateral interest, their meeting focused on Lebanon's position in the region and the situation of Palestinian and Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

China and Switzerland conduct human rights dialogue

12.06.2018 — Media release EDA
The 16th round of human rights dialogue between Switzerland and China took place from 11 to 12 June in Beijing. The discussions, held in confidential session, allowed an open and mutually critical debate to take place on national and international human rights issues. The focus was on the judicial and penal system and minority rights.

UNDP head in Bern on official visit

12.06.2018 — Media release EDA
Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), visited Bern on 12 June. He met Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), and also held talks with FDFA state secretary Pascale Baeriswyl and Manuel Sager, director general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Mr Steiner also met with the chairperson of the National Council's Foreign Affairs Committee, Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter. The UNDP is Switzerland's largest partner in the UN system.

Markus Schefer elected to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

12.06.2018 — Media release EDA
On 12 June 2018, the meeting of States parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York elected nine new members to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. On taking his seat on the Committee in 2019, Markus Schefer will become the first Swiss member of this human rights body.

Cameroonian delegation visits Switzerland to discuss plurilingualism

11.06.2018 — Media release EDA
The Cameroonian National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism (NCPBM) will make a study visit to Switzerland from 11 to 15 June 2018 with the objective of discussing questions linked to plurilingualism and multiculturalism.

School inauguration in Lostallo: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visits the Italian-speaking part of Graubünden

09.06.2018 — Media release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has participated in the opening of a new primary school in Lostallo. Mr Cassis's visit underscored the importance of the Italian-speaking areas of the canton of Graubünden for Switzerland's national cohesion.

Swiss aid convoys to eastern Ukraine reach initial destinations

06.06.2018 — Media release EDA
Switzerland's eighth aid consignment has arrived in eastern Ukraine. It consists of six convoys, three of which are being sent across the line of contact to the region outside of Kyiv's control. The aid deliveries are mainly comprised of water treatment chemicals and medical supplies and equipment. This includes treatments for tuberculosis (TB) in the Luhansk area, which currently has the highest incidence of the disease in Europe.

Roma in Switzerland: an integral part of society but not a national minority

01.06.2018 — Media release EDA
On 1 June 2018, the Federal Council examined an application by two organisations for recognition of the Swiss Roma community as a national minority under the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. It found that the criteria necessary for such a recognition had not been met. Nevertheless, the Federal Council notes that the Roma community is an integral part of Swiss society. The Federal Council also considers it important that members of the Roma community be protected from racism and discrimination.

Daniel Kipfer Fasciati appointed as Ombudsperson for UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime

31.05.2018 — Media release EDA
The FDFA welcomes the UN Secretary-General’s decision to appoint Daniel Kipfer Fasciati as Ombudsperson to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. Daniel Kipfer Fasciati is a judge of the Federal Supreme Court in Bellinzona.

Retrait des Etats-Unis du Conseil des droits de l’homme : la Suisse regrette (fr)

20.06.2018 — Media release EDA
La Suisse regrette la décision des Etats-Unis de se retirer du Conseil des droits de l’homme qu’elle considère comme un organe fondamental dans la promotion et la protection de l’ensemble de ces droits.

Übergabe des Beglaubigungsschreibens (de)

19.06.2018 — Media release EDA
Bern, 19.06.2018 - Übergabe der Beglaubigungsschreiben der neu in der Schweiz akkreditierten Botschafterinnen und Botschafter

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to pay official visit to Switzerland on 2 and 3 July

18.06.2018 — Media release EDA
At the invitation of the Federal Council, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will pay an official visit to Switzerland on 2 and 3 July. Relations between Switzerland and Iran have deepened in recent years. It is the aim of both sides to continue on this positive path in the future.

Focus on bilateral and regional topics: Ignazio Cassis receives Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil in Bern

14.06.2018 — Media release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has met Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil of Lebanon in Bern for bilateral talks. In addition to topics of bilateral interest, their meeting focused on Lebanon's position in the region and the situation of Palestinian and Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

China and Switzerland conduct human rights dialogue

12.06.2018 — Media release EDA
The 16th round of human rights dialogue between Switzerland and China took place from 11 to 12 June in Beijing. The discussions, held in confidential session, allowed an open and mutually critical debate to take place on national and international human rights issues. The focus was on the judicial and penal system and minority rights.

UNDP head in Bern on official visit

12.06.2018 — Media release EDA
Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), visited Bern on 12 June. He met Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), and also held talks with FDFA state secretary Pascale Baeriswyl and Manuel Sager, director general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Mr Steiner also met with the chairperson of the National Council's Foreign Affairs Committee, Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter. The UNDP is Switzerland's largest partner in the UN system.

Markus Schefer elected to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

12.06.2018 — Media release EDA
On 12 June 2018, the meeting of States parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York elected nine new members to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. On taking his seat on the Committee in 2019, Markus Schefer will become the first Swiss member of this human rights body.

Cameroonian delegation visits Switzerland to discuss plurilingualism

11.06.2018 — Media release EDA
The Cameroonian National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism (NCPBM) will make a study visit to Switzerland from 11 to 15 June 2018 with the objective of discussing questions linked to plurilingualism and multiculturalism.

School inauguration in Lostallo: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visits the Italian-speaking part of Graubünden

09.06.2018 — Media release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has participated in the opening of a new primary school in Lostallo. Mr Cassis's visit underscored the importance of the Italian-speaking areas of the canton of Graubünden for Switzerland's national cohesion.

Swiss aid convoys to eastern Ukraine reach initial destinations

06.06.2018 — Media release EDA
Switzerland's eighth aid consignment has arrived in eastern Ukraine. It consists of six convoys, three of which are being sent across the line of contact to the region outside of Kyiv's control. The aid deliveries are mainly comprised of water treatment chemicals and medical supplies and equipment. This includes treatments for tuberculosis (TB) in the Luhansk area, which currently has the highest incidence of the disease in Europe.

Roma in Switzerland: an integral part of society but not a national minority

01.06.2018 — Media release EDA
On 1 June 2018, the Federal Council examined an application by two organisations for recognition of the Swiss Roma community as a national minority under the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. It found that the criteria necessary for such a recognition had not been met. Nevertheless, the Federal Council notes that the Roma community is an integral part of Swiss society. The Federal Council also considers it important that members of the Roma community be protected from racism and discrimination.

Daniel Kipfer Fasciati appointed as Ombudsperson for UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime

31.05.2018 — Media release EDA
The FDFA welcomes the UN Secretary-General’s decision to appoint Daniel Kipfer Fasciati as Ombudsperson to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. Daniel Kipfer Fasciati is a judge of the Federal Supreme Court in Bellinzona.

Christine Schraner Burgener appointed UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Myanmar

26.04.2018 — EDA
The FDFA welcomes the UN Secretary-General's decision to appoint Ambassador Christine Schraner Burgener as his special envoy for Myanmar. This is further proof of the excellence of Swiss diplomacy.

Switzerland and Bhutan reaffirm their close ties

08.03.2018 — EDA
During a working visit to Bern on Thursday, 8 March, President Alain Berset and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay reaffirmed the continuing close ties between their two countries. Up until ten years ago, Bhutan was a Swiss development cooperation priority country, but at the end of 2016 the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) ended its activities in the country. The official talks focused on prospects and opportunities under this new chapter in bilateral relations.

Switzerland and Afghanistan sign agreement on development cooperation and humanitarian aid

06.03.2018 — EDA
On 6 March 2018, Swiss Ambassador Thomas Kolly and Afghanistan's Minister of Finance Eklil Hakimi signed a framework agreement in Kabul on technical and financial cooperation and humanitarian aid. This enhances the legal basis for cooperation between the two countries. Switzerland has been engaged in Afghanistan since the 1970s and has had a permanent presence there since 2002. Through the ongoing Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) programme, Switzerland supports Afghanistan's political and economic reform process and provides humanitarian aid.

Disseminating knowledge of the Holocaust: Switzerland passes chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance to Italy

06.03.2018 — EDA
Switzerland has chaired the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) for one year. Switzerland's chairmanship saw some major achievements at a strategic level, with the IHRA setting out its first comprehensive strategy and defining the priorities for its work in the years ahead. During its chairmanship Switzerland also supported various projects in the fields of education, youth and social media. The IHRA aims to promote research and education in relation to the Holocaust and to keep the memory of the victims alive through commemoration ceremonies and places of remembrance.

Federal Council approves 2017 Foreign Policy Report

21.02.2018 — EDA
The Federal Council approved the 2017 Foreign Policy Report at its meeting on 21 February 2018. The report gives an account of Switzerland's most important foreign policy activities in 2017 in the context of international developments.

Swiss expertise and innovation as tools of international cooperation

13.02.2018 — EDA
At this year’s annual press conference, the SDC unveiled the issues it will be focusing on in 2018 and discussed the importance of innovation for cooperation. The agency’s Director-General Manuel Sager took the opportunity to illustrate various ways in which the SDC co-opts Swiss experts and expertise onto development projects.

Meeting room at the Federal Palace West Wing dedicated to Carl Lutz

12.02.2018 — EDA
The west wing of the Federal Palace is where FDFA senior management meet – the nerve centre of Swiss foreign policy. A room here has been named 'Carl Lutz' in honour of the department's former diplomat who helped save the lives of tens of thousands of Jews in Budapest during the Second World War. A ceremony has been held to mark the occasion, introduced by FDFA head Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis.

Switzerland and Bangladesh pave the way for deeper relations

07.02.2018 — EDA
On Wednesday, 7 February, President Alain Berset concluded his visit to Bangladesh, the first by a Swiss president. The two countries wish to deepen relations and have adopted a joint declaration to that effect. The visit was also a sign of solidarity with Bangladesh, which has been seriously affected by the crisis in neighbouring Myanmar.

Programme of members of the Federal Council attending the WEF Annual Meeting 2018

24.01.2018 — Article EDA
Bern, 24.01.2018 – The Federal Council continues to hold the view that the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting is of great importance. Five Federal Council members will be attending the event this year; around 60 bilateral meetings are expected to take place. President Alain Berset will be holding meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. Arrangements for further meetings, such as with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, are still under discussion, as are details of the meeting with President Trump.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis attends 2018 New Year’s reception

17.01.2018 — Article EDA

The New Year's reception of President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset takes place in Bern on Wednesday, 17 January 2018.

Internet Governance Forum 2017, Geneva

29.12.2017 — Article EDA

The Internet Governance Forum is a global, multilateral platform for discussing public policy aspects of the internet.

The conference in December 2017 in Geneva was organised by the UN and Switzerland. This year’s theme was "Shape Your Digital Future".

Good neighbours: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis meets Liechtenstein's Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick for bilateral talks

21.12.2017 — EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has met with Aurelia Frick, the foreign minister of the Principality of Liechtenstein, in Bern. The discussion between the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA and his Liechtenstein counterpart underscored the high quality of bilateral relations between the two states. The meeting covered bilateral topics including current European policy issues and international challenges.